New Wine in Old Wineskins

New Wine in Old Wineskins    

              

Matthew 9:16-17; Mark 2:21-22; Luke 5:36-39

In this parable Jesus is speaking to the incompatibility of the Old Covenent/Judaism and the new one which is based on Gospel, grace, kingdom and church.  Grace and law do not mix.  Jesus is telling us that the Gospel is new and not to be intertwined into the old but whole by itself, entirely different, not to be integrated into the legalism of the old, Judaism is incompatible with Christianity.  Before today, I never knew that was what He was talking about.  

Yesterday I was on the receiving end of someone trying to mix the old law with new law.  Well, really they were just putting some "old" law on me and forgetting completely about the "new".  They put their “rules” before another human beings feelings and potential to serve God.  I know their intentions were "justified" to be good intentions, but unfortunately I felt they were blind to the larger picture.  I was majorly disappointed in how this person was viewing another and was stumped as to why they were unable to see the potential and instead wanted to make a judgement and put them in a “box” that seemingly made them unusable and unwanted.

God can use broken people and people who are struggling with sin.   My broken parts are what makes me able to relate to others and gives me an opportunity to share my testimony and then I can give Glory to Him.  The legalistic nature of others is what kept me from wanting to go to Church and associating with other Christians.  Somewhere deep inside I knew this was not what Jesus was teaching.  This was the “old wine”.  The “new wine” is about love, grace and acceptance.  Jesus went to eat/drink with sinners because he was saying “I accept you”.  He didn’t stand in front of the room and tell them all how despicable they were.   Nope – he said that to the Pharisee’s, the legalistic and religious people. 

A man came in off the street desperate for help.  He kept telling me all his christian associations and wanting “prove” he was in need and was "worthy".  I looked straight at him and said “Stephen, it wouldn't matter to me if you were a Christian, homeless or who you know or don’t know, if we have the resources to help you – we will.”  He replied to me, “That’s the first I’ve ever heard anyone say that before”.  

Now, how sad is that?  This man has never felt that unconditional acceptance IN A CHURCH.  I think that’s why God has me here, He knows we need people who will stop making judgments about people’s sin (and even that is sinful – to be judgmental) and just sit and eat with him.  You know, he asked me to pray for him, and I took his hands and prayed.  An hour later, we were able to get him a hotel room for the night. 

I believe Jesus wants me to meet people where they are.  He wants me to meet their need if possible or find someone who can.  That’s why I am here.  So, while I have respect for the “old wine”, I will not mix it with the “new wine”.  It's incompatible.  Love will always win.

Father, thank you for sending Stephen to us yesterday and we were able to meet his needs.  Thank you for putting in me a new heart so that I can care and love the unlovable.  Thank you for putting people in my life that challenge my thinking and make me dig deeper and seek your answers.  Thank you for allowing conflict in my life so that I may get better at handling it with righteousness and truth.  Bless my enemies for they are making me stronger in my faith and helping me grow in my spiritually.  Help me to know each moment your way to respond to people when they offend or mistreat others.  Help me to know what the Holy Spirit wants said so that Your will can be done.  You know the hearts of everyone, use my words for your good.  I surrender all of myself to you.  Amen.

Matthew:

¹⁶ “No one sews a patch of unshrunk cloth on an old garment, for the patch will pull away from the garment, making the tear worse. ¹⁷ Neither do people pour new wine into old wineskins. If they do, the skins will burst; the wine will run out and the wineskins will be ruined. No, they pour new wine into new wineskins, and both are preserved.”

Mark:

²¹ “No one sews a patch of unshrunk cloth on an old garment. Otherwise, the new piece will pull away from the old, making the tear worse. ²² And no one pours new wine into old wineskins. Otherwise, the wine will burst the skins, and both the wine and the wineskins will be ruined. No, they pour new wine into new wineskins.”

Luke:

³⁶ He told them this parable: “No one tears a piece out of a new garment to patch an old one. Otherwise, they will have torn the new garment, and the patch from the new will not match the old. ³⁷ And no one pours new wine into old wineskins. Otherwise, the new wine will burst the skins; the wine will run out and the wineskins will be ruined. ³⁸ No, new wine must be poured into new wineskins. ³⁹ And no one after drinking old wine wants the new, for they say, ‘The old is better.’”