Matt 9:14-17 "New Wine and the New Man"

Good Morning Calvary Chapel Lake City! Please turn in your Bibles to Matt 9. We are continuing our verse-by-verse study through the Gospel of Matthew, presently looking at Matthew’s presentation of various ways Jesus has Kingly authority.

Last week, we examined Jesus’ encounter with the paralyzed man who was let down through the roof by his friends. Jesus forgave his sins and then healed his body, demonstrating the superiority of spiritual healing over physical healing.

We also saw Matthew’s testimony when he decided to follow Jesus. Just one simple verse, Jesus approached Matthew at the tax office said, “Follow Me,” and Matthew left all and followed Jesus. He just needed something real. Afterwards, Matthew held a great feast at his house with many tax collectors and sinners, and they followed Jesus!

What a day! Many people came to Jesus, He demonstrates His authority to forgive sins, people are getting healed and following God, but along came the Pharisees questioning why Jesus would eat with or unite with tax collectors and sinners? A little rain on the parade. Jesus answered, ‘they are sick...” and Jesus is the Great Physician.

Now, right after Jesus spoke to the Pharisees, in this same scene at Matthew’s house, John the Baptist’s disciples come to Jesus with a question, and Matthew will show us that Jesus has authority over traditions, as we look at the parable of the cloth and wineskins.

The title of today’s message is “New Wine and the New Man.”

Let’s Pray!

Matt 9:14 “Then the disciples of John came to Him, saying, “Why do we and the Pharisees fast often, but Your disciples do not fast?””

So, John the Baptist’s disciples…these were Jewish men in a very unique ministry. They were calling the nation of Israel to repentance and preparing their hearts to place faith in Jesus. Their ministry was accurate, but not complete, because it was a ministry of preparation, not a ministry of completion.

After Jesus ascended and the Holy Spirit came, we see the results of those who continued to follow John’s ministry…they lacked the in-dwelling of the Holy Spirit.

It was said of Apollos, at the end of Acts 18, that he was “an eloquent man and mighty in the scriptures...” and that he “...taught accurately the things of the Lord, though he knew only the baptism of John.” And, we know the rest of that account...Aquila and Priscilla explained to him the way of God more accurately.

At the beginning of Acts 19, Paul encountered other disciples who were baptized “into John’s baptism.” Paul baptized them again in the name of the Lord Jesus and the Holy Spirit came upon them.

So, John’s ministry foreshadowed what would be accomplished in Jesus Christ and the coming of the Holy Spirit.

Notice John is not with his disciples. It is thought he was imprisoned at this time for calling out Herod and Herodias for their unlawful union.

Also, notice the disciples of John have no problem coming directly to Jesus with inquiries,... which shows their sincerity…this is an honest question. As opposed to the Pharisees who do not come to Jesus directly, but instead ask the disciples- indicating insincerity.

And, if you think that’s not enough evidence, just read on…there are plenty of examples of the wickedness of the Pharisees and their plots against Jesus.

John’s disciples ask a two-part question…why do we fast often…why don’t your disciples fast? Again, honest questions:

But, Jesus only answers the second half. He doesn’t address why John’s disciples and the Pharisees are fasting often. It’s a complicated question and somewhat foolish… “Why do we fast often?”

I can picture Jesus thinking, ‘If you don’t know why you fast, why would I tell you?’

It’s a complicated question in consideration of the motives for fasts, the frequency of fasting, two different groups (John’s disciples and the Pharisees)…there are many considerations, so perhaps this is why Jesus doesn’t answer.

The motives for fasting between John’s disciples and the Pharisees were likely and hopefully quite different.

Hopefully, John’s disciples were fasting often with a sincere motivation that people would come to repentance, as was a key theme in John’s ministry…for people to turn from sin and to the Lord.

OT fasting was most often associated with mourning. However, Pharisees fasted out of tradition and pride...to be seen by men, for the praise of men. Recall the pompous and self-righteous prayer of the Pharisee ‘God, I thank You that I am not like other men—extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this tax collector. I fast twice a week; I give tithes of all that I possess.’” Luke 18:11-12

Fasting in the first century had become a legalistic tradition far beyond what was ever prescribed. In the Pharisees prayer he said “I fast twice a week...” That’s 104 fasts in a year! Yet, Mosaic law only commanded one fast per year on the Day of Atonement...the Pharisees took it well beyond it’s original intent.

