Luke 5:37

KJV

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.

KJV (with Strong's)

And {G2532} no man {G3762} putteth {G906} new {G3501} wine {G3631} into {G1519} old {G3820} bottles {G779}; else {G1490} the new {G3501} wine {G3631} will burst {G4486} the bottles {G779}, and {G2532}{G846} be spilled {G1632}, and {G2532} the bottles {G779} shall perish {G622}.

Complete Jewish Bible

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.

Berean Standard Bible

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.

American Standard Version

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.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Luke 5:37 presents a profound parable from Jesus, illustrating the inherent incompatibility between His radical, life-transforming message and ministry—the "new wine"—and the rigid, worn-out religious systems and traditions of His day, represented by "old bottles" or wineskins. This teaching emphasizes that the dynamic, expansive nature of the Gospel cannot be contained or preserved within brittle, inflexible structures without causing destruction to both the message and the vessel.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** This verse is part of a series of parables and teachings in [Luke 5:33-39](/luke/5-33-39 "Luke 5:33-39 - Fasting, New Cloth, and New Wine") where Jesus directly addresses challenges from the Pharisees and scribes regarding the practices of His disciples, specifically their lack of fasting. The discussion begins with the question of why John the Baptist's disciples and the Pharisees fast, but Jesus' disciples do not. Jesus responds by likening His presence to a bridegroom at a wedding feast, where mourning (fasting) is inappropriate. The parable of the new cloth on an old garment in [Luke 5:36](/luke/5-36 "Luke 5:36 - The New Cloth and Old Garment Parable") immediately precedes this verse, serving as a parallel illustration of the same principle: new, vibrant realities cannot be forced into old, unyielding forms without detrimental consequences. Both parables underscore the radical discontinuity between Jesus' ministry and the established religious norms.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** The "bottles" (Greek: _askoi_) mentioned in this parable were not glass containers but animal skins, typically from goats or sheep, used for storing wine. In ancient times, new wineskins were supple and elastic, capable of stretching and expanding as the new wine fermented and produced gases. Over time, however, these skins would become dry, stiff, and brittle, losing their flexibility. If new, still-fermenting wine were poured into old, inelastic wineskins, the pressure from the expanding gases would cause the old skins to burst, resulting in the loss of both the wine and the container. This common agricultural reality provided a vivid and easily understood metaphor for Jesus' audience, highlighting the practical impossibility of mixing the old and the new in this context.
* **Key Themes:** The parable of the new wine and old wineskins contributes significantly to several major theological and narrative themes in Luke's Gospel and the broader biblical narrative. The most prominent theme is the **Incompatibility of Old and New**, asserting that the vibrant, expanding truth of the Gospel, embodying the [new covenant](/jeremiah/31-31 "Jeremiah 31:31 - The Promise of a New Covenant") inaugurated by Christ, cannot be confined within rigid, worn-out religious structures or traditions. This leads to the theme of **Transformation vs. Preservation**, where Jesus' ministry is presented not as a mere reform or patching up of old systems, but as a radical, transformative work leading to new life. Attempting to force the dynamic newness of Christ into brittle, old systems would inevitably lead to the destruction of both. Furthermore, it speaks to the **Nature of the Kingdom of God**, which Jesus proclaimed was at hand (cf. [Matthew 4:17](/matthew/4-17 "Matthew 4:17 - Jesus Begins to Preach the Kingdom")). This Kingdom is a living, growing reality that demands new ways of thinking, worshiping, and living, requiring flexibility and openness to change rather than strict adherence to stale rituals or legalistic interpretations.

