Matthew 9:14-17 (KJV)
Then came to him the disciples of John, saying, Why do we and the Pharisees fast oft, but thy disciples fast not?And Jesus said unto them, Can the children of the bridechamber mourn, as long as the bridegroom is with them? but the days will come, when the bridegroom shall be taken from them, and then shall they fast.No man putteth a piece of new cloth unto an old garment, for that which is put in to fill it up taketh from the garment, and the rent is made worse.Neither do men put new wine into old bottles: else the bottles break, and the wine runneth out, and the bottles perish: but they put new wine into new bottles, and both are preserved.
Then came to him the disciples of John, saying, Why do we and the Pharisees fast oft, but thy disciples fast not?And Jesus said unto them, Can the children of the bridechamber mourn, as long as the bridegroom is with them? but the days will come, when the bridegroom shall be taken from them, and then shall they fast.No man putteth a piece of new cloth unto an old garment, for that which is put in to fill it up taketh from the garment, and the rent is made worse.Neither do men put new wine into old bottles: else the bottles break, and the wine runneth out, and the bottles perish: but they put new wine into new bottles, and both are preserved.
We would do wrong to miss the connection between the question about fasting and the parable about new wine in new bottles.
These “disciples of John” were stuck in a middle ground spot between Old Testament Mosaic Law and New Testament Law of Christ. They had not come out of Judaism. They were, I believe, the Judaizers Paul contended with all his life and the Messianic Jews of modernity.
The message of Christ is that this new covenant required a new container with a new law. There would be fasting in the New Testament as there would be worship but it would not be the same as the Old. When Christ left this earth then believers entered a “new container”. Judaism, the synagogue and the Old Testament rituals were replaced with Christianity, the local Church and New Testament faith.
To my reader:
Paul wrestled all his life with those who attempted to marry the Old Testament with the New. There is a place for the Old Testament today, but it is not for our practice. It serves as an illustration and example. We are to come out of any system of religion that blends religious effort with faith in Christ. The Christian serves, but out of devotion and love, not in an effort to win righteousness before God. I would love to hear from you. Leave comments below.
Paul wrestled all his life with those who attempted to marry the Old Testament with the New. There is a place for the Old Testament today, but it is not for our practice. It serves as an illustration and example. We are to come out of any system of religion that blends religious effort with faith in Christ. The Christian serves, but out of devotion and love, not in an effort to win righteousness before God. I would love to hear from you. Leave comments below.
Matthew 9:14-17 (KJV) New Wine in New Bottles
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