December 2nd THE PARABLES
December 2nd THE PARABLES
Wineskins (Luke 5:37-39)
Wineskins (Luke 5:37-39)
New wine must be put into new wineskins. But no one after drinking the old wine seems to want the fresh and the new. ‘The old ways are best,’ they say.
Luke 5:38-39, Living Bible
Luke 5:38-39, Living Bible
Context: “Have you heard? Levi has been converted! He has left his old job as a tax collector and changed his name to Matthew. There’s a party at his place later.” A mix of Pharisees and tax collectors turned up. The Pharisees were aware that the disciples of John fasted but were greatly offended by Jesus socializing with crooks and sinners. First, Jesus likened a relationship with him to a joyous wedding, not a mournful funeral. Then he used the parable above which showed the consequences of pouring new wine into dry, brittle animal skins – the pressure of the gas from the fermentation would break the skin and the wine would be lost.
Meaning: The Pharisees resisted change. The Lord was a threat to them because he released a new life, God’s life, in those who trusted him. In their zeal to be conservative the Pharisees became preservative. They were soaking their followers in the embalming fluid of lifeless traditions. Jesus’ message and way of life were effervescent. Try to mix Law with Grace, Moses with Christ, and both would be destroyed. If your liquor is law, you won’t guzzle grace. Law is like an acorn that dies to be transformed into an oak tree, so Christ will grow inside the New Covenant believer. No looking back longingly to the old dry ways; no wineskins of meritocracy; no partial patch-up religious job! (Num 11:4-6; John 2:10)
Application: You are not saved by Jesus plus rules, works or a denomination. Salvation is the pure unadulterated life of Christ transforming you from within. Has Jesus been poured into you?
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Salvation is not partial, temporary or mixed.
Salvation is not partial, temporary or mixed.