New Wine into New Wineskins

IIT UBF - University Bible Fellowship at IIT

New Wine into New Wineskins

Date: Mar. 17, 2023

Passage

Luke 5:33-39 (ESV)

33 And they said to him, “The disciples of John fast often and offer prayers, and so do the disciples of the Pharisees, but yours eat and drink.” 34 And Jesus said to them, “Can you make wedding guests fast while the bridegroom is with them? 35 The days will come when the bridegroom is taken away from them, and then they will fast in those days.” 36 He also told them a parable: “No one tears a piece from a new garment and puts it on an old garment. If he does, he will tear the new, and the piece from the new will not match the old. 37 And no one puts new wine into old wineskins. If he does, the new wine will burst the skins and it will be spilled, and the skins will be destroyed. 38 But new wine must be put into fresh wineskins. 39 And no one after drinking old wine desires new, for he says, ‘The old is good.’”

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Daily Bread

Key Verse: 5:38

But new wine must be put into fresh wineskins.

The Pharisees thought that Jesus and his disciples were very secular because they did not fast but feasted with public sinners. They didn’t understand why Jesus was going against the religious status quo and tradition. Jesus answered them by comparing his disciples as the friends of the bridegroom in the wedding feast. Jesus, the bridegroom, came from heaven to call sinners to repentance and to invite them to a joyful feast both on earth and in heaven. Jesus’ friends celebrate the presence of the Groom by having a joyful feast with him. They will fast when Jesus is not in their midst.

Jesus’ parables show what the gospel is like. It is like a new garment. Nobody tears a new dress to patch an old one. They will just wear and enjoy the new and throw out the old. It is also like the new wine. No one pours the new wine into old wineskins. It should be poured into new wineskins. Like the new garment and new wine, the gospel is very energetic, young, and festive. Patching, pouring, or mixing the Pharisees’ old teachings and traditions with the gospel is not possible. The gospel demands fundamental life change. It shows a new life in Jesus. We, as new wineskins, must accept the gospel and be transformed into the image of Jesus.

Prayer: Prayer: Lord, help me to be a new wineskin who can hold Jesus in me and grow in him.

One Word: One Word: Feast with Jesus?

Hezekiah Restores Worship

2 Chronicles 29:20-36

Key Verse: 29:31

Then Hezekiah said, “You have now consecrated yourselves to the LORD. Come near; bring sacrifices and thank offerings to the house of the LORD.” And the assembly brought sacrifices and thank offerings, and all who were of a willing heart brought burnt offerings.

Today's Question

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