TRV
Luke 5:37
Bible Versions
And no man putteth new wine into old bottles; else the new wine will burst the bottles, and be spilled, and the bottles shall perish.
Also, no one puts new wine into old wineskins; if he does, the new wine will burst the skins and be spilled, and the skins too will be ruined.
And no one pours new wine into old wineskins. If he does, the new wine will burst the skins, the wine will spill, and the wineskins will be ruined.
And no man putteth new wine into old wine-skins; else the new wine will burst the skins, and itself will be spilled, and the skins will perish.
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Joshua 9:13
And these bottles of wine, which we filled, [were] new; and, behold, they be rent: and these our garments and our shoes are become old by reason of the very long journey. -
Psalms 119:83
¶ For I am become like a bottle in the smoke; [yet] do I not forget thy statutes. -
Joshua 9:4
They did work wilily, and went and made as if they had been ambassadors, and took old sacks upon their asses, and wine bottles, old, and rent, and bound up;
Luke 5:37 is a profound parable spoken by Jesus, illustrating the incompatibility of His radical new message and ministry with the rigid, established religious systems and traditions of His day. It follows immediately after Jesus explains why His disciples do not fast while He is with them, comparing Himself to a bridegroom whose guests cannot mourn.
Context
This verse is part of a series of parables (Luke 5:33-39) where Jesus addresses questions from the Pharisees and scribes about fasting and the practices of His disciples. The discussion begins with a challenge to Jesus about why His followers do not adhere to the traditional fasting rituals observed by John the Baptist's disciples and the Pharisees. Jesus responds by explaining that His presence inaugurates a new era, akin to a wedding feast, where mourning (fasting) is inappropriate. The parables of the new cloth on an old garment (Luke 5:36) and the new wine in old wineskins further clarify that His teachings represent a fresh, dynamic reality that cannot be contained by outdated religious forms.
Key Themes and Messages
Linguistic Insights
The "bottles" mentioned here (Greek: askoi) were not glass bottles but animal skins, typically from goats, used to store liquids like wine. New wineskins were pliable and could expand with the fermentation process of new wine. Old wineskins, however, would become dry, rigid, and brittle, losing their elasticity. If new, still-fermenting wine were poured into them, the gases produced by fermentation would cause the old skins to burst, spilling the wine and ruining the container. This vivid imagery underscores the practical and unavoidable conflict between the old and the new.
Practical Application
This parable holds significant relevance for believers today. It challenges us to:
- Embrace Newness: Be open to the Spirit's leading and new ways God might want to work, rather than clinging rigidly to traditions or familiar methods that may no longer serve His purpose.
- Prioritize Substance Over Form: Understand that the essence of faith in Christ—love, grace, and spiritual transformation—is paramount, not external religious practices or institutional structures that might hinder true spiritual growth.
- Avoid Legalism: Recognize that a legalistic approach to faith, focused on rules and rituals, can stifle the vibrant, liberating truth of the Gospel. As Paul teaches, Christ has set us free.
The message of Luke 5:37 calls us to adapt our understanding and practices to the dynamic and ever-fresh truth of Jesus Christ, ensuring that the precious "new wine" of His Gospel is preserved and shared effectively.