Matthew 9:17

Commentary on Matthew 9:17 (KJV)

This verse is part of Jesus' response to the Pharisees' question about why His disciples did not fast, contrasting His ministry with traditional Jewish practices. It immediately follows the parable of the new patch on an old garment, reinforcing the same principle of incompatibility.

Historical and Cultural Context

In ancient times, "bottles" were typically made from animal skins, known as wineskins. When new wine was poured into fresh wineskins, the fermentation process would cause the wine to expand, and the pliable new skins could stretch and accommodate this pressure. Old wineskins, however, had already undergone fermentation and become rigid and brittle. Pouring new, still-fermenting wine into old skins would cause them to burst from the internal pressure, resulting in the loss of both the wine and the container. This common agricultural reality provided a vivid and easily understood illustration for Jesus' audience.

Key Themes and Messages

• Incompatibility of Old and New: Jesus uses this parable to explain that His teachings and the new spiritual life He brings are not merely additions to the old religious system (the Mosaic Law as interpreted and practiced by the Pharisees). His message of grace, inner transformation, and the Kingdom of God is fundamentally different and cannot be contained within the rigid, external forms of the Old Covenant's legalism without destroying both.
• The Nature of Jesus' Ministry: The "new wine" symbolizes the vibrant, dynamic, and expansive reality of the Gospel and the New Covenant inaugurated by Christ. This new life, empowered by the Holy Spirit, requires a new vessel—a transformed heart and a renewed spiritual framework—to contain it.
• Necessity of Spiritual Readiness: The parable highlights the need for spiritual flexibility and openness to truly embrace Jesus' teachings. A rigid adherence to outdated traditions or a refusal to change one's spiritual perspective will prevent one from receiving the fullness of God's new work.

Linguistic Insights

The Greek word translated "bottles" is askoi (ἀσκοί), which specifically means wineskins. Understanding this distinction is crucial to grasping the parable's full meaning. The imagery of expansion, pressure, and bursting is lost if one imagines glass or clay bottles.

Practical Application

Matthew 9:17 serves as a powerful reminder that following Jesus is not about simply adding a new religious layer to an unchanged life. It calls for a fundamental transformation, a willingness to let go of old, rigid ways of thinking and living that cannot contain the dynamic life of Christ. This applies to:

• Personal Faith: Are our hearts and minds (our "wineskins") flexible and open to the fresh leading of the Holy Spirit, or are we resistant to change and new revelations from God's Word? True spiritual life involves a radical renewal that makes all things new.
• Church and Tradition: The parable challenges religious institutions and believers to critically examine their traditions, structures, and methods. While valuing heritage, we must ensure they remain pliable enough to effectively carry the living and ever-fresh message of the Gospel to new generations, rather than becoming brittle containers that hinder its power.