The first part of this question was complex, and in wisdom Jesus does not respond.

This is a good lesson for us…there is wisdom in choosing our words wisely, and sometimes not responding at all...

Pro 26:4 “Do not answer a fool according to his folly, Lest you also be like him.”

Pro 17:27-28 “Whoever restrains his words has knowledge, and he who has a cool spirit is a man of understanding. 28 Even a fool who keeps silent is considered wise; when he closes his lips, he is deemed intelligent.”

Jesus does not prescribe total silence to John’s disciples (like He did when He was on trial before Herod…and what does that say about Herod? He was a fool)...To the second part of the question… ‘Why don’t your disciples fast?’ Jesus responds...

Matt 9:15 “And Jesus said to them, “Can the friends of the bridegroom mourn as long as the bridegroom is with them? But the days will come when the bridegroom will be taken away from them, and then they will fast.

To John’s disciples, Jesus responds to a straight forward question with a parable, and Jesus had good reasons as we will see in a moment.

But, this would drive me crazy. Have you ever asked someone a straight forward question, and they respond with an elusive or cryptic answer? Their answer is “a riddle wrapped in a mystery inside an enigma.”

(Here’s your history lesson today...Who said that quote? Winston Churchill. He used that phrase to describe Russia in a 1939 broadcast.)

Later in Jesus’ ministry, in John 16, there is a humorous dialogue between Jesus and the disciples about Jesus speech, Jesus says in John 16:25 “These things I have spoken to you in figurative language [ex. parable, proverb, allegory, bywords, etc.]; but the time is coming when I will no longer speak to you in figurative language, but I will tell you plainly about the Father.”

I love the Disciples response, a few verses later, they say, “See, now You are speaking plainly, and using no figure of speech!” One scholar wrote, “...they eagerly express their satisfaction, as if glad to make anything of His words.” -JFB

It wasn’t as if Jesus was trying to be elusive or difficult, but He did speak in figurative language often, but with good purpose as explained in Matt 13.

In Matthew 13, Jesus teaches the multitudes repetitively in Parables, to the point His disciples question “Why do You speak to them in parables?”

Jesus responds, Matt 13:11-14 “Because it has been given to you [believers] to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them [unbelievers] it has not been given. 12 For whoever has, to him more will be given, and he will have abundance; but whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken away from him. 13 Therefore I speak to them in parables, because seeing they do not see, and hearing they do not hear, nor do they understand [unbelievers have no spiritual intelligence, nor spiritual sight or hearing]. 14 And in them the prophecy of Isaiah is fulfilled, which says: ‘Hearing you will hear and shall not understand, And seeing you will see and not perceive...”

So, three reasons why Jesus spoke in Parables:

First, he was revealing truths to His disciples [believers], as seen in the words “to you.” “…it has been given to you to know the mysteries...” They could unravel the mysteries or discover the truths in the parables, because their eyes were opened spiritually.

Second, He was hiding spiritual truths from unbelievers, as seen in the words “…to them it has not been given…they do not see.” Unbelievers were spiritually blind and could not understand the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven. It’s the same today, and unbelievers will quickly mock you for spiritual things that are impossible for them to comprehend.

Third, Jesus spoke in parables to fulfill prophecy. Isaiah 6:9-10. When Isaiah began his ministry, the people did not understand his message either...which was the near fulfillment to the ultimate fulfillment in Jesus’ ministry.

So, let’s take a look at this response of Jesus’.

The parable displays a bridegroom and his friends. Jesus is being portrayed as the bridegroom and the disciples as the friends. In John 3, John the Baptist referred to himself as a friend of the bridegroom, so this illustration should have resonated with John’s disciples.

A wedding feast is a celebration…a happy time, and it would be inappropriate to have a fast at this occasion. Have you ever been to a wedding where they had no food? I haven’t.

