SEWING AND WINESKINS
MATTHEW 9: 16; MARK 2:21; AND LUKE 5: 36
MATTHEW 9:1-17 & MARK 2:21 ARE SAME…
V16 & 17 “No one sews a patch of unshrunk cloth on an old garment, for
the patch will pull away from the garment, making the tear worse. Neither
do people pour new wine into old wineskins. If they do, the skins will
burst; the wine will run out and the wineskins will be ruined. No, they
pour new wineskins, and both are preserved.”
Context:
In His (Jesus’) hometown, He healed a paralyzed man; then He went from
there and called Matthew (Levi), a tax collector, to be His disciple. Matt
invited Jesus to his home for dinner. The Pharisees went ballistic!
v16 “No one sews a patch of unshrunk cloth
on an old garment, for the patch will pull away
from the garment, making the tear worse…”
New/unshrunk patch = the Kingdom of God
Jesus was teaching –fulfillment of the Law and
prophesies –changes necessary
Old garment = their current practices –the
Pharisees and their practices represented the
old
V17 “Neither do people pour new
wine into old wineskins. If they do, the
skins will burst; the wine will run out
and the wineskins will be ruined. No,
they pour the new wine into new
wineskins, and both are preserved.”
The freshly crushed grapes will
ferment and gases will blow-up the
container (skin)
JESUS’ APPLICATION:
•Old wine and wineskins = in process of making the wine, the grapes
ferment, the skins were at first flexible –pliable and expands as the gas
increases, the skin after time, becomes unable to expand more.
•The old wine is tasty, preferred, mellow and pleasant…
•Jesus compared the old wine with the traditions practiced by the
religious leaders –the Pharisees watching Jesus having dinner with Levi
and Levi’s friends – other tax collectors, blew their minds!
•The beauty of the Word of God (Laws of Moses, Words of the Prophets,
and the Poetic Writings) was at one time fulfilling to the believer;
however, it had become mellow, profane – common, and inflexible…
•The New Wine: Jesus’ message of salvation…His sacrifice covers the sins
of the world and anyone who would believe in Jesus –would be saved.
Prophecy was satisfied –met; not removed but fulfilled for all people.
•Ezekiel 18: 31 “Cast away from yourselves all the transgressions you
have committed and make for yourselves a new heart and a new spirit.
Why should you (eternally) die?”
•Spiritual renewal requires a new heart and new mindset…something
the Pharisees struggled with…
LUKE’S RECORD IS A LITTLE DIFFERENT
•Luke 5: 36 – 38 is the same as Matthew and Mark’s record – However:
•V39 states, “None of you, after drinking old wine, wants the new, for you
say, ‘The old wine is better!’” Researchers/Commentaries suggest that
Paul influenced Luke to add this to his gospel. Matthew and Mark’s
record is direct, almost ‘harsh’ to the Pharisees… Luke suggests ‘who
wouldn’t prefer the old wine, it taste better, milder and more pleasant…
giving the listeners a gentle push to be open to the new wine…
•Consider what Paul says in II Corinthians 5: 7
“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new
creation. The old has passed away. Behold, the
new has come!”
“A rut (the picture) is the same as a
grave without sides…” Old habits
become comfortable traps …
Ephesians 4: 22 – 24, “…put off your
former way of life, your old self, which
is being corrupt by its deceitful
desires; to be renewed in the Spirit of
your minds; and to put on the new
self, created to be like God in true
righteousness and holiness.”
Examine your heart…
What are your old wineskins?
What keeps you in a rut?
Has Jesus become your ‘hooo humm’
boring rut?
II Corinthians 5: 17, “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a
new creation. The old has passed away. Behold, the new has
come!”
