Resource Detail

  New Wine Must Be Poured Into New Wineskins

Luke 5:33-6:11

Key Verse 5:37

1. Think about some of the religious leaders' question to Jesus about fasting and prayer in verse 33 and Jesus' answer to their question in verses 34-35. What does this conversation tell us about: 1) the purpose of fasting and prayer; 2) the life that is "in" Jesus Christ; and 3) the life that is "without" him? 

2. In verse 36 Jesus compares him (and his teachings) and those who belong to him (and follow his teachings) to "new garment", whereas those who belong to John (the Baptist) or the Pharisees (and their teachings) to "old garment". What does the garment(s) do for men? In what respect is Jesus "new" garment? (John 1:29; Heb 9:14; 2Co 5:17) 

3. In verses 37-39, Jesus came up with another analogy - wine and wineskin. What does the wine stand for? (Jer 31:12; John 2:7) This parable indicates that a man like an old wineskin cannot receive what Jesus came to offer. How can we be a man like a new wineskin?

4. Reflect on what Jesus said to some of the Pharisees in Luke 6:1-5 by comparing it with Col 2:6-17. What do these passages tell us about the new life that is in the Lord?

5. In verses 6-11 Jesus confronted the Pharisees and the teachers of the law on the man with a shriveled hand. What can we learn from: 1) Jesus; and 2) the man with a shriveled hand? What does this miracle show us about the life in Jesus?

New Wine into New Wineskins

Luke 5:33-6:11

Key Verses 5:37-38

And no one pours new wine into old wineskins. If he does, the new wine will burst the skins, the wine will run out and the wineskins will be ruined. No, new wine must be poured into new wineskins.

In today’s passage we can learn the characteristics of the life that follows Jesus. The life that follows Jesus is full of life. In what respect is it full of life and how can we have this life? 

First, Jesus the bridegroom (33-35)

A lot of people make superhuman efforts to have a happy life. The problem is that they do not know how. But they still want to be happy. So they try this method or that method, this way or that way. For example, in Jesus’ day a large portion of the Gentile world went by the philosophy called Epicureanism. The basic tenet of this philosophy is the idea that happiness, or at least the avoidance of pain and emotional disturbance, is the highest good which a person can pursue. So people tried to seek pleasures in moderation. Soon this philosophy degenerated into hedonism which says, “Let us eat and drink, for tomorrow we die.” The other extreme was a philosophy called Stoicism. Unlike the Epicureans (or hedonists) the Stoics held that emotions like fear or envy (or impassioned sexual attachments, or passionate love of anything whatsoever) either were, or arose from, false judgments, and so a truly sensible person would not undergo them. So stoics tried to control their emotions and feelings. They tried to control evil urges by struggling to adhere to their moral or ethical codes. The situation was more or less the same in the Jewish world. Although the world of the Jews in Jesus’ day was ruled by morals and ethics based on the Torah, many people abandoned these rules, and indulged in sensual pleasures. The woman caught in the midst of adultery is a good example (cf. John 8:1-11). The young man in Jesus’ parable of the prodigal son is another (cf. Luke 15:11-32). A significant numer of people however endeavored to adopt a stoic way of life. The Phariees and teachers of the law are an example, John the Baptist’s disciples are another. 

But when Jesus came he introduced into the lives of men an entirely new wave. This wave was totally different from all other existing waves in that it gave men complete joy, and it was all for free. A man named Levi found this joy of life in Jesus. He was so happy that he held a huge banquet and invited a large crowd of people so that they too could taste this joy. 

But there was a problem: the neighbors started complaining. How did they complain? Look at verse 33. “They said to him, ‘John's disciples often fast and pray, and so do the disciples of the Pharisees, but yours go on eating and drinking.’” What did Jesus say to them? Look at verses 34-35.  “Jesus answered, ‘Can you make the guests of the bridegroom fast while he is with them? But the time will come when the bridegroom will be taken from them; in those days they will fast.’” Let us stop for a moment and think about their question to Jesus about fasting and praying and Jesus’ answer to their question for their question and Jesus’ answer reveal the divine key to attaining to life which can be enjoyed to the fullest extent possible.