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS

#### Key Word Analysis
* **new (Greek, _néos_):** This word refers to something that is fresh, youthful, or recently made. In this context, it describes the wine as newly produced, still undergoing the fermentation process, which generates gases and requires an elastic container. Figuratively, it points to the fresh, dynamic, and expanding nature of Jesus' teaching, ministry, and the new covenant He inaugurates.
* **old (Greek, _palaiós_):** Signifying something antique, worn out, or not recent. When applied to the wineskins, it denotes their hardened, brittle state, having lost their elasticity through repeated use and drying. Metaphorically, it represents the established, rigid, and ultimately insufficient religious systems and traditions of the Jewish people, particularly as practiced by the Pharisees, which were incapable of accommodating the new life brought by Christ.
* **bottles (Greek, _askós_):** Literally referring to a leathern or skin bag used as a bottle, typically made from animal hides. The physical properties of these wineskins—their ability to stretch when new and their tendency to become rigid when old—are central to the parable's imagery. Symbolically, they represent the forms, structures, and practices of religious life.
* **burst (Greek, _rhḗgnymi_):** To break, wreck, or crack, especially to sunder or disrupt by separation of parts. This vivid verb describes the violent rupture of the old wineskins under the pressure of the fermenting new wine. It underscores the destructive consequence of attempting to force the new, dynamic reality of Christ into old, inflexible religious containers.
* **perish (Greek, _apóllymi_):** To destroy fully, or reflexively, to perish or lose. This word highlights the ultimate ruin of the wineskins and, by extension, the old religious system if it attempts to contain the new. It implies a complete loss or destruction, emphasizing the futility of such an endeavor.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"And no man putteth new wine into old bottles":** This opening clause establishes the central premise and the inherent incompatibility. It's a statement of practical wisdom from the ancient world. "New wine" is still fermenting, producing gases that expand the container. "Old bottles" (wineskins) have lost their elasticity, becoming brittle and rigid from prior use. The act of "putting" (Greek, _bállō_) here implies an intentional placement, but one that is fundamentally unwise and counterproductive given the nature of the materials.
* **"else the new wine will burst the bottles":** This clause explains the immediate, inevitable consequence of such an unwise action. The pressure generated by the fermenting new wine will exceed the capacity of the brittle old wineskins to expand. The result is a violent rupture, a "bursting" (Greek, _rhḗgnymi_), signifying a destructive clash between the dynamic new and the unyielding old.
* **"and be spilled, and the bottles shall perish":** This final clause details the dual loss that occurs. Not only do the "bottles" (wineskins) burst, but the valuable "new wine" is also "spilled" (Greek, _ekchéō_), wasted and lost. Furthermore, the "bottles themselves shall perish" (Greek, _apóllymi_), meaning they are utterly destroyed and rendered useless. This emphasizes that forcing the new into the old harms both the new message and the old structure, leading to a complete and devastating failure.

#### Literary Devices
Luke 5:37 is a **Parable**, a short, illustrative story or analogy used by Jesus to convey a moral or spiritual truth. This particular parable employs a powerful **Metaphor** where "new wine" represents the transformative message, spirit, and ministry of Jesus, including the new covenant and the Kingdom of God, while "old bottles" (wineskins) symbolize the rigid, established religious traditions, laws, and systems of Judaism that had become dry and inflexible. The bursting of the wineskins and the spilling of the wine serve as **Symbolism** for the destructive consequences of attempting to contain the dynamic, expansive truth of the Gospel within outdated or unyielding forms. The imagery is vivid and concrete, making the abstract theological principle of the incompatibility of the old covenant's legalism with the new covenant's grace profoundly clear.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
This parable is a foundational statement about the nature of God's redemptive work and the radical newness inaugurated by Jesus Christ. It teaches that the Gospel is not merely an amendment or an addition to the old covenant system, but a fundamentally new reality that requires a new framework for understanding and living. The "new wine" represents the Spirit-filled life, the grace-based relationship with God, and the transformative power of Christ's finished work, which cannot be contained by the rigid, legalistic structures of the old covenant or human traditions built upon it. To attempt to do so would inevitably lead to the destruction of both the old forms and the precious new life. This parable calls for a fundamental reorientation of religious thought and practice, prioritizing the living, dynamic truth of Christ over dead rituals and inflexible traditions.

* [Jeremiah 31:31-34](/jeremiah/31-31-34 "Jeremiah 31:31-34 - The New Covenant Prophecy")
* [Hebrews 8:6-13](/hebrews/8-6-13 "Hebrews 8:6-13 - Christ, the Mediator of a Better Covenant")
* [2 Corinthians 5:17](/2_corinthians/5-17 "2 Corinthians 5:17 - New Creation in Christ")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
The parable of the new wine and old wineskins holds profound and enduring relevance for believers and the church today. It serves as a powerful call to spiritual flexibility and discernment, urging us not to cling rigidly to traditions, methods, or structures that, while perhaps once useful, may now hinder the dynamic work of the Holy Spirit and the expansion of God's Kingdom. We are challenged to prioritize the living, transformative truth of the Gospel—the "new wine"—over the external forms or familiar practices that may have become brittle and restrictive—the "old wineskins." This means being open to fresh expressions of worship, innovative approaches to ministry, and a willingness to shed legalistic mindsets that stifle grace and genuine spiritual growth. The core message is to embrace the liberating freedom found in Christ, as Paul eloquently states in [Galatians 5:1](/galatians/5-1 "Galatians 5:1 - Freedom in Christ"), ensuring that our faith is characterized by vibrant life and adaptability, rather than by a rigid adherence to outdated forms that could ultimately cause the precious message of Christ to be lost or diminished.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **In what areas of my spiritual life or church community might I be clinging to "old wineskins" that are hindering the "new wine" of God's Spirit?**
* **How can I cultivate a greater openness and flexibility to the Spirit's leading, even when it challenges my comfort zones or established traditions?**
* **Am I prioritizing the substance of my faith (love, grace, transformation) over its forms (rituals, routines, institutional structures)?**
* **What practical steps can I take to ensure that the "new wine" of the Gospel is preserved and effectively shared in my context, without being constrained by rigid or outdated approaches?**

