The saying of Jesus about new wine in old wineskins is used proverbially in all kinds of situations. The main idea of the saying is that old customs, when doggedly held to, can impede or even spoil desirable new things. This metaphor, however, is used by Jesus in a specific situation and it is another example of how different anecdotes of Jesus work together to convey a unified message. Look at what happens before and after this saying. Jesus tells a crippled man that his sins are forgiven, and the religious leaders complain that this is not the way it should be done. Jesus had bypassed the customary channels (the temple) through which forgiveness was imparted. The issue of fasting that Jesus is questioned about in 9:14 is connected with this. Fasting was seen as a form of penance through which forgiveness was gained. Not only were Jesus’ disciples not fasting but Jesus had just called a sinful tax-collector to join them (9:9-13), saying specifically that he had come to call sinners! This went right against the grain for the Jews. Their whole religious system, including these customs, was aimed at achieving righteousness to secure God’s blessing. Jesus was completely baffling them! It is here that we have Jesus’ saying about the new wine (note what follows it too). The new wine is the grace of Jesus Christ. One of the greatest struggles that many Christians have is the struggle to accept this grace and believe that they are truly accepted and loved by God. In many cases it is because they are trying to find this new grace in an old religious way of thinking.
Reflect on God’s love for you and ask him to help you receive his grace.
Read Matthew 9:1-17