John’s disciples practiced fasting and praying. What is the purpose of fasting and prayer? Its ultimate purpose is to secure God’s presence in one’s life. Fasting is an expression of self-denial. Prayer is an attempt to approach God. The Self is one of the greatest stumbling blocks that stand in the way to God. So, through fasting John’s disciples tried to get it out of the way. Then, through prayer they struggled hard to approach God, so they could meet God in person and have fellowship with Him. 

But the life in Jesus is the life that is already in God. It has been said, “Wherever there is Jesus, there is the kingdom of God.” So, as one is in Jesus Christ, the Kingdom of God has already rested in him. As one is in Jesus, so is he in God the Father who sent Jesus. Combine this truth with what King David says in Psalm 16:11. “You have made known to me the path of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence, with eternal pleasures at your right hand.” Here “the path of life” refers to Jesus Christ. Speaking of the same truth, Jesus said of himself, “I am the way, the truth, and the life” (John 14:6). He also said, “I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full” (John 10:10b). 

The secret key then is Jesus Christ himself. In revealing this key to us, it is interesting to note that Jesus describes himself as the bridegroom. “Can you make the guests of the bridegroom fast while he is with them?” This question raises another question. “Yes, I can understand that Jesus is the bridegroom. But who is the bride?” The answer is obvious. A man like Levi who accepted Jesus’ invitation is the bride. “Come, follow me,” Jesus said. Then what did Levi do? He got up, left everything, and followed Jesus (Luke 5:28). Two things here are important: leaving everything and then following Jesus. Leaving everything is not enough. It is just the beginning. It is the necessary preparation to invite the Kingdom of God in one’s life through following Jesus. John’s disciples tried to leave everything. But, they did not follow Jesus. That was the problem. But Levi did both. He then tasted God’s kingdom arising in him. He had the joy of salvation within him! He found the joy of the bride who met Jesus Christ, the true Prince Charming who came from the Father! 

Second, Jesus the new garment (36)

Of all those who pursued true happiness in Jesus’ day, John’s disciples were closest to reaching the goal. For example, in order to mean business in seeking a joyful life, they went through strict disciplines such as fasting and prayer. Jesus loved them. So Jesus explained to them further truths about why there is so much joy in him. In an effort to help them out, then, Jesus gave the parable of the garment. Look at verse 36. “He told them this parable: ‘No one tears a patch from a new garment and sews it on an old one. If he does, he will have torn the new garment, and the patch from the new will not match the old.’” Here Jesus compares himself, his teachings, and those who belong to him and follow his teachings, such as Levi to a “new garment,” whereas those who belong to John the Baptist or the Pharisees and their teachings to an “old garment.” The purpose of sharing this parable then is to prompt them to take off their old garments and put on the new garment, that is, Jesus and his teachings. 

As we know, garments protect us from the elements. They keep us warm during the winter. They also protect our skin from the heat on a hot summer’s day. With garments we also adorn ourselves so that depending on the kind of clothes we were we either look clean or filthy, beautiful or ugly, regal or common. Of course, people use uniforms to tell the world of your status as a soldier or nurse or as an employee at Taco Bell.

In Luke’s gospel there is an interesting parable – the parable of a lost son. The “prodigal son” left his father’s house for a distant country looking for something. He indulged in a wild life. After squandering his life, he became unhappy. Then he decided to return home. Upon his return he confessed that he had sinned against God and against his father. Interestingly, the first thing the father did was say to his servants, “Quick! Bring the best robe and put it on him!” 

Here the “best robe” (which the father’s servants quickly brought out of the father’s wardrobe closet) refers to Jesus Christ. This robe is heaven-made. Its brand name is “Righteousness from above.” Standing in contrast with this new robe is the old garment called our own righteousness which is man-made, the garment made from below. Symbolically, Genesis 3:7 calls it “fig leaves.” Isaiah 64:6 calls all man-made garments collectively “filthy rags.” But it is not so with Jesus Christ. Once you put on this brand new robe you earn the status as a child of God, no matter what. Levi earned this status by accepting Jesus’ invitation. He was a sinner of sinners. But by faith he got up, left everything, and followed Jesus. This is the second important key to living life to the full.

