New Wine into New Bottles Matthew 9:17

 Matthew the apostle shared how there, “came to him the disciples of John, saying, Why do we and the Pharisees fast often, but your disciples fast not? And Jesus said unto them, Can the children of the bride-chamber 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 puts a piece of new cloth unto an old garment, for that which is put in to fill it up takes from the garment, and the rent is made worse.” In chapter nine and verse seventeen of his book, Matthew shared how Jesus said, “neither do men put new wine into old bottles” where we read:

Neither do men put new wine into old bottles: else the bottles break, and the wine runs out, and the bottles perish: but they put new wine into new bottles, and both are preserved.

The verse reads, “Neither do men put new wine into old bottles: else the bottles break, and the wine runs out, and the bottles perish:” Matthew began with the word, “neither” or “no and in no way” “do men” which means “do people whether male or female” “put new wine” or “pour and insert resent and fresh wine as from grapes” “into old bottles” which refers to “into ancient, worse for the wear and antique leather bags, bottles or skins into which wine was kept”: “else” which means “if and whether” “the bottles break” which means “the leather bags, bottles or skins into which wine was kept break up, burst, distort, convulse and tear in pieces”, “and the wine” or “and the wine as from grapes” “runs out” which means “pours, gushes and spills forth”, “and the bottles perish” or “and the leather bags, bottles or skins into which wine was kept are destroyed, lost, ruined and entirely abolished”. Matthew shared how Jesus told the Pharisees no one puts “new wine” into old “wineskins” because the “wineskins” would burst, the wine would run out and the “wineskins” themselves would be destroyed.

The verse goes on to say, “but they put new wine into new bottles, and both are preserved.” Matthew continued with the word, “but” or “notwithstanding, nevertheless, nay, moreover and rather” “they put new wine” which means “people pour and insert resent and fresh wine as from grapes” “into new bottles” or “into fresh and resent leather bags, bottles or skins into which wine was kept”, “and both” which means “and the wine and the wineskins” “are preserved” which means “are kept and conserved”. Matthew shared how Jesus continued His words with the Pharisees as He referred to the way people “pour” “new wine” into “new wineskins” so that both the “wine” and the “wineskins” are conserved and not destroyed.

When we meditate upon Matthew's words in this verse, we see how Jesus employed yet another example of the way “new things” are introduced. This time He used the example of not putting “new wine” into “old wineskins” because the fermentation process would cause the old “bottles” to burst open. This would cause a waste of the “wine” poured inside, and the “old wineskin” would no longer be of any use. However, when people put “new wine” into “fresh and recently” made “wineskins”, the fermentation process would be the same, but the “new wineskin” would be able to stretch with the swelling that occurs. God desires for people to be as “new wineskins” into which the “new ideas” and “plans” He has in mind will be able to acclimate to their environment. His Son Jesus came to introduce “new ways” to the people, and though the Pharisees would criticize Him, (like old inflexible wineskins), He would continue to share with everyone who would listen to and obey Him. May all who read these words examine what type of “bottle” they are as “new wine” is poured into them from the Lord.

Next time Matthew shares how a “certain ruler” tells Jesus, “my daughter is even now dead”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

Look for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, “One Year in the Sermon on the Mount” and the new poetry book "Random Mushrooms Volumes I and II" and the new novel "Elizabeth County" in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com ; http://www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore.