Why was Matthew 9:15 followed by verses 16 & 17? What's the connection between fasting, patches and new wineskins?

September 06th 2017 | 38595 views 

When asked by John’s disciples as to why Jesus’ disciples did not fast, our Lord relates fasting to mourning and states that his disciples will “fast” after he has been “taken from them.” But then he goes on to speak of patching an old garment with a piece of new cloth and filling old wineskins with new wine, and these pictures don’t seem to fit.

Fasting was one of the formalities the Israelites under the Law Covenant kept to show their obedience to God. Actually, the Mosaic Law required only one fast per year, on the Day of Atonement, and those under the Law were bound to keep that fast.

However, sometimes public fasts were proclaimed, when the nation as a whole would ask God's forgiveness or beg for His help. Also, sometimes in time of need or grief, individuals privately fasted. However, by Jesus’ day it was apparent that many people looked upon fasting as a sign of piety, to be noticed by others and admired. Jesus spoke against this fasting “for show” (Matthew 6:16-18).

But in Matthew 9:14-17, our Lord was making another point. One of Jesus’ teachings was that “all the prophets and the Law prophesied until John” (Matthew 11:13). A new age was beginning. After centuries of trying (and failing) to keep the Law, a “new and living way” (Hebrews 10:20) was being opened to the Israelites. Jesus was about to die and pay the ransom for Adam’s sin, thereby redeeming the whole world of mankind.  But this new age meant an end to the Law Covenant and the beginning of the age of “grace.” This meant that justification to life was no longer to be sought by performing works or following formalities. Justification would come through faith in Jesus’ sacrifice.

Some of the Jews of that time perhaps wanted to put a “patch” on their faith by keeping the Law but accepting some of the teachings of Jesus. But this couldn’t make them whole. The “patched” garment wouldn’t justify them; they needed to completely “clothe [them]selves with the Lord Jesus Christ” (Romans 13:14).

Likewise, the new “wine” was the doctrine of justification by faith in Jesus’ blood. Attempting to receive this new faith into a heart structured by belief in the Jewish Law would not be workable.

Complete faith in Jesus depended on the recipient recognizing that he/she could not keep the Law and therefore the Law was not able to give them eternal life.  Each believer needed to accept Jesus as God’s gift of redemption replacing the demands of the Law.

For the Christian today, the parable serves as a strong caution against trying to contain the expansive, transformative requirements of the gospel within old, worldly habits and ways of thinking.

True discipleship requires becoming a new wineskin. We must move beyond merely appreciating the gospel message with our old self and instead be genuinely transformed. We cannot store the new wine in an old, stiff, ugly wineskin that harbors bitterness, jealousy or anger.

No amount of true Christianity can fit into a worldly lifestyle. Trying to incorporate Christian ideals into habits based on earthly preferences creates a contradiction. This lack of internal transformation causes the "wine" to burst out, damaging the Christian and wasting their ability to carry the gospel message to its full potential.

Being a new wineskin means continually stretching to accommodate the gospel's demands. We are called to put on Christ and his righteousness. This transformation requires pursuing holiness and applying Jesus' focus, sacrifice, godliness and adherence to God’s plan daily. We are urged to "be transformed by the renewing of your mind" (Romans 12:2) rather than being conformed to this world.

Like John's disciples, modern Christians must ensure they do not try to patch the "old Law" (or any religious system based on works and rituals) with the new truth of grace. Complete faith in Jesus depends on recognizing that one cannot keep the Law, and that Jesus' redemption replaces the Law's demands.

The message requires us to become a "new creation" so that we can handle the gospel of Christ with respect, honor, dignity and spirituality, recognizing this as a serious responsibility. We must leave our old lives behind and move forward into what is new and promised.

Additional Resource: 
Christian Questions Podcast 
Episode #1243: "Am I Putting New Wine in an Old Wineskin?" 
Three parables to help us stretch with the Christian development required of us
Preview Video
CQ Rewind Show Notes

Episode #1333: “Should Christians Fast?”
The how, when and why of appropriate Christian fasting
Preview Video
CQ Rewind Show Notes

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