### FAQ

**What exactly are "bottles" in this context, and why is their condition so important?**

Answer: In the ancient world, "bottles" (Greek: _askoi_) were not glass containers but wineskins, typically made from animal hides like goatskins. Their condition is crucial because new wineskins were pliable and elastic, able to stretch and expand as new wine fermented and produced gases. Old wineskins, however, would become dry, rigid, and brittle from repeated use, losing their elasticity. If new, still-fermenting wine was poured into these old, inflexible skins, the pressure from the fermentation gases would inevitably cause the old skins to burst, resulting in the loss of both the wine and the container. This physical reality serves as a powerful metaphor for the incompatibility Jesus describes.

**Does this parable mean that all old traditions or laws are bad and should be discarded?**

Answer: Not necessarily. The parable highlights the *incompatibility* of the dynamic, expanding "new wine" (Jesus' message and the new covenant) with *rigid, unyielding* "old wineskins" (the legalistic, inflexible interpretations and traditions of the old covenant system). It's not a blanket condemnation of all tradition, but a warning against clinging to forms that have become brittle and incapable of containing new life. Jesus himself affirmed that He came not to abolish the Law but to fulfill it (cf. [Matthew 5:17](/matthew/5-17 "Matthew 5:17 - Jesus Fulfills the Law")). The issue is when the form overshadows the spirit, or when traditions become a barrier to God's fresh work.

**How does this parable apply to the church today?**

Answer: For the church today, this parable is a call to constant self-assessment and spiritual adaptability. It challenges us to ensure that our structures, programs, and traditions remain pliable and open to the Holy Spirit's leading, rather than becoming rigid and resistant to change. It reminds us that the "new wine" of the Gospel—its transformative power, grace, and emphasis on relationship with God—must always take precedence over the "old wineskins" of human-made rules, institutional inertia, or outdated methods. A church that becomes too rigid risks bursting, losing the precious message it is meant to contain and share. It encourages innovation and spiritual vitality over mere preservation of the status quo.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
The parable of the new wine and old wineskins finds its ultimate Christ-centered fulfillment in the person and work of Jesus Himself. Jesus is the "new wine," the embodiment of the new covenant and the dynamic, life-giving reality of God's Kingdom. He did not come to merely patch up or reform the old covenant system, but to inaugurate a fundamentally new way of relating to God, characterized by grace, truth, and the indwelling Spirit (cf. [John 1:17](/john/1-17 "John 1:17 - Grace and Truth Through Jesus Christ")). His life, death, and resurrection represent a radical departure from the limitations of the Law and its associated traditions, establishing a superior covenant mediated by His blood (cf. [Hebrews 9:15](/hebrews/9-15 "Hebrews 9:15 - Christ, Mediator of the New Covenant")). He is the "new and living way" (cf. [Hebrews 10:20](/hebrews/10-20 "Hebrews 10:20 - The New and Living Way")) that renders the old sacrificial system obsolete. Through Him, believers are made "new creations" (cf. [2 Corinthians 5:17](/2_corinthians/5-17 "2 Corinthians 5:17 - New Creation in Christ")), receiving a new spirit and a new heart, enabling them to walk in the freedom of the Spirit rather than the bondage of the Law (cf. [Romans 8:1-4](/romans/8-1-4 "Romans 8:1-4 - Life in the Spirit")). Thus, Jesus is not just the bringer of the new wine; He *is* the new wine, and through Him, God provides the "new wineskins"—the new covenant and the Spirit-empowered life—capable of containing and expanding His glorious truth.

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

Cross-References

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;