Luke 5:38

But new wine must be put into new bottles; and both are preserved.

But {G235} new {G3501} wine {G3631} must be put {G992} into {G1519} new {G2537} bottles {G779}; and {G2532} both {G297} are preserved {G4933}.

On the contrary, new wine must be put into freshly prepared wineskins.

Instead, new wine is poured into new wineskins.

But new wine must be put into fresh wine-skins.

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Commentary

Luke 5:38 KJV presents a core principle from Jesus' teaching on the incompatibility of the old religious system with the new truth He was bringing. It reads: "But new wine must be put into new bottles; and both are preserved." This verse is part of a series of short parables illustrating why His disciples did not fast like the Pharisees' disciples or John's disciples.

Context

This verse is the culmination of Jesus' response to the scribes and Pharisees who questioned why His disciples did not fast (see Luke 5:33). Jesus first compared His presence to a wedding feast, where guests do not fast while the bridegroom is with them. He then gave two parables: one about patching an old garment with new cloth (Luke 5:36) and another about putting new wine into old wineskins (Luke 5:37). Luke 5:38 directly follows, emphasizing the necessity of new wineskins for new wine.

Key Themes

  • Incompatibility of Old and New: The primary message is that the vibrant, expanding nature of the New Covenant and the Gospel of Christ cannot be contained within the rigid, inflexible forms of the old Jewish legalistic system. Trying to force them together would destroy both.
  • Readiness for Change: The verse calls for an openness to new spiritual realities and methods. Just as new wine requires new, flexible wineskins, the transformative power of Jesus' teachings demands a receptive heart and a willingness to depart from outdated traditions that hinder spiritual growth.
  • Preservation of Truth: The phrase "and both are preserved" highlights God's design for the new way. By putting new wine into new wineskins, both the wine (the Gospel truth) and the wineskins (the new spiritual life and practices) are kept intact and functional. This ensures the enduring power and purity of Christ's message.

Linguistic Insights

The KJV uses "bottles," but the Greek word is askous (ἀσκούς), meaning "wineskins." These were typically made from animal hides, which would stretch and become flexible when new, allowing them to expand with the fermentation of new wine. Old wineskins, however, would have lost their elasticity, becoming brittle and unable to withstand the pressure of fermentation, leading them to burst. The term for "new" wine is neos (νέος), meaning fresh, unfermented, or recently made. The "new" for wineskins is kainos (καινούς), which implies new in quality, fresh, and superior, not just new in time.

Practical Application

Luke 5:38 carries profound implications for faith today:

  • Embrace Spiritual Transformation: True understanding and acceptance of the Gospel require a transformed heart and mind, not merely an adherence to external rituals or traditions. This means being flexible and adaptable to how God works, even if it challenges long-held customs.
  • Avoid Rigidity: Believers and churches must guard against becoming "old wineskins"—rigid in their practices, unwilling to adapt to new ways God might be moving, or unable to embrace fresh revelations of His truth.
  • Focus on the Spirit, Not Just the Letter: The essence of the Gospel is a living relationship with Christ, empowered by the Holy Spirit, which is dynamic and ever-renewing. This "new wine" cannot be confined to mere legalism or outward conformity without losing its power and destroying the vessel. As Paul later wrote, "the letter killeth, but the spirit giveth life" (2 Corinthians 3:6).

Note: If the commentary doesn’t appear instantly, please allow 2–5 seconds for it to load. It is generated by Gemini 2.5 Flash using a prompt focused on Biblical fidelity over bias. While the insights have been consistently reliable, we encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit.

Please note that only the commentary section is AI-generated — the main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are from trusted and verified sources.

Cross-References

  • Hebrews 8:8

    For finding fault with them, he saith, Behold, the days come, saith the Lord, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah:

  • Hebrews 8:13

    In that he saith, A new [covenant], he hath made the first old. Now that which decayeth and waxeth old [is] ready to vanish away.

  • 2 Corinthians 5:17

    Therefore if any man [be] in Christ, [he is] a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.

  • Ezekiel 36:26

    A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh.

  • Revelation 21:5

    And he that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. And he said unto me, Write: for these words are true and faithful.

  • Galatians 5:1

    ¶ Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage.

  • Galatians 5:6

    For in Jesus Christ neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision; but faith which worketh by love.
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