And, what Jesus is stating here is that He is that Messianic bridegroom the Jews were waiting upon. The Messianic age was upon them and it was a time of celebration. Numerous Messianic prophecies were being fulfilled, and joy should have been paramount.

What was inappropriate during this scene was the reality that John’s disciples and the Pharisees were fasting while Jesus was present.

Fasting in the OT was typically associated with mourning, or in response to disaster or suffering. The Pharisees fasted often, but it had become tradition or ritualistic, very likely they did not maintain a true heart of mourning for the nation and it’s sin. John’s disciples likely mourned over sin and fasted for the nation to repent. But, again you don’t mourn when a wedding celebration is at hand.

And, perhaps this is another reason Jesus did not answer the first part of their question, “Why do we fast often?” Jesus’ very presence made this time inappropriate for fasting.

In the second half of Jesus’ response to John’s disciples, verse 15, Jesus looks forward to a coming day when the bridegroom will be taken away, and then the friends will fast.

Now what does “taken away” mean?

Throughout Jesus’ ministry we will see Him make statements prophesying His passion, death, and resurrection. I believe what is in view here is one such statement....yet a subtle statement hinting at His rejection.

It’s doubtful that the disciples pick up on this reference so early in Jesus’ ministry since they are confused later when Jesus make more explicit statements..which is not surprising. Can you imagine trying to comprehend everything Jesus was teaching and the miracles and the prophetic statements?

Jesus states after He is taken away, then the disciples will fast, and indeed, in the book of Acts, we observe several times when the disciples fast (e.g., Acts 13:3; 14:23; 27:9).

A key principal Jesus is explaining to John’s disciples regarding their traditions of fasting is that now that Messiah has come, things have changed. And, this was no small change. For centuries they had been living under the Mosiac law.

To further illustrate and help them understand, Jesus shares what we call the ‘Parable of the Cloth and Wineskins.’

And, this is indeed a parable as Luke specifically titles this a parable in Luke 5:36. So, here’s the parable...

Matt 9:16 “No one puts a piece of unshrunk cloth on an old garment; for the patch pulls away from the garment, and the tear is made worse.” [Luke adds, “...also the piece that was taken out of the new does not match the old.]

Keep in mind, Jesus is still addressing John the Baptist’s disciples. This is a continuation of Jesus’ response to their question about ‘Why do we fast, and your disciples do not fast.’ An important detail to fully grasp the context.

We see in this parable that there is a comparison of the old garment and the new garment.

If an old sweater, that has already been through the wash and shrunk, tears... it would be unwise to fix the old sweater with a patch that is new and has not shrunk. When the patch shrinks, it will rip the sweater. Luke also adds the old and new fabrics do not match…they are incompatible.

So, what is Jesus driving at?

The old and new garments are symbolic of the Old Covenant and the New Covenant and their differences.

The first part of this parable focuses on the old…which is a lesson for John’s disciples as they are trying to understand Jesus’ new ways that seem incompatible with Judaism.

John the Baptist was the last of the Old Testament Prophets. His ministry was one of repentance and pointing to Jesus, but he and his disciples still clung to the old ways…the Old Covenant.

Both the Old Covenant and the New Covenant point to the Messiah and coming to Him in faith, but the Old speaks about living by the law, and the New speaks about living by grace.

They are both good systems, but they are different…written to different people groups in different times with different purposes.

To try to patch up the Law with Grace will not work…not only are they incompatible, but the pairing could be destructive as well.

And, so Jesus’ message to John’s disciples is ‘I am not here to “patch up” or reform Judaism, but to begin anew…new wine…a new covenant.

Jesus said, “Do not think that I came to destroy the Law or the Prophets. I did not come to destroy but to fulfill.” Matt 5:17. The purpose of the Law was to be a schoolmaster, a tutor to instruct it’s students that they could not keep the law and they needed a Savior. The Law pointed to the Messiah…to Jesus.

And, now that He has come, He is instituting an entirely new covenant, which replaces the old, and will go beyond the old… giving His followers new direction and new instruction for this new Messianic age…this church age.

