DCLM Daily Manna 2024: DCLM Daily Manna 17 December 2024: New Wine in New Bottles
Text: Luke 5:33-39 (KJV)
33 And they said unto him, Why do the disciples of John fast often, and make prayers, and likewise the disciples of the Pharisees; but thine eat and drink?
34 And he said unto them*, Can ye make the children of the bridechamber fast, while the bridegroom is with them?
35 But the days will come, when the bridegroom shall be taken away from them, and then shall they fast in those 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.
KEY VERSE: Luke 5:38
“But new wine must be put into new bottles; and both are preserved.”
In the old days, wine was stored in bottles made of animal skin. A wineskin aged over time, as did also the wine it contained. It was, therefore, common practice to store fresh wine in new, supple wineskins. A new wineskin could handle the natural fermentation that turned fresh wine old. Old wineskins would be hard and brittle, prone to tears and breakages, and could not take the pressure generated by the ageing process of fresh wine.
In our text, the Pharisees and Scribes of Christ’s day were the old wineskins. Armed with the self-righteousness of the law and bound by their traditions, they were unprepared for the new wine of grace and the gospel. The Pharisees were exact about washings and ordinances but cared less for the practical virtues of a life transformed by grace – righteousness, faith and mercy.
The Pharisees were wilfully blind; they shut the eyes of their mind to the truth. In Christ’s words, they “strained at a gnat and swallowed a camel.” This means that they were troubled about inconsequential details of the law but made no scruples about violating the significant matters of eternal consequence. Rather than convict and convert, divine rebuke hardened them and fuelled their hatred towards the truth personified.
Being meticulous about ceremonial observances cannot save anyone. Jesus Christ, by His death, has replaced the law of salvation by self-effort with the free grace of God obtained by repentance from sin and faith in Christ’s atoning blood. This is the new wine, friend, and it is yours for free. Just come to Him in repentance. He will not cast you out. That is His promise. Therefore, come now without further delay.
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:
God’s offer of grace is not new but always fresh.
BIBLE IN ONE YEAR:
Ezekiel 1-2
Daily Manna 17 December 2024
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