Replies

The Parable of the Wineskins is probably the least understood of Jesus’ parables.

I have read several interpretations and they don’t always agree.

First, we must get our terms in focus.

The term ‘New Wine’, as used in the New Testament, means wine that has not completed its fermentation process, and so is still very sweet, having lots of sugar not yet turned to alcohol. It has an alcohol content of about 4-5% or roughly equivalent to a strong beer.

Next, ‘Old Wineskins’ are wineskins that are dried, stiff and brittle from usage and have been stretched to their limits by CO2 from the fermentation process, having been used previously.

Conversely, ‘New Wineskins’ are soft, pliable and stretchable, and will expand when new wine is stored in them.

These three things are metaphors for the time in which Jesus is speaking.

‘Old Wineskins’ is the metaphor for the religious stagnation of the Jews at that time.

‘New Wineskins’ is the metaphor for the religious rebirth that is coming.

‘New Wine’ is the metaphor for the NEW Christianity that will soon take root in the pagan Roman Empire.

The Jewish religious power structure of that day had become dried, stiff and brittle from centuries of dogmatic theocratic societal control. The Pharisees and Sadducees controlled everything in everyday Jewish life and had bent and twisted the religious rules to suit themselves and retain their power (Much like Democrats and Republicans in today’s USA).

The ‘New Wine’ of Christianity could not ferment, expand and take hold in this environment. It would have been extinguished even before it had a chance to grow.

The ‘New Wineskins’ are Jesus followers and not just the 12 apostles, but all the men and women who followed his ministry throughout Judea and Samaria.

But they were Jews! Yes, you are correct, they ‘were’ Jews right up until the Day of Pentecost, when in the closed upper room, the Holy Spirit descended upon them and Christianity was ‘born’.

Remember, they all began ‘speaking in tongues’ of every language then known. People said they were “Drunk on New Wine”, and they were! The New Wine of Christianity!

That this happened on the Day of Pentecost was no mere coincidence. This was a major annual religious holiday after Passover, 50 days. Jews from all over the Empire came to Jerusalem to celebrate, and they spoke every language from their homes. How surprised they must have been to hear the Gospel spoken to them in their own languages!

The Day of Pentecost was also a celebration of the Giving of the Torah (Law) and the summer wheat harvest. How apropos it was that Jesus had ‘Fulfilled the Law’ and the ‘Harvest’ of Christians had begun!.

But even though all this was happening in Jerusalem, it would not be enough to carry the New Wine of Christianity to the entire world.

Paul was appointed Apostle to the Gentiles to carry the message to the very heart of the Empire where it would take root, grow slowly and become eventually the religion of the Western world.

As it is written in Acts 28:

23 And when they had appointed him a day, there came many to him into his lodging; to whom he expounded and testified the kingdom of God, persuading them concerning Jesus, both out of the law of Moses, and out of the prophets, from morning till evening.

24 And some believed the things which were spoken, and some believed not.

25 And when they agreed not among themselves, they departed, after that Paul had spoken one word, Well spake the Holy Ghost by Esaias the prophet unto our fathers,

26 Saying, Go unto this people, and say, Hearing ye shall hear, and shall not understand; and seeing ye shall see, and not perceive:

27 For the heart of this people is waxed gross, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes have they closed; lest they should see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their heart, and should be converted, and I should heal them.

28 Be it known therefore unto you, that the salvation of God is sent unto the Gentiles, and that they will hear it.

29 And when he had said these words, the Jews departed, and had great reasoning among themselves.