I have a side story about this verse…this is actually one of my favorite verses. In late 2012, my Pastor sent my good friend Matt Myers and I to this 10-day Bible retreat for people feeling called into ministry. It was awesome. Numerous Calvary Chapel Pastors taught us doctrine for 10 days. And, it was held at this historic mansion called “The Castle,” in beautiful NW Pennsylvania.

So, on one of the final days they were having an afterglow…where we were being open to the Spirit…we were praying, worshipping, and people were sharing prayer requests and testimonies.

And, this one young lady, who I didn’t know, shared something brief and people were praying over her…and as we were praying and waiting to see if the Lord had anything for her... all the sudden Matt 9:16 just resonated in my head.

And, honestly this was kind of awkward for me. This had never happened, and I had some doubts this verse popping in my head was really from the Lord.

I didn’t want to just shout out, “Thus sayeth the Lord....Matt 9:16…that’s for you.”

What if the verse was like:

Gal 5:12 “I wish those who are disturbing you might also get themselves castrated!”

1 Cor 14:33 “...the women should keep silent in the churches.”

There are just some verses that would be a bit awkward to say in that setting, especially to a female.

So, I grabbed my KJV, and looked up the verse, “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.”

I wasn’t familiar with the verse, and the Old English wasn’t helping, so I didn’t feel any further along in my confidence.

At this point they moved on and they were praying for someone else, but I felt like this verse was for her. SO, I stepped out in faith, I raised my hand and said, “Uhhh, so…when you were praying, all the sudden Matt 9:16 popped in my head as a verse for you, but I don’t understand what it means. I haven’t studied it, so I’ll just read it and you do with it what you want...” I was really tip-toeing.

And, I read the verse, and one of the Pastors just said, “Mmm…new wineskins.” I had no idea what he was talking about.

Later on, people came to me and told me how much that verse impacted her because what I didn’t know was her mom was part of a cult and was discouraging her break from the cult and coming to Calvary Chapel. The mom was telling her to come back.

And, this verse ministered to her, and confirmed to her that she shouldn’t go back. And, the fact that God used a talking donkey to deliver the message just made all the more impactful.

This is what 1 Cor 12:8 calls a “word of knowledge.” It wasn’t a “word of wisdom,” because I had no wisdom to offer, only knowledge. That’s a simple way to distinguish those gifts.

I’m glad I stepped out and shared that verse with that young lady. I have no idea the total impact today, but that’s not my job. My job is to trust and obey.

Back to Matthew. Jesus next talks about new wine, continuing with another illustration of what happens if one tries to fit the old system into the new.

Matt 9:17 “Nor do they put new wine into old wineskins, or else the wineskins break, the wine is spilled, and the wineskins are ruined. But they put new wine into new wineskins, and both are preserved.”

The new wine represents the New Covenant, and old the Old. Putting new wine in old wineskins will cause destruction.

Ancient wineskins were made not of glass, but of animals skins (slide), thus they were flexible allowing for growth. Old wineskins were not flexible, but brittle. You might say, ‘set in their way.’ And, as new wine ferments, it off gases carbon dioxide, and the off gassing would cause the old wineskin to break, the wine to spill and all would be ruined.

The Jewish institution that was following the OT law and traditions were likened to the old wineskins that lost it’s elasticity.

Christians and Jesus’ new institution, the Church, which follows the New Covenant and grace are likened to new wineskins.

And by putting new wine (the New Covenant) into new wineskins (Christians…the church)…both the New Covenant and the Church are preserved (by def. “to keep close”). We are the vessel, the wineskin, that holds the New Covenant, the wine…neat illustration.

The phrase “both are preserved” has raised debate amongst scholars. Does “both are preserved” reference the “new wine and new wineskins?” Or, is Jesus referencing preservation of the old wine and the new wine…the Old Covenant and the New Covenant. What is being preserved?

As it reads, it seems Jesus is talking about the new wine and new wineskins being preserved. The new system is preserved. And, we are still under that new covenant of grace…it has been preserved…the church is still preserved…2000 years later the church remains.

The argument for the preservation of the Old and New Covenants lies in Jesus statement, Matt 5:17-18 “Do not think that I came to destroy the Law or the Prophets. I did not come to destroy but to fulfill. 18 For assuredly, I say to you, till heaven and earth pass away, one jot or one tittle will by no means pass from the law till all is fulfilled.”