Third, Jesus the new wine (37-39) 

Taking off the old garments and putting on Jesus the new garment, is not all there is to the new life in the Lord. It is just the beginning. In order to have the complete joy of salvation, one must proceed to the next step of the work which Jesus is going to fulfill in the one who believes in Him. Jesus explains the next step in another parable, that is, the parable of new wine and the new wineskin. Look at verses 37-39. “And no one pours new wine into old wineskins. If he does, the new wine will burst the skins, the wine will run out and the wineskins will be ruined. No, new wine must be poured into new wineskins. And no one after drinking old wine wants the new, for he says, ‘The old is better.’” Wine is a frequent biblical idiom for the joy of salvation that comes from the Spirit of God. There is joy that comes from eating food. But there is joy that comes from the Spirit of God. The latter kind of joy is true joy. We say this joy is true joy because it does not depend on what is physical and therefore temporary such as the money sitting in your bank account. It does not depend up external conditions such as the kind of car you are driving or the kind of hairstyle you wear. This joy is purely dependant upon the Spirit which Jesus bestows upon those who put trust in Him and ask for it. 

The parable of the wine and wineskin then suggests that a man like an old wineskin cannot receive what Jesus came to offer. How can we become a man like a new wineskin? As the parable suggests, we need to let go of what is old (ways of thinking, habits, relationships, customs, etc.) and open ourselves up to Jesus, so he would fully work on us. Look at verses 37-39 again. “And no one pours new wine into old wineskins. If he does, the new wine will burst the skins, the wine will run out and the wineskins will be ruined. No, new wine must be poured into new wineskins. And no one after drinking old wine wants the new, for he says, ‘The old is better.’” 

New wineskin represents the new vessel which can hold new wine. The word “bursts” refers to the new wine’s capability to expand (or explode, if you will). On many occasions the joy that Jesus came to offer is so great that it virtually bursts inside of you. Often times it even explodes like the fireworks on the fourth of July. I used to live in Long Beach. Every Independence Day I used to go out to Ocean blvd to watch the fireworks display the Queen Mary. Of course we too did some fireworks in the parking lot at the Long Beach Center and now at the Downey Center, but our fireworks in our parking lot are virtually nothing. The fireworks that took place at the Queen Mary were fabulous. Such is the case with the joy that Jesus came to offer. 

In order to have this joy however one must be transformed daily into a new wineskin. How can one be a new wineskin? One way is to go by what the word “joy” itself stands for. It has been said that the word joy is an acronym for: Jesus first, Others second, and Yourself third. The Apostle Paul illustrated the same truth through his life’s example. Before he came to know Jesus Christ, he lived a life that seeks his own glory. But after he met the Risen Jesus on the way to Damascus, he changed the purpose of his life. As he said in Romans 1:5, he strove to live for the name’s sake of Jesus Christ. For Jesus’ name’s sake, he strove hard to preach the gospel to all peoples within the Roman Empire. In the course of serving the Lord and his gospel, he went through one hardship after another. Yet the more he suffered for Jesus’ Christ, the greater the joy of salvation became. So in the book of Philippians, for example, he exhorts his flock in the church of Philippi, “Rejoice in the Lord always! I say it again, ‘Rejoice!’” (Phil 4:4). 

Fourth, Jesus the Lord of Sabbath (6:1-5)

The life that follows Jesus comes with another feature: spiritual rest in the Lord. Let us read Luke 6:1-5. “One Sabbath Jesus was going through the grainfields, and his disciples began to pick some heads of grain, rub them in their hands and eat the kernels. Some of the Pharisees asked, ‘Why are you doing what is unlawful on the Sabbath?’ Jesus answered them, ‘Have you never read what David did when he and his companions were hungry? He entered the house of God, and taking the consecrated bread, he ate what is lawful only for priests to eat. And he also gave some to his companions.’ Then Jesus said to them, ‘The Son of Man is Lord of the Sabbath.’” Without solid knowledge of the Old Testament, such as Exodus 20, Deuteronomy 5, or 1 Samuel 21, it is difficult to explain all the details of the point of the argument the Pharisees were making or the defense Jesus came up with.

