What is the Meaning of New Wine Skins?
The other day, I received an email asking for some clarification on the meaning and teaching of one of Jesus’ parables about new wine skins. Let’s take a look at the letter, then we will discuss Jesus’ general usage of parables, the context and setting of the particular parable, and a look at its application both then and now.
I am reading from the book of Luke and I have always been puzzled by the parable of the patches and wine skins. What do they represent? And what about the last verse where no one wants the new wine?
Great questions and a real chance to look at some foundational teaching from Jesus.
Jesus’ Use of Parables
The language of the Bible is rich with metaphors and symbolism. Biblical authors told stories of historical fact, but they also used symbolism to teach spiritual truth. Symbolism, language that portrays concepts in figures, does not lessen the reality of the situation. In fact, it can enhance its power and truth.
Jesus used teaching that was full of symbolism. He described Himself as Light (John 8:12), a Shepherd (John 10:11), a Sower (Matthew 13:1-23; Mark 4:1-20; Luke 8:4-15), a Bridegroom (John 3:29), a Door (John 10:7), a Cornerstone (Isaiah 28:16, Psalm 118:22, Matthew 21:42, Mark 12:10, Luke 20:17), a Vine (John 15:1), Bread (John 6:32-33) and Water (John 4:10). He taught us that the kingdom of heaven was like a wedding feast (Matthew 22:2), a seed (Matthew 13:31), a tree (Matthew 13:31), a field (Matthew 13:44-46), a net (Matthew 13:47), and a pearl (Matthew 13:45). There are dozens more symbols like these in the Bible.
Another way that Jesus used figurative language was through the use of parables. The literal meaning of παραβολή (parable) – is “to throw alongside.” A biblical parable is a short story, generally thought to be fictitious, that illustrates a moral truth or religious principle through comparisons in the story.
The term parable is a broad, umbrella concept that can include proverbs (Luke 4:23), metaphorical or figurative sayings (Mark 7:14-17), similes (Luke 13:18-19), stories (Luke 14:16-24), examples (Luke 12:16-21) and allegories (Luke 20:9-19).
Jesus used parables to provide a concrete, physical illustration of a spiritual truth. Parables make an analogy – a comparison – between something that we understand to something that we do not comprehend. Parables also provide a filter, eliminating those who are either not spiritually minded or spiritually interested.
Wine and Wine Skins
The parable of the wine and the wine skins is found in Luke 5:33-39. The teaching is also found in Matthew 9:16-17 and Mark 2:21-22. Luke’s chapter begins with Jesus calling His first disciples. Peter, and his shipping partners James and John, are challenged to leave fishing on the docks and to follow Jesus to become “fishers of men.” The chapter continues with Jesus’ calling Levi, known also as Matthew, who was a tax collector. Apparently after the calling, these men – and perhaps their families – went out to feast and celebrate with Jesus.
When the Pharisees and Scribes saw the festivities, they complained that Jesus ate and drank with sinners. Hoping to cause a rift among the followers, the Jewish religious leaders even commented, “Both John (the Baptist)’s disciples and the disciples of the Pharisees fast and pray. But your disciples eat and celebrate.”
Prayer and fasting are religious disciplines – pointed toward drawing the believer closer to God. The two practices are activities which the Law prescribed on occasion. The Pharisees emphasized them as evidences of their own spiritual maturity and superiority. The fact they mentioned prayer and fasting spoke to their place in their understanding of the Law. You are righteous by or because of the depth of your deeds, of how you are able to keep the commands of the Law.
Jesus Answers with Two Comparisons
Luke makes mention that Jesus is about to speak in a parable (Luke 5:36). The other gospel writers do not use the word, probably assuming the reader’s knowledge of the usage. Matthew and Mark are arguably the first gospels, while Luke is writing to a more Gentile audience another twenty years later. The comparison truth seems to be clear – we will discuss its application in a moment – the new and the old are incompatible.