And, I think you can make a good argument there, but I lean towards new wine and new wineskins being preserved.

There are those who recklessly want to redefine what “new wine” means and they want to do away with traditions of teaching the bible, they forsake doctrine, and living lives of holiness.

Good people, listen to me…don’t fall for that nonsense. Forsaking sound doctrine and living in compromise is not “new wine”…it’s something else…it’s maybe being under the influence of too much wine… whatever it is, it’s not good.

In 2 Tim, Paul warned and exhorted, 2 Tim 4:3-4 “For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but wanting to have their ears tickled, they will accumulate for themselves teachers in accordance to their own desires, 4 and will turn away their ears from the truth and will turn aside to myths.” Just look at the world today…I’d say this has been fulfilled.

Luke adds an additional statement, Lk 5:39 “And no one, having drunk old wine, immediately desires new; for he says, ‘The old is better.” And, such it was with the religious leaders, they did not desire the new because change is difficult. It’s human nature to cling to the past, even when God reveals Himself.

Jesus revealed Himself to these religious leaders and they would not change. And, Jesus is revealing Himself everyday to people. There is a broad road of people heading toward destruction, and a narrow road of people heading towards life.

Putting all of these parables together, we see a pattern of things that do not mix…feasting and fasting; a new patch on an old garment, and new wine in old wineskins. They were all incompatible…just as trying to fit the tenets of the New Covenant into the Old Covenant would not work. There was a time for the Old Covenant, but Jesus fulfilled the law which dawned the New Covenant...a time of Grace.

For John the Baptist’s disciples and for the Pharisees this was no doubt a difficult message to comprehend. For centuries they were living under the Mosaic law, and now Messiah had come...change had come…and change is difficult.

Applying this teaching to our lives here in the 21st century is a little difficult as well. Most or all of us were not raised under the Mosaic law and then converted to Christianity…this was not our experience, and that’s the prime scenario of these parables.

Probably the closest comparison for us would be if you grew up an ultra religious, legalistic, or even cultist religious system, and then you found truth and freedom in Jesus Christ. I can see the old and new comparison in that scenario.

Some of you were born into Christian homes, and you’ve only known Christianity…that’s the ideal situation.

Other were born into non-religious or mostly worldly homes. This was my upbringing. We went to Catholic church on Sundays, but life was more about seeking personal gain and enjoying life’s pleasures. That was the “religion” of my family.

In some ways this last scenario was not too far off from the Ephesian culture. Many Ephesians were Gentiles who sought personal gain and life’s pleasures, shrouded by a Roman religious system, but very hedonistic. You can see on the map behind me that Ephesus was a Roman port city in Asia Minor, modern day Turkey. Important city…lot’s of worldly influences.

When Paul wrote to the Ephesians, his audience was a mixture of Jewish and Gentile believers and Paul wrote to unify them as one in Christ. In Ephesians chapter 4, Paul specifically addresses the Gentiles, and I think there is a great point of application for what it’s like as a Gentile today to go from the ‘old’ to the ‘new.’ Go ahead and turn to Ephesians 4.

The Ephesians, and many of us, can relate to the “old man” and the “new man.” We can relate to the change that dawned in our hearts when we accepted Christ and His Holy Spirit in-dwelt us...when we became a new person. And, we can relate to the ongoing battle between our flesh and our spirit. Our flesh wants to go back to the ways of the old man…the life of the flesh…the life of sin and darkness.

