New wine in old wineskins commentary

The phrase "new wine in old wineskins" is a metaphor used by Jesus in the Bible to describe the relationship between the old covenant and the new covenant. Here's the relevant passage:

"No one puts new wine into old wineskins. Otherwise, the new wine will burst the skins and it will be spilled, and the skins will be ruined. But new wine must be put into new wineskins. And both are preserved." - Matthew 9:17, Mark 2:22, Luke 5:37-38

In this passage, Jesus is using the analogy of wine and wineskins to illustrate the idea that the old covenant, represented by the old wineskins, is no longer suitable to contain the new wine of the gospel. The old covenant was established through the law and the prophets, but it was imperfect and unable to bring about true salvation.

The new wine, on the other hand, represents the message of salvation through faith in Jesus Christ. This new wine is a powerful and transformative force that cannot be contained by the old wineskins of the old covenant. If you try to put the new wine into the old wineskins, it will burst the skins and be spilled, causing them to be ruined.

In other words, the old covenant is no longer sufficient to contain the power and truth of the gospel. The new covenant, established through Jesus Christ, is the only way to truly experience salvation and spiritual transformation.

This passage has several implications for our understanding of the relationship between the old and new covenants:

  1. The old covenant is no longer sufficient: The old covenant, represented by the old wineskins, is no longer able to contain the power and truth of the gospel. It is no longer sufficient to bring about true salvation.
  2. The new covenant is necessary: The new covenant, established through Jesus Christ, is the only way to truly experience salvation and spiritual transformation.
  3. The old covenant is not abolished: The old covenant is not abolished, but it is fulfilled and superseded by the new covenant. The old covenant is still relevant, but it is no longer the primary means of salvation.
  4. The new covenant is not a rejection of the old: The new covenant is not a rejection of the old, but rather a fulfillment and expansion of it. The old covenant is still important, but it is no longer the primary means of salvation.

In conclusion, the phrase "new wine in old wineskins" is a powerful metaphor that highlights the importance of the new covenant and the need to move beyond the old covenant. It emphasizes the idea that the old covenant is no longer sufficient to contain the power and truth of the gospel, and that the new covenant is the only way to truly experience salvation and spiritual transformation.