Matthew 9:17

KJV

Neither do men put new wine into old bottles: else the bottles break, and the wine runneth out, and the bottles perish: but they put new wine into new bottles, and both are preserved.

KJV (with Strong's)

Neither {G3761} do men put {G906} new {G3501} wine {G3631} into {G1519} old {G3820} bottles {G779}: else {G1490} the bottles {G779} break {G4486}, and {G2532} the wine {G3631} runneth out {G1632}, and {G2532} the bottles {G779} perish {G622}: but {G235} they put {G906} new {G3501} wine {G3631} into {G1519} new {G2537} bottles {G779}, and {G2532} both {G297} are preserved {G4933}.

Complete Jewish Bible

Nor do people put new wine in old wineskins; if they do, the skins burst, the wine spills and the wineskins are ruined. No, they pour new wine into freshly prepared wineskins, and in this way both are preserved."

Berean Standard Bible

Neither do men pour new wine into old wineskins. If they do, the skins will burst, the wine will spill, and the wineskins will be ruined. Instead, they pour new wine into new wineskins, and both are preserved.”

American Standard Version

Neither do men put new wine into old wine-skins: else the skins burst, and the wine is spilled, and the skins perish: but they put new wine into fresh wine-skins, and both are preserved.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Matthew 9:17 presents a profound parable illustrating the incompatibility between the vibrant, expansive truth of Jesus' new covenant ministry and the rigid, worn-out forms of the old religious system. Using the common agricultural practice of winemaking, Jesus conveys that His message of grace, inner transformation, and the Kingdom of God cannot be contained within the legalistic structures and external rituals that characterized much of the Jewish religious practice of His day, without both the "wine" (His teaching) and the "bottles" (the existing framework) being destroyed. Instead, the new life He offers requires a new, pliable vessel, signifying a transformed heart and an open, receptive spirit.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** This verse is part of a series of interactions in [Matthew 9](/matthew/9 "Matthew 9 - Jesus Heals and Calls") where Jesus confronts the prevailing religious norms and expectations. It immediately follows the parable of the new cloth on an old garment in [Matthew 9:16](/matthew/9-16 "Matthew 9:16 - New Cloth on Old Garment"), which conveys the same principle of incompatibility. Both parables serve as Jesus' response to the disciples of John the Baptist (and implicitly, the Pharisees) who questioned why Jesus' disciples did not fast, unlike themselves and the Pharisees ([Matthew 9:14](/matthew/9-14 "Matthew 9:14 - Question About Fasting")). Jesus uses these illustrations to explain that His ministry represents a radical new work of God, not merely a reform or addition to the existing religious framework. The "new wine" parable further elaborates on the impossibility of integrating His dynamic, life-giving truth into a system that is fundamentally unprepared to receive it, leading to its destruction.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** In ancient Israel and the broader Near East, "bottles" were not made of glass or clay, but predominantly from animal skins, typically goat or sheepskins, known as wineskins. These skins were cleaned, stitched, and sealed, forming flexible containers. When new wine, which was still fermenting, was poured into a fresh wineskin, the natural gases produced by fermentation would cause the skin to expand. A new, pliable wineskin could stretch and accommodate this internal pressure. However, once a wineskin had been used for fermentation, its elasticity would diminish, and it would become rigid and brittle. Pouring new, still-fermenting wine into such an old, inflexible wineskin would inevitably cause the brittle skin to burst under the pressure of the expanding wine. This would result in the loss of both the precious wine and the container itself. This common agricultural reality provided Jesus with a vivid, relatable, and easily understood metaphor for His audience, who would have been intimately familiar with these practices.
* **Key Themes:** The parable of the new wine and old wineskins contributes significantly to several major themes in Matthew's Gospel and the broader New Testament. Firstly, it underscores the **incompatibility of the Old and New Covenants**. Jesus' ministry is not merely a patch on the Mosaic Law but a fundamentally new spiritual reality that brings fulfillment and transformation, as seen in His teaching on the Law in [Matthew 5:17-20](/matthew/5-17-20 "Matthew 5:17-20 - Jesus Fulfills the Law"). Secondly, it highlights the **dynamic and expansive nature of the Kingdom of God**. The "new wine" symbolizes the vibrant, living truth of the Gospel, empowered by the Holy Spirit, which cannot be confined by rigid, external forms. This new life demands a new vessel, pointing to the necessity of **spiritual transformation and openness**. Those who cling to outdated traditions or a legalistic mindset, like the Pharisees often did, will be unable to receive the fullness of God's new work, leading to spiritual stagnation or even rupture. This theme resonates with the call for repentance and belief in the good news of the kingdom found in [Matthew 4:17](/matthew/4-17 "Matthew 4:17 - Repent, for the Kingdom of Heaven is at Hand").

