Luke 5 – The Nazarene’s Commentary: Luke 5:33-39 – The Old and the New

Luke 5:33-39 – The Old and the New

|| Matthew 9:15, 16;[1] Mark 2:19;[2] John 3:29[3]

LK5:33 Now these said to Jesus: “The disciples of John fast often with prayers just as the Pharisees, but your disciples [only] eat and drink.” LK5:34 Jesus asked them: “Can you force the friends of the bridegroom to fast as long as he is with them? LK5:35 However, the days will come when the bridegroom[4] is taken away and then they will fast in those days.” LK5:36 Now Jesus also told them the parable: “No one places a patch from a new garment on an old garment. For the old and new will both tear because the new does not match with the old. LK5:37 Also, no one puts new wine into old wineskins because if they do the new wine will burst the old wineskins[5] and then both are ruined. LK5:38 Instead new wine must be put into new wineskins. LK5:39 Now he that has drunk the aged wine does not want the new, for he says, ‘The aged wine is better.’”[6]

[1] Matthew 9:15, 16: For details see notes in Nazarene Commentary 2000 on Matthew.

[2] Mark 2:19: For details see notes in Nazarene Commentary 2000 on Mark.

[3] John 3:29: For details see notes in Nazarene Commentary 2000 on John.

[4] Bridegroom: That is, Jesus. [2 Corinthians 11:2]

[5] New wine will burst the old wineskins: [Job 32:19] It is the view of some that the “new wine” is the Nazarene doctrine forming in the new Israel of God. It cannot just be placed within the framework of the Jewish Mosaic Law. Some would later try to do this by forcing the new congregation formed by Jesus into the old Jewish system. [For details see notes in Nazarene Commentary 2000 on Acts 15:1, 2.]

[6] The aged wine is better: Or, good enough, preferable, nice, suits me. The view of many Jewish members of the old law covenant with Israel. The new Nazarene community with its little house churches could not be compared to the glory of Jerusalem’s temple with its grand rituals.

+

Preceding

1. Luke 5 – The Nazarene’s Commentary: Luke 5:1-11 – Fishermen Follow Jesus
2. Luke 5 – The Nazarene’s Commentary: Luke 5:12-16 – Healing a Leper and Then Privacy
3. Luke 5 – The Nazarene’s Commentary: Luke 5:17-26 – Who Can Forgive Sins?
4. Luke 5 – The Nazarene’s Commentary: Luke 5:27-32 – Tax-man Levi Called
5. Matthew 9:14-17 – The Nazarene’s Commentary: The Bridegroom and Fasting
6. Matthew 9:14-17 – What others are saying about feasting at the sinners’ table instead of fasting for God’s table
7. Mark 2 – The Nazarene’s Commentary: Mark 2:18-22 – The Question on Fasting