Why Can’t You Put New Wine Into Old Wineskins?
Devotional
Jesus is proclaiming a gospel where the foundation is on the glory of what God has done, not the righteous effort of man. A religious spirit has no place in His kingdom, He is doing a new thing, offering a new wine. Will we value the “drink” of His new covenant?
33 They said to him, “John’s disciples often fast and pray, and so do the disciples of the Pharisees, but yours go on eating and drinking.” 34 Jesus answered, “Can you make the friends of the bridegroom fast while he is with them? 35 But the time will come when the bridegroom will be taken from them; in those days they will fast.” 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.”
LUKE 5:33-39
Questions:
- What stands out to you the most from this passage?
- Why do you think Jesus changes the subject from fasting to a parable?
- Jesus uses a parable to explain the need for a new covenant. Why was there a need for a new covenant?
- What does the old and new covenant teach you about God?
- We often have many reasons why we follow Jesus. Why do you follow Jesus?
- When is it most difficult for you to follow Jesus out of love?
- How are you tempted to follow out of fear or self righteousness? How can you combat these temptations?
Practice The Way of Jesus:
In Matthew 20:28, Jesus tells His disciples that He did not come to be served but to serve. He was motivated to serve because of His love for others. How can you grow in your compassion for others? This week, consider how you can improve in the area of service and look for one way you can serve those around you.