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS

#### Key Word Analysis
* **new (Greek, _néos'_ - G3501):** This word refers to something that is "new" in terms of age, youthfulness, or freshness. In the context of "new wine," it emphasizes its unfermented, active, and expanding state. It denotes a youthful, vigorous quality, implying the dynamic and potent nature of Jesus' teachings and the life of the Kingdom.
* **new (Greek, _kainós'_ - G2537):** While also meaning "new," _kainós_ carries the nuance of something that is new in quality, fresh, unprecedented, or superior to what existed before. When applied to "new bottles" (wineskins), it suggests a vessel that is not merely young but also fundamentally suitable and appropriate for the unique, transformative quality of the new wine. It implies a qualitative newness, a freshness that makes it fit for a new purpose.
* **bottles (Greek, _askós'_ - G779):** This term specifically denotes a "leathern (or skin) bag used as a bottle," commonly known as a wineskin. Understanding this specific meaning is crucial, as the imagery of expansion and rupture is entirely dependent on the material properties of animal hides, which become brittle with age and repeated fermentation. The KJV's translation as "bottles" can obscure the vivid and accurate picture Jesus intended to convey.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"Neither do men put new wine into old bottles:"** This opening clause establishes the premise of the parable, drawing on a common agricultural practice. "New wine" refers to grape juice that has just begun or is still undergoing fermentation, a process that produces gases and causes expansion. "Old bottles" (wineskins) are those that have already been used, their elasticity exhausted, making them rigid and prone to cracking under pressure. The statement highlights the fundamental incompatibility between the dynamic new wine and the inflexible old wineskins.
* **"else the bottles break, and the wine runneth out, and the bottles perish:"** This clause describes the inevitable consequence of ignoring the principle of incompatibility. If new, fermenting wine is poured into old, brittle wineskins, the internal pressure will cause the skins to rupture. The result is a double loss: the valuable wine is spilled and wasted, and the container itself is destroyed. This vividly illustrates the destructive outcome of attempting to force the new, living truth of the Gospel into rigid, outdated, or unyielding religious forms.
* **"but they put new wine into new bottles, and both are preserved."** This final clause offers the correct and wise practice. New wine, with its inherent expansive nature, requires "new bottles" (fresh, pliable wineskins) that can stretch and adapt to the fermentation process. When this is done, both the wine and the wineskins are preserved. This signifies that Jesus' new covenant and the life it offers require a new, transformed spiritual framework—a heart and mind made pliable and receptive by the Holy Spirit—to be fully embraced and sustained.

#### Literary Devices
Matthew 9:17 is a concise yet powerful **Parable**, a short, illustrative story that teaches a moral or spiritual lesson. Jesus frequently used parables to convey profound truths in an accessible manner. The core of this parable relies on **Symbolism**: "new wine" symbolizes the vibrant, expansive, and transformative reality of the Gospel, the New Covenant, and the life empowered by the Holy Spirit. "Old bottles" (wineskins) symbolize the rigid, legalistic, and worn-out religious system of the Old Covenant, particularly as practiced by the Pharisees, which had become inflexible and unable to accommodate new spiritual life. "New bottles" (wineskins) symbolize the transformed hearts and minds of those who embrace Jesus' teachings, receptive and pliable to the dynamic work of God. There is a clear **Contrast** established between the old and the new, highlighting their fundamental incompatibility. This contrast underscores the radical nature of Jesus' ministry, which was not merely an extension of the past but a distinct, new work of God. The entire statement functions as a **Metaphor**, where the physical properties and processes of winemaking are used to illuminate spiritual truths about the Kingdom of God and the nature of true discipleship.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
This parable is a cornerstone for understanding the radical nature of Jesus' ministry and the inauguration of the New Covenant. It clarifies that Jesus did not come merely to patch up or slightly modify the existing religious system, but to introduce a fundamentally new way of relating to God—a way characterized by grace, inner transformation, and a living relationship rather than external ritual and legalistic adherence. The "new wine" represents the overflowing, dynamic life of the Spirit and the joyful freedom found in Christ, which cannot be contained by the rigid, brittle forms of a religion focused on external performance. This does not devalue the Old Covenant but recognizes its preparatory role, now fulfilled and superseded by Christ's redemptive work.

