New Cloth and New Bottles
Parables of the Kingdom • Sermon • Submitted
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Introduction
Introduction
Kingdom of heaven imagery - ‘is like’ a mustard seed, treasure, leaven in flour.
Not is, but is like - the kingdom of heaven is a great mystery.
How do we recognize the kingdom of heaven?
Well to tell us about the kingdom of heaven, Jesus uses parables.
He compares and contrasts the common values of society to how the kingdom of heaven works.
Kingdom of heaven = kingdom of God.
The kingdom of heaven is God’s reign (perfect will) coming to earth as it already is in heaven.
We are going to look at about 30 parables that Jesus uses to teach us about the Kingdom.
About the first 8 parables we will look introduce the kingdom and our theme for these is, “The Kingdom Takes Root”
Today we want to look at an early parable, one that ‘sets the tone’ for His kingdom: New Cloth and New Bottles
Matt, Mark 2:18-22, and Luke 5:33-39
14 Then came to him the disciples of John, saying, Why do we and the Pharisees fast oft, but thy disciples fast not?
15 And Jesus said unto them, Can the children of the bridechamber mourn, as long as the bridegroom is with them? but the days will come, when the bridegroom shall be taken from them, and then shall they fast.
16 No man putteth a piece of new cloth unto an old garment, for that which is put in to fill it up taketh from the garment, and the rent is made worse.
17 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.
1. Fasting or Feasting
1. Fasting or Feasting
14 Then came to him the disciples of John, saying, Why do we and the Pharisees fast oft, but thy disciples fast not?
A. The Tradition of Fasting
A. The Tradition of Fasting
Here we see the disciples of John and the Pharisees with a common question about an observance. Fasting.
Pharisees arose around the time of the Maccabean Revolt in 168 BC. Their name means separated one or holy ones. Opposed to Hellenism - the tendency to accommodate Jewish life to Greco-Roman ideals. Stood on the Rock of the Torah - not a political party - as long as they could pursue Torah observance. High ideals - extremely influential with the common people. They were the authorized successors of the Torah.
Here Jesus and his followers are compared to others on the area of fasting. Three pillars of Judaism were prayer, alms-giving, and fasting. They normally fasted on Mondays and Thursdays (Luke 18:12) - religious commitment, sign of atonement of sin and humiliation and penitence. Law only required fasting on Day of Atonement.
Jesus’ continual debate with the Pharisees was primarily over tradition - they overvalued the letter and the oral tradition and undervalued the intent of the law.
3 For they being ignorant of God’s righteousness, and going about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God.
The religious leaders objected that Jesus’ disciples were feasting instead of fasting, thereby contrasting Jesus’ ministry with John’s.
John was most likely subject to a Nazirite vow, which involved abstinence from the fruit of the vine. John had grown up in the wilderness and developed an ascetic lifestyle with a limited diet consisting of locusts and wild honey. By contrast, Jesus attended banquets, and his disciples enjoyed a freedom not found in circles associated with John the Baptist or the Pharisees.
While Jesus sometimes fasted in private and recognized the spiritual value of fasting as a voluntary matter in a time of special need (4:2; cf. Matt 4:2; 6:16–18), he strongly opposed fasting as a legalistic practice or a showy form of piety.
Well as Baptists, we always think it’s time to feast!
B. The Celebration of Feasting
B. The Celebration of Feasting
15 And Jesus said unto them, Can the children of the bridechamber mourn, as long as the bridegroom is with them? but the days will come, when the bridegroom shall be taken from them, and then shall they fast.
Jesus gives the picture of a wedding feast - this imagery radically alters the challenge to his authority - no complaint with fasting - the difference between Jesus and the others pertains to an attitude toward his ministry. Wedding is not the time to abstain but to enjoy, celebrate, rather than fast.
Interesting imagery because in the OT, the Messiah is never presented as a bridegroom - but Israel’s husband is not the Messiah but God. (Is 5:1; 54:5-6; 62:4-5; Eze 16:6-8; Hos 2:19).
5 For thy Maker is thine husband; the LORD of hosts is his name; and thy Redeemer the Holy One of Israel; The God of the whole earth shall he be called.
6 For the LORD hath called thee as a woman forsaken and grieved in spirit, and a wife of youth, when thou wast refused, saith thy God.
5 For as a young man marrieth a virgin, so shall thy sons marry thee: and as the bridegroom rejoiceth over the bride, so shall thy God rejoice over thee.
Jesus has divine authority over demons and to forgive sins - the imagery of the bridegroom is imagery of the person of God himself.
Jesus is giving us an early insight to His kingdom - the kingdom is one of joy.
7 Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honour to him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife hath made herself ready.
8 And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white: for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints.
9 And he saith unto me, Write, Blessed are they which are called unto the marriage supper of the Lamb. And he saith unto me, These are the true sayings of God.
The kingdom is a time of rejoicing and the marriage of the bridegroom would be a time of feasting!
C. The Dramatic Interruption
C. The Dramatic Interruption
“…but the days will come, when the bridegroom shall be taken from them, and then they shall fast.”
Bridegroom taken from them - abrupt, unusual for a wedding - groom is being forcibly removed from the celebration - he is aware of the future malice of the Jewish authorities. The final victory won’t be realized just yet. At some point in the future, Jesus will be removed from them and far away.