Let’s take a look at Paul’s advice to these Gentile believers…

Eph 4:17-24 “This I say, therefore, and testify in the Lord, that you should no longer walk [implying they once walked this way…] as the rest of the Gentiles walk, in the futility of their mind, [that’s a life without purpose…without fruit…empty] 18 having their understanding darkened, being alienated [or separated] from the life of God, because of the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness [or hardness] of their heart; [meaning they do not believe] 19 who, being past feeling, [their conscience is seared] have given themselves over to lewdness, [sensuality; licentiousness] to work all uncleanness with greediness [they have a continual desire for impurity…verses 17-19 describe the old man…who we were before Christ]. 20 But you have not so learned Christ, [“this isn’t what you learned about Christ”] 21 if indeed you have heard Him and have been taught by Him, as the truth is in Jesus: 22 that you put off, concerning your former conduct, the old man which grows corrupt according to the deceitful lusts, [our old self or former nature is corrupted by lying desires…all that is in the world; scholar William MacDonald described these deceitful lusts as: “evil cravings which are pleasant and promising in anticipation but hideous and disappointing in retrospect.”] 23 and be renewed in the spirit of your mind, [Rom 12:2 comes to mind… “do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.”] 24 and that you put on the new man which was created according to God, in true righteousness and holiness.”

I don’t know about you, but where I relate to this. I had an “old man,” and an “old, old man.” My wife only me the “old man,” who had issues, but there was and “old, old man” who was something else…a hot mess. Both of these men died when I was born again, and especially when I was baptized by His Holy Spirit.

Paul continues in his letter to the Ephesians with practical examples of the behaviors to put off, and those to put on, and I recommend you study that on your own time. But there is a similar list in Colossians Chapter 3 (turn there)…just 2 books to your right. I like the strong language Paul uses to the Colossians. Colossae was also in Asia Minor…120 mile East of Ephesus…a much smaller community.

To the Colossians, Paul said, starting in Col 3:5 “Therefore put to death [not just “put off”, but put to death…stronger language. In Rom 6:11, Paul wrote, “...reckon yourselves to be dead indeed to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus our Lord.” So, “put to death”...] your members which are on the earth: fornication, uncleanness, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry. 6 Because of these things the wrath of God is coming upon the sons of disobedience, 7 in which you yourselves once walked when you lived in them [many of us can relate to this…we lived for sin prior to salvation in Jesus Christ]. 8 But now you yourselves are to put off all these: anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy language out of your mouth. 9 Do not lie to one another, since you have put off the old man with his deeds, 10 and have put on the new man who is renewed in knowledge according to the image of Him who created him, 11 where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcised nor uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave nor free, but Christ is all and in all [God is not partial…all people are equal]. 12 Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, put on tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering; 13 bearing with one another, and forgiving one another, [this is what your character as a Christ follower should be] if anyone has a complaint against another; even as Christ forgave you, so you also must do. 14 But above all these things put on love, which is the bond of perfection.”

If you read this list and know you have not yet arrived, your in good company. Congratulations for being human.

Pastor Martin Luther King said, “I may not be the man I want to be; I may not be the man I ought to be; I may not be the man I could be; I may not be the man I truly can be; but praise God, I’m not the man I once was.” This past Monday was MLK Day…great timing for that quote.

There are much better things in the new than the old. This was true for John’s disciples as they stood at the precipice of change from the Old to the New Covenant. And, it is true for every unbeliever as they stand at the precipice of change from unbelief to faith in Jesus Christ.

In the New Covenant, and the new life in Christ Jesus we inherit eternal prizes: salvation, Christ-likeness, joint-heirship with Jesus, spiritual blessings, glorified bodies, a heavenly home in the presence of God, and countless other blessings.

The new wine in new wineskins is far superior to the old.

Worship Team Come.

I really hope you don’t miss the old life before Christ, but if you do...pray the Lord to take that away. I saw a 90’s grunge music video pop up on Facebook this past week and it took me back to my teen years…the Grunge scene…the Rave scene, dysfunctional kids who lived for the flesh. My “old, old man.” Life was just like that quote I mentioned earlier “...evil cravings which are pleasant and promising in anticipation but hideous and disappointing in retrospect.” That was my life experience in the late 90’s. I can’t let my mind go back to that place…

And, whatever your life was before Christ, you can’t go back to that place either. This life is but a vapor and sin is only pleasurable for a season...Don’t “give place to the devil.”

Be exhorted by this verse Paul wrote to the Ephesians, “For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light.” Eph 5:8.

Amen?

Let’s pray!

Next week, we will continue looking at lives restored by Christ. Read ahead in Matthew 9.

I do hope you have a great week in the Lord! May the Lord bless you and keep you and cause His face to shine upon you in love!