[Thankfully however the Lord God established a servant like the Apostle Paul who explains clearly the position we are to take in regard to the Sabbath law written in the Old Testament Scriptures. One of the places to go for a clear understanding of it is Colossians 2:6-17. Let us open the Bible and read the passage responsively.]

These passages indicate that the new life in Jesus is like a sheep lying on a green pasture where it can find all it needs for life – food, drink, joy, peace, joy, and rest. In Psalm 23, King David described it in a rather picturesque way: “The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not be in want. He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, he restores my soul. He guides me in paths of righteousness for his name's sake. Even though I walk    through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. Surely goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever.”  

Fifth, stretch out your hand (6:6-11)

In verses 6-11, Jesus confronts the Pharisees and the teachers of the law concerning a man with a shriveled hand. Let us read this passage responsively. 

“On another Sabbath he went into the synagogue and was teaching, and a man was there whose right hand was shriveled. The Pharisees and the teachers of the law were looking for a reason to accuse Jesus, so they watched him closely to see if he would heal on the Sabbath. But Jesus knew what they were thinking and said to the man with the shriveled hand, ‘Get up and stand in front of everyone.” So he got up and stood there. Then Jesus said to them, ‘I ask you, which is lawful on the Sabbath: to do good or to do evil, to save life or to destroy it?’ He looked around at them all, and then said to the man, ‘Stretch out your hand.’ He did so, and his hand was completely restored. But they were furious and began to discuss with one another what they might do to Jesus.” This passage shows us another important facet of the life that follows Jesus. First of all, this passage shows us a strong contrast between Jesus and the Pharisees and the teachers of the law. The burden of the contrast falls on poor souls like the man with a shriveled hand. In order to help the man out, Jesus risked his life. But these legalistic people tried to use the man to trap Jesus for helping him out. In addition, the way Jesus helped the man out teaches us that the life in Jesus is full of dynamism. 

In the passage, the man with a shriveled hand serves as a good example. Until this man met Jesus he lived a miserable life. Although it was only a hand that was shriveled up, it caused his entire life to shrivel up. When others went out and played basketball, he could not even think about going. When other kids at school ganged up against him, he did not even dare to stand up against them because when other kids hit him with two fists, he had to fight back only with one fist. In this way, the shriveled hand made his whole life shrivel up. But look at what Jesus did for him. Jesus asked him to do what no one ever asked him to do: “Get up, and stand up in front of everyone.” With a trembling heart, he obeyed. Then Jesus commanded him what was unthinkable: “Stretch out your hand!” Deeply touched by Jesus’ messianic love, by faith he obeyed: he stretched it out! And lo and behold! He was completely restored. 

From a spiritual standpoint, although many people have two hands that work just fine, they suffer because their spiritual hands are shriveled up. After the Korean War, the Koreans were just like that shriveled hand. After the War, the Korean economy collapsed. People were devastated. Then super power nations like the U.S. provided them with foreign aid. The foreign aid however made their shriveled minds and spirits shrivel up more. Enslaved by a beggar’s mentality, South Korean people sadly looked at the super power nations asking for help. But when the gospel was planted in their hearts, the Risen Jesus gave them a new Spirit. Through the help of powerful Christians such as Dr. Samuel Lee, they heard the voice of Jesus saying, “Stretch out your hand!” When they obeyed Jesus’ voice, the Risen Jesus restored their spiritual hands. They then picked up the spirit of giving, especially giving the gospel. 

In the early part of the 19^th century, the U.S. became a welfare state. Due to the influences of materialism and humanism, an increasing number of the citizens of this nation began depending on other people’s labor. Along with this unlucky trend is the sharp increase of the national debt. As of today, we, the U.S., are the world’s largest debtor nation. How can we reverse this trend? Jesus Christ is the answer. When we preach Jesus Christ and train people to go by Jesus’ teachings, the Risen Jesus will heal them of their shriveled hands. The Risen Jesus will teach them how to give rather than how to receive and receive and receive and then never give. And the Risen Jesus will teach us to give not only what is material but also what is spiritual, that is, the gospel of Jesus. 

One word: new wine into new wineskin!

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