Wednesday, January 17, 2024

The Parables of Jesus Series

Session 3: The Parable of the Unshrunk (new) Cloth on an Old Garment and New Wineskins

Introduction: The Parable of the Unshrunk (new) Cloth on an Old Garment and New Wineskins are two separate parables of Jesus that can be combined into one central teaching and meaning. In fact, both are found together within the same Scripture passages. Jesus told these parables together to teach the incompatibility of mixing old religious  rituals  with new faith in Christ. These Parables are found in three of the four gospels: Matthew, Mark, and Luke.

Parable of the Unshrunk (new) Cloth and New Wineskins in Scripture:

Matthew 9:16-17

No one puts a piece of unshrunk cloth on an old garment; for the patch pulls away from the garment, and the tear is made worse. Nor do they put new wine into old wineskins, or else the wineskins break, the wine is spilled, and the wineskins are ruined. But they put new wine into new wineskins, and both are preserved.”

Mark 2:21-22

No one sews a piece of unshrunk cloth on an old garment; or else the new piece pulls away from the old, and the tear is made worse. And no one puts new wine into old wineskins; or else the new wine bursts the wineskins, the wine is spilled, and the wineskins are ruined. But new wine must be put into new wineskins.”

Luke 5:36-39

Then He spoke a parable to them: “No one puts a piece from a new garment on an old one; otherwise the new makes a tear, and also the piece that was taken out of the new does not match the old. And no one puts new wine into old wineskins; or else the new wine will burst the wineskins and be spilled, and the wineskins will be ruined. But new wine must be put into new wineskins, and both are preserved. And no one, having drunk old wine, immediately desires new; for he says, ‘The old is better.’ ”

WHAT IS THE MEANING OF THIS PARABLE FOUND IN MATTHEW, MARK, AND LUKE?

This parable means there is an inherent incompatibility between the Old Covenant of worship and the New  Covenant of worship that comes by way of Jesus (new wineskins). You cannot mix old religious rituals with new faith in Christ. In other words, Judaism is incompatible with Christianity.

WHAT IS THE MAJOR DIFFERENCE BETWEEN JUDAISM AND CHRISTIANITY?

Judaism is based on the Old Covenant of God and the laws contained therein. Therefore, salvation can only be obtained if one perfectly obeyed and followed every single law of God.

For whoever shall keep the whole law, and yet stumble in one point, he is guilty of all.

(James 2:10)

Christianity is based on the person of Jesus Christ and His finished work on the cross for the atonement of sin for all mankind. Since Jesus, the eternal Son of God perfectly obeyed and followed every single law of God, He is qualified to be the sin-bearer and substitute for all mankind. Salvation is by grace alone, apart from any human merit or works.

For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast. (Ephesians 2:8-9)

LET’S BREAK IT DOWN!

• The New Cloth and the New Wine represent the Gospel of Jesus Christ. This is God’s New Covenant of grace through faith in Jesus Christ.
• The Old Cloth and Old Wineskins represent the legalistic traditions of Judaism. This is God’s Old Covenant through Mosaic Law.
• Jesus is the Fulfillment of the Messianic prophecies and there is no longer a need to continue the old rituals.
• Jesus is illustrating in the parable that these two Covenants are incompatible because the New Covenant of Grace would be wasted if it was serving as just a patch for the Old Covenant of legalistic
• The church must be a new system altogether and separated from the old institutions of the Law.
• Jesus cannot be added to a works-based religion because they would tear each other apart. (Matthew 9:16)
• Jesus is the Mediator of the New Covenant. (Hebrews 12:24)

THE MAJOR LESSONS OF THIS PARABLE

• Jesus is the only way to God the Father. He is the new wine (or cloth) that brings joy and eternal freedom to those who believe on Him for salvation. Jesus came to establish a New Covenant with mankind based on grace and faith, not on the law and works.
• You cannot join old garments with new cloth or old wineskins with new wine. Doing so will destroy them both.
• The righteousness that comes from God through faith in Christ is incompatible with the self-righteousness of obeying the law to work your way to Heaven. If we try to patch up our old garments (being fully bound by the Law) with the New Cloth (faith in Jesus), we will end up tearing both.

And if by grace, then it is no longer of works; otherwise grace is no longer grace. But if it is of works, it is no longer grace; otherwise work is no longer work.

(Romans 11:6)

Jesus isn’t just an accessory to be added on to your life, Jesus must be your life! He’s the total package, nothing can be added to Him or taken away!

Conclusion: Since Jesus is the only way to God the Father, we cannot mix the Old and New Covenants. But remember, the “Old Cloth” or the “Old Wine” are not useless or worthless. Old wine is still kept best in old wineskins. Similarly, the Old Covenant of the Law has its place and purpose in God’s plan for salvation. We should not discard or despise the law, but honor it for its contribution to the story of redemption through Jesus Christ, the mediator of the New Covenant.

Next Week, Session 4: The Parable of the Sower