Our next parable really has us searching the Scriptures! Reading this parable in the other two gospels that it is mentioned doesn't really shed light on the meaning. Only by comparing the words in different Scriptures will we find out the meaning behind it.
Luke 5:36-39- And he spake also a parable unto them; No man putteth a piece of a new garment upon an old; if otherwise, then both the new maketh a rent, and the piece that was taken out of the new agreeth not with the old. And no man putteth new wine into old bottles; else the new wine will burst the bottles, and be spilled, and the bottles shall perish. But new wine must be put into new bottles; and both are preserved. No man also having drunk old wine straightway desireth new: for he saith, The old is better.
This parable seems odd. But it is in response to something the religious leaders asked Him.
Luke 5:33-35- And they said unto him, Why do the disciples of John fast often, and make prayers, and likewise the disciples of the Pharisees; but thine eat and drink? And he said unto them, Can ye make the children of the bridechamber fast, while the bridegroom is with them? But the days will come, when the bridegroom shall be taken away from them, and then shall they fast in those days.
The scribes and pharisees wanted to know why Jesus' disciples didn't fast. Jesus told them that He was the bridegroom, and they couldn't fast in His presence. He was implying that He was here for a Bride! Isn't it lovely how many hints Jesus dropped during His ministry that people just couldn't understand until later?
Jesus told them that once the Bridegroom was taken from them (killed and resurrected) that they would then start to fast. And then He follows it with our parable about a garment and wine bottles.
He says that an old garment doesn't get a new piece put into it, because the new could make the old worse. You have to change the whole thing.
Psalm 102:25-27- Of old hast thou laid the foundation of the earth: and the heavens are the work of thy hands. They shall perish, but thou shalt endure: yea, all of them shall wax old like a garment; as a vesture shalt thou change them, and they shall be changed: But thou art the same, and thy years shall have no end.
Paul repeats these verses in Hebrews 1:10-12- And, Thou, Lord, in the beginning hast laid the foundation of the earth; and the heavens are the works of thine hands: They shall perish; but thou remainest; and they all shall wax old as doth a garment; And as a vesture shalt thou fold them up, and they shall be changed: but thou art the same, and thy years shall not fail.
Jesus is telling them when the disciples start fasting that something has changed, and they can't go back to the old because the two don't agree.
Grape juice changes as it ages. If you put grape juice into an old bottle, as it ferments and gets bubbly it could will cause pressure to build up inside and any weakness in an old bottle will give way and the bottle will burst.
Again, Jesus is pointing to the need for change, but He knows how hard it is for people to accept change. That's why He says they would desire the old.
The old way of being able to take care of my sins through my works of keeping the law and bringing sacrifices was comfortable for the Jews. But Christ was going to pay the wages of sin. And this was going to change everything!
The Jews wouldn't need a temple anymore because our body would be the temple and we would carry the Holy Ghost with us where ever we went.
I Corinthians 6:19- What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own?
The Jews wouldn't need a priest anymore because each Christian is a priest able to come before the throne of God and obtain mercy.
Revelation1:5-6- And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth. Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood, And hath made us kings and priests unto God and his Father; to him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.
Hebrews 4:16- Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.
The Jews wouldn't need a sacrifice anymore because Christ paid the eternal price when He died on the cross! From now on the Christian is to offer their lives as living sacrifices in the service of the Lord.
Hebrews 10:12- But this man, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the right hand of God;
Romans 12:1- I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.
No longer would they be responsible for keeping the letter of the law to obtain freedom from hell!
Romans 10:4- For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth.
But the religious leaders liked the old ways. It gave them a position, and leverage, and respect, and power. They were able to brag about how righteous they were in the flesh. They didn't want things to change!
But God had promised Adam and Eve long ago that He would take care of the curse of sin, and God doesn't break His promises, even if it seems like a long time has passed before He fulfills them.
