NEW WINESKINS

Passage: Matthew 9:14-17

Key verse: 17b

NIV

Jesus Questioned About Fasting(A)

14 Then John’s(B) disciples came and asked him, “How is it that we and the Pharisees fast often,(C) but your disciples do not fast?”

15 Jesus answered, “How can the guests of the bridegroom mourn while he is with them?(D) The time will come when the bridegroom will be taken from them; then they will fast.(E)

16 “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. 17 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 wine into new wineskins, and both are preserved.”

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Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Source: BibleGateway

ESV

A Question About Fasting

14 Then (A)the disciples of John came to him, saying, (B)“Why do we and (C)the Pharisees fast,[a] but your disciples do not fast?” 15 And Jesus said to them, (D)“Can the wedding guests mourn as long as the bridegroom is with them? (E)The days will come when the bridegroom is taken away from them, and (F)then they will fast. 16 No one puts a piece of unshrunk cloth on an old garment, for the patch tears away from the garment, and a worse tear is made. 17 Neither is new wine put into old (G)wineskins. If it is, the skins burst and the wine is spilled and the skins are destroyed. But new wine is put into fresh wineskins, and so both are preserved.”

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Footnotes
  1. Matthew 9:14 Some manuscripts add much, or often
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
Source: BibleGateway

1. The question about fasting (14-15)

Jesus' disciples didn't seem to be religious enough. Some of John's disciples asked Jesus why his disciples didn't fast like they and the Pharisees did. Jesus' answer explains why the gospel is good news. First, the Christian life is joyful like a wedding feast. Jesus is the bridegroom. His disciples are like the guests (or the bride). When Jesus is present, it is the time to rejoice and feast. When he is not there, then we must fast and pray.

2. The changing power of the gospel (16-17)

Religious ceremonies and a pious appearance cannot change a person's heart. The gospel is good news because it makes us new. People who don't want to be changed reject the gospel. They are like old wineskins or an old garment. If the new wine of the gospel is put in old wineskin-like people, they only become angry and defensive because they don't want to be changed or grow as disciples of Jesus.

Prayer: Lord, thank you for the joy of being your disciple. Help me to grow and change until your image is formed in me.

One Word: Be a new wineskin