Old and New Cloth
The first analogy Jesus uses concerns cloth. Although styles and fads change through time and cultures, in the first century the practice was that you did not take a portion of a new piece of cloth to make a patch for an old garment. Luke uses the term “new” seven times in three short verses (Luke 5:36-38). In the midst of a setting where people were question why the disciples of Jesus did not spend their entire time praying and fasting, which the Pharisees insisted was a part of keeping the Law, Jesus is in the midst of teaching something new. We are not saved by keeping the Law; we are saved by God’s grace.
Luke a historian and traveling companion of the Apostle Paul. He was not present during the teaching ministry of Jesus. He no doubt saw copies of Matthew’s and perhaps Mark’s gospel. He tells us that he interviewed people who were present and were witnesses to the teachings and events in Jesus’ life (Luke 1:1-4). Perhaps this truth and this illustration from the Savior gave the physician a moment of pause and reflection. Luke, along with Paul, had been chased from town to town by Judaizers who believed sincerely that in order to become a Christian one must first become a faithful Jewish Law-follower. Luke must have grinned in agreement that the new cannot be an after-thought patching the problems of the old.
For Luke, patching the old with the new not only didn’t really help the old, more importantly it tore apart the new.
Old and New Wine Skins
Jesus continues with another analogy. New wine cannot be placed in old wine skins. Such an act will destroy both the new wine and the old wine skins. As the new wine ferments, the old wine skin is too rigid to hold the liquid. It is not pliable enough to keep from bursting, tearing apart the old and spilling out the new.
Although the comparisons differ, the application remains the same. One cannot place the amazing new concept of the gospel of grace in the old structure of the Jewish Law. The result would be neither gospel nor Judaism. The Pharisees here – as the Judaizers of Luke’s journeys – were attempting to do the impossible.
Jesus’ teaching is very clear in verse 38: “New wine must be poured into new wine skins.” The good news of the gospel cannot simply be new life and energy poured into the old structure and attempts at “Law-keeping” of Judaism. The gospel is going to need a new vehicle to deliver the message.
Mark’s Further Context
Luke and Mark follow a more strict chronology than either Matthew or John. Mark uses an interesting story in his gospel to follow this teaching. Notice its significance.
One Sabbath Jesus was going through the grain fields, and as his disciples walked along, they began to pick some heads of grain. 24 The Pharisees said to him, “Look, why are they doing what is unlawful on the Sabbath?”
25 He answered, “Have you never read what David did when he and his companions were hungry and in need? 26 In the days of Abiathar the high priest, he entered the house of God and ate the consecrated bread, which is lawful only for priests to eat. And he also gave some to his companions.”
27 Then he said to them, “The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath. 28 So the Son of Man is Lord even of the Sabbath” (Mark 2:23-28 NIV).
There was no more conclusive example of Law-keeping to the Pharisees than the keeping of the Sabbath. Shortly after His teaching about wine skins, the Pharisees made an issue of the keeping of the Sabbath laws. Jesus concludes that the Sabbath was made for men, rather than the other way around.
What About “The Old is Better”?
In the context of the other two analogies, can you hear someone saying, “But I liked the old better”? Surely the Pharisees were mumbling those thoughts. No one embraces change. “But we have always done it this way.” When you are used to drinking one wine – even if the liquid has a flavor of bitterness – it is difficult to try something new. Everyone says, “The old is better.”
The Pharisees stood in the shadow of the cross still saying, “The old is better.”
Is There Application Today?
The explanation of the differences between the old covenant and the new covenant are clear and true and applicable today. If there are lessons to apply today, we might look at the changes within the church to reach a more diverse, more “un-churched” audience. You cannot expect to combine the old methods with a new generation of unbelievers. While the message of the gospel must remain the same and truthful, its application and the methods of our presentation of it need to change. The heart of the audience had not changed for hundreds of years, but it is now a different world and culture. Our methods must change, even while many say, “The old is better.”