And he gave them this illustration: “No one rips up a new garment to make patches for an old, worn-out one. If you tear up the new to make a patch for the old, it will not match the old garment. And who pours new wine into an old wineskin? If someone did, the old wine would burst and the new wine would be lost. New wine must always be poured into new wineskins. Yet you say, ‘The old ways are better,’ and you refuse to even taste the new wine that I bring.”
Luke 5:36-39 TPT
Jesus used simple stories (called parables) to disclose deep spiritual realities.
In this particular parable, Jesus is speaking to Pharisees, the legalists of his day. These religious leaders kept a tight grip on their traditions and interpretations of Jewish law. They worked hard to prop up their appearance of piety, but Jesus had eyes to see through the facade.
He knew their hearts, which were hardened and wicked (see Matthew 23:25-28). They were so fixated on old ways of relating to God that they refused to respond to God-in-the-flesh reaching out in front of them.
Jesus came not to patch up an old rigid religious system but rather to proclaim a new era of God’s reign, fulfilled by the shedding of his blood as a perfect and final sacrifice for sin — past, present, and future.
Just as Jesus poured out his blood on the cross, he pours his Spirit on his sons and daughters, turning hearts of stone to soft flesh (Ezekiel 23:26), forgiving sins, and empowering righteous living.
This story is a reminder to stay sensitive and flexible to the new ways God is moving. Let’s admit our need and ask him to anoint us with his Holy Spirit so we can taste his goodness, prophesy his word, and take his healing presence into a world that’s hungry for hope.
I don’t want to be so set in my old ways and routines that I miss out on what God is doing! How about you?
P.S. Here’s a powerful song to go along with today’s devotional.
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