8 For the poor always ye have with you; but me ye have not always.
7 Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you.
Having set the record straight, Jesus tells all who are listening that there will come a day when the Bridegroom will be taken away. His disciples will fast and be sorrowful in that day.
The phrase “shall be taken from them” speaks of “a sudden removal”. Jesus is referring to the day when He will be taken away and crucified. In that dark and dreadful day His followers will mourn and fast. That will be a day of sadness for His people.
That day will come, but for now, the disciples of the Lord were right to be excited and joyful in His presence. Fasting arises from a heart that is sorrowful and broken. But, when the presence of the Lord is among His people, there is no place for sadness, grief or sorrow. When the Lord is present, His people are to acknowledge Him with singing, shouting, and feasting!
2. The Bad Old Days
2. The Bad Old Days
36 And he spake also a parable unto them; No man putteth a piece of a new garment upon an old; if otherwise, then both the new maketh a rent, and the piece that was taken out of the new agreeth not with the old.
37 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.
38 But new wine must be put into new bottles; and both are preserved.
39 No man also having drunk old wine straightway desireth new: for he saith, The old is better.
Two crisp and quick parables. These are linked with Jesus’ ministry rather than fasting.
New patch of cloth sewn on old garment - when washed the new patch will shrink and tear the garment. Old wineskins filled with new wine will ferment, expand, and burst in Job 32:19.
Chief impression is their finality - something once serviceable is destroyed and now of no worth. The new is incompatible with the old.
Intro on v. 39 to tie in point 2 - the bad old days
This unusual remark, found only in Luke, “is difficult to interpret. It may be ironic, indicating that contentment with the old prevents openness to the new” (Coogan 2001:106).
Jesus recognized the fact that this teaching was unacceptable to his conservative critics, who were governed by the “old is better” philosophy (5:39). In these circumstances, a parable was the ideal way of putting a challenge to them and making them think (5:36). The Kingdom of God presented a radical call to a new way of life that demanded repentance and change. They must decide for themselves, but, in doing so, they were accountable for their decisions and the ensuing results
A. Old Religion
A. Old Religion
You can’t patch the gospel into Judaism - garment is righteousness of man
Drury, “Both parables are about the relation of Jesus, of Christianity indeed, to traditional Judaism. Jesus is the new patch and the new wine - he is not an attachment, addition to, or appendage to something earlier.”
He cannot be integrated into or contained by preexisting structures, even Judaism (Judaism is obsolete). His authority surpasses them all. He honors the Torah but He is not bound by it and he breaks it when it impedes his ministry (next message). He subjects it to himself (Matt 5:17; Rom 10:4). Truly no one had ever seen anything like this in 2:12. Judeo-Christian is a word we should stop using.
Many try to merit righteousness through their old religion and garment of prayers, fastings, and giving to the poor - to make their own ragged righteousness; to cover their sinful nakedness with religious piety.
But when man tries to use old religion it actually makes things worse.
Look at the attitude of the Pharisees
11 The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, God, I thank thee, that I am not as other men are, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican.
They are trying through religious deeds to establish their old righteousness.
3 For they being ignorant of God’s righteousness, and going about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God.
There can be no mixing of the religions of good deeds with salvation by grace through faith.
6 And if by grace, then is it no more of works: otherwise grace is no more grace. But if it be of works, then is it no more grace: otherwise work is no more work.
Old religion, a religion of works, rituals, good deeds, and observances are not compatible with Jesus Christ. Catholicism isn’t, Mormonism isn’t, Judaism isn’t - nothing old and manmade can endure with the new and eternal living Word - Jesus Christ.
But not only does the cloth relate to Old Religion, the old bottles / wineskins relate to:
B. The Old Nature
B. The Old Nature
You can’t put something new into something old
These bottles were animals skins. Old bottles had already been stretched and worn. If new wine is put in them, the fermentation process would cause them to burst. Think of a soda busting a weakened container.
Our old man, our old nature is not righteous enough to contain the new man, the new grace of Christ.
17 Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.
The old man, the old self, carnal man must be changed or made new!
14 But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.
Jesus doesn’t need anything in this world. There is no religion that we can just slap Jesus onto, there is no cause or effort that we can add him too, there’s not even a country that he needs, because His kingdom is not of this world - if America completely fell apart today, the kingdom of heaven wouldn’t be affected in the least.
Jesus gives himself in service, but gives allegiance to no one but God. He gives his life to the world, but he is not a captive to the world.
The question here with this imagery is not whether disciples will make room for Jesus in their already full agendas and lives. But whether they will forsake their business as usual and join the wedding; whether they will become entirely new receptacles for Jesus and the gospel.
And new cloth will just rip what is old, it isn’t compatible, and Jesus Christ isn’t compatible with anything else - he stands alone.
The Lord didn’t come to improve our old nature; He came to provide us with a new nature capable of handling the baptism, indwelling, filling, and anointing of the Spirit of God. Old wineskin can’t hold new wine, and the old nature can’t hold the Spirit.
So as the Kingdom of Heaven takes Root here note that it’s nothing like anything on this earth - nothing you’ve experienced or nothing you are or nothing you could do can contain the mystery of His great kingdom.