Don't pour new wine into old wineskins
A great reference to the Bible!
The phrase "don't pour new wine into old wineskins" is a metaphorical expression that comes from Matthew 9:17 and Mark 2:22. It is a teaching of Jesus Christ, and it means that you shouldn't try to put new, fresh, or innovative things into old, worn-out, or rigid systems or structures.
In the context of the Bible, Jesus was explaining the concept of the kingdom of God to his disciples. He was saying that the kingdom of God is like a new, fresh, and powerful wine that is poured into new wineskins, which are flexible and can stretch to accommodate the new wine. Old wineskins, on the other hand, are rigid and cannot stretch, so if you try to pour new wine into them, they will burst and the wine will be lost.
In a broader sense, the phrase "don't pour new wine into old wineskins" can be applied to many areas of life, such as:
- Trying to fit new ideas or innovations into outdated systems or structures.
- Attempting to change old habits or behaviors without first updating your mindset or approach.
- Expecting old relationships or friendships to adapt to new circumstances or changes without effort.
- Trying to apply new principles or values to old, rigid, or inflexible mindsets.
In each of these cases, the phrase is warning us that we need to be mindful of the limitations and constraints of the old, and instead, seek out new, flexible, and adaptable approaches that can accommodate the new and innovative.
So, the next time you're faced with a situation where you're trying to fit new wine into old wineskins, remember Jesus' wise words and consider whether it's time to update your approach, mindset, or system to accommodate the new and fresh!