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

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Matthew 9:17 serves as a timeless call for spiritual flexibility and a willingness to embrace radical transformation. For individuals, it challenges us to examine our own "wineskins"—our hearts, minds, attitudes, and spiritual practices. Are we rigid and resistant to change, clinging to old ways of thinking or living that cannot contain the dynamic, ever-fresh work of the Holy Spirit? Or are we pliable and open, eager to receive new revelations, new challenges, and new expressions of God's grace? True spiritual life in Christ is not about simply adding a new religious layer to an unchanged self; it demands a fundamental renewal, a willingness to shed old patterns that hinder the flow of God's Spirit. For the church, this parable is a powerful reminder that while tradition is valuable, it must never become so rigid that it stifles the vibrant, living message of the Gospel. Church structures, ministries, and methods must remain adaptable and permeable, always prioritizing the dynamic truth of Christ over static forms, ensuring that the "new wine" of the Gospel can flow freely to impact new generations and cultures.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **In what areas of my life or faith do I find myself clinging to "old wineskins," resisting the new work God might be doing?**
* **How can I cultivate a more "new wineskin" heart—one that is pliable, receptive, and open to the fresh leading of the Holy Spirit?**
* **What traditions or practices in my church or spiritual community might be hindering the vibrant, expansive flow of the "new wine" of the Gospel?**

### FAQ

**What do "new wine" and "old bottles" symbolize in this parable?**

Answer: In this parable, "new wine" symbolizes the vibrant, dynamic, and expansive reality of Jesus' teachings, the Gospel, and the New Covenant he inaugurated. It represents the life-giving truth and the Spirit-empowered freedom that Jesus brings. "Old bottles" (more accurately, old wineskins) symbolize the rigid, worn-out, and legalistic religious system of the Old Covenant, particularly as it was practiced and interpreted by the Pharisees of Jesus' day. These old forms, having lost their elasticity, were incapable of containing the expansive power of the new spiritual reality without being destroyed. For a deeper understanding of the New Covenant, consider [Jeremiah 31:31](/jeremiah/31-31 "Jeremiah 31:31 - The New Covenant").

**Does this parable mean the Old Testament or the Mosaic Law is irrelevant or bad?**

Answer: No, the parable does not mean the Old Testament or the Mosaic Law is inherently bad or irrelevant. Rather, it highlights that the Old Covenant, while divinely given and serving a crucial preparatory purpose, was not designed to contain the fullness of the New Covenant inaugurated by Christ. Jesus explicitly stated that He came not to abolish the Law but to fulfill it ([Matthew 5:17](/matthew/5-17 "Matthew 5:17 - Jesus Fulfills the Law")). The "old wineskins" represent a system that had become rigid and externalized, unable to accommodate the internal, heart-transforming nature of the New Covenant. The parable teaches that the new life in Christ requires a new spiritual framework, not a mere patching up of an old, inflexible one.

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

Answer: For the church today, this parable serves as a vital warning and encouragement. It challenges religious institutions and individual believers to remain flexible and adaptable to the Holy Spirit's leading, rather than becoming rigid or overly reliant on outdated traditions, structures, or methods. The "new wine" of the Gospel is always fresh, dynamic, and powerful, and it requires "new wineskins"—meaning renewed hearts, innovative approaches, and a willingness to change—to effectively carry its message to new generations and contexts. The church must continually examine whether its forms are serving to preserve and spread the Gospel or if they have become brittle containers that hinder its power and flow, as emphasized in [Revelation 2:4-5](/revelation/2-4-5 "Revelation 2:4-5 - Ephesus' Lost Love").

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Matthew 9:17 finds its ultimate fulfillment in Jesus Christ Himself, who is the "new wine" and the inaugurator of the "new bottles." Jesus is not merely a reformer of Judaism; He is the very embodiment of the New Covenant, the dynamic, life-giving reality that fulfills and transcends the Old. His coming marked a decisive shift from a covenant of external law to one of internal grace, from ritualistic observance to a Spirit-empowered relationship. The rigid "old wineskins" of Pharisaic legalism and a misunderstanding of the Law could never contain the expansive truth of His person and work. Instead, Jesus offers a radical transformation, creating "new wineskins"—hearts regenerated by the Holy Spirit, capable of receiving and containing the fullness of His life. This new creation in Christ ([2 Corinthians 5:17](/2_corinthians/5-17 "2 Corinthians 5:17 - New Creation in Christ")) is the perfect vessel for the new wine of the Gospel, ensuring that both the divine truth and the transformed believer are preserved for eternity. He is the mediator of a better covenant, founded on better promises ([Hebrews 8:6](/hebrews/8-6 "Hebrews 8:6 - Christ, Mediator of a Better Covenant")), making all things new through His atoning sacrifice and resurrection ([Revelation 21:5](/revelation/21-5 "Revelation 21:5 - Behold, I Make All Things New")).

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 9:4

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;

Psalms 119:83

¶ For I am become like a bottle in the smoke; [yet] do I not forget thy statutes.

Job 32:19

Behold, my belly [is] as wine [which] hath no vent; it is ready to burst like new bottles.