The book of Matthew
New Wine
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.” Matthew 9:17
Sadly, in many church buildings today, congregations have become old and dying off. It is getting more common these days to see empty church buildings that were once filled with families coming together three times each week to praise and worship God. Many from the previous generation have become stuck in their way of doing service instead of intentionally pouring out the wisdom and revelation gained over the years to the next generation. Now, the up-and-coming are forced to keep to the old way of doing things instead of growing to let the next level to begin learning and leading from where the older left off. If the previous generation would pour out the wisdom of their old wine into the new skin of the next generation instead of trying to make the new wine grow in their old wine skin of the past, then the next generation would be able to begin where the previous had grown to. Instead, each generation has to start at ground zero, being forced to figure out the way to reach the younger crowd because the older leadership does not like the changes that are more effective in the current times.
This is exactly what Jesus was talking about in today’s reading. He told the disciples that if they tried to put the new wine of wisdom and revelation that Jesus was teaching them into the old skin of the synagogue leaders of the day, it would be wasted because the old skin would break. Because the old skin has become dry and brittle, it will not be able to hold on to and distribute the new wine to others, but it would burst and pour out onto the ground. However, as the new revelation or wisdom is poured into the new skin, those ready to hear and accept His new ways, the wine and skin can exist together and be shared with others to reach the next generation.
Jesus was teaching them radically new ideas and the biggest was to love one another. The Hebrew culture had lived by the command an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth. There was no talk about love until Jesus came into the world. When He talked about the new tearing or breaking the old, He was telling them that something new was coming. Jesus brought us the new covenant and in that He fulfilled the requirement of the old one. His sacrifice for our salvation was the new wine that the old wine skin would not be able to pass on to reach the world. His disciples would become the new skin that would fulfill the commandment to go in to all the world and preach the gospel along with a new method of getting the message out. The message of God’s love for all people and the provision He made to save them would be passed on for the next two thousand plus years. A message that would not have been preserved through the leaders of that day in the synagogue.
Today, we face a similar issue, but it is not to late to make the shift. With our culture changing into the digital age, it can be hard for people who are not so ready to accept the new “skin” of the next generation and technology. In church buildings today, there are big screens and loud music. Most services are recorded and broadcasted online to share with the world. There is not limit when it comes to accessing the salvation message because of the technology. Still there are congregations that still insist that the old way is the only way that worship should be given. These new “wineskins” have made it possible to carry the gospel to the nations and increase the effectiveness of His calling and mission. There is no reason to think less of or try to stop other ministries that use various “skins” to send God’s message out. Our job is to pray for the others and use the resources we have available to do our part in getting the message to the next generation. In that way God’s message will continue to go on long after we are gone from this life.
Today I want to encourage you to thank God for the wisdom of the gospel message He has given you to pour out into the next generation. Begin to talk to your Heavenly Father about the “wineskin” you have to distribute His good news of salvation to the world around you. What mission does He have in mind for you and what is He leading you to in the future? Pour out the message of God’s love and salvation in the next generation no matter what age you are today and don’t judge the “skin” they are receiving that message in to distribute to others. Use whatever “wineskins” you have available to you and when you see others wearing a different “skin,” do not be quick to condemn. Instead, pray for them to be just as effective as the “skin” you once received the message through.
Today’s scripture reading: Matthew 9:14-17
14 Then the disciples of John came to Him, saying, “Why do we and the Pharisees fast often, but Your disciples do not fast?”
15 And Jesus said to them, “Can the friends of the bridegroom mourn as long as the bridegroom is with them? But the days will come when the bridegroom will be taken away from them, and then they will fast.
16 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.
17 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.”
The Daily Dose 