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

Mark 2 – The Nazarene’s Commentary: Mark 2:18-22 – The Question on Fasting

Mark 2:18-22 – The Question on Fasting

|| Matthew 9:14-17;[1] Luke 5:33-39

MK2:18 Now the disciples of John [the Baptist] as well as the Pharisees practiced fasting,[2] and so they approached Jesus and asked him: “Why do John’s disciples and the Pharisees fast but your disciples do not fast?” MK2:19 So, Jesus said to them: “Do the friends of the bridegroom fast while he is with them [at the wedding feast]? As long as the bridegroom is among them there can be no fasting. MK2:20 However, the time will come when the Bridegroom will be taken away. Then [my disciples] will fast in that day. MK2:21 No one sews a new piece of cloth on an old garment,[3] because the new cloth will tear away [when it shrinks]. Then the tear becomes even worse! MK2:22 Also, no one puts new wine into an old wine-skin,[4] because the new wine will expand and burst the old wine-skin. Then, not only is the wine spilled and wasted, but also the old wine-skin is ruined. No, but new wine must be put into new wine-skins.”

*

[1] Matthew 9:14-17: For details see notes in Nazarene Commentary 2000 on Matthew.

[2] Fasting: See notes on Matthew 6:16-18.

[3] New piece of cloth on an old garment: The “new” cloth was the teachings of Jesus and the New Covenant. The “old garment” was the Mosaic Law and the Jewish rituals.

[4] New wine into an old wine-skin: The “new wine” is the Church of Christ with its “new teaching.” The “old wine-skin” was the Jewish religious system. Christ did not try to remold the Jewish institution, but formed what Paul would call a “New Creation.”

+

Preceding

Mark 2 – The Nazarene’s Commentary: Mark 2:1-12 – Jesus Preaching and Healing at Home

Mark 2 – The Nazarene’s Commentary: Mark 2:13-17 – Accused of Associating With Sinners

Matthew 9:14-17 – The Nazarene’s Commentary: The Bridegroom and Fasting

Matthew 9:14-17 – What others are saying about feasting at the sinners’ table instead of fasting for God’s table

+++

Related

1. Morning Musing: Mark 2:18
2. Old Wineskins
3. Monday, Jan 18, 2021
4. Feasting, Not Fasting
5. Old wineskins new wine in a pandemic – a parable
6. He Takes Away, Part 1

Matthew 9:14-17 – The Nazarene’s Commentary: The Bridegroom and Fasting

Matthew 9:14-17 – The Bridegroom and Fasting

|| Mark 2:18-22; Luke 5:33-39

MT9:14 Then the disciples of John[1] [the Baptist] approached Jesus, asking,

“Why, though we and the Pharisees fast, your disciples do not fast?”[2]

MT9:15 Jesus told them,

“The sons of the bride-chamber[3] cannot possible feel sad[4] while the bridegroom[5] is among them. But the days are coming when the ‘Bridegroom’ will depart[6] from them and then they will fast.[7]

A Man Drinking from a Wine Skin; Images of Spain Album, 63

MT9:16 “Nobody sews an unshrunk cloth patch on an old outer garment for the stretching garment will tear it and it becomes worse. MT9:17 Nor do they put new wine[8] into old wine-botas for the wine-botas will tear and burst[9] [Joshua 9:13; Job 32:19] and the wine is spilled and the wine-botas ruined. Rather, they put new wine into new and fresh wine-botas[10] and so both are preserved.”

*

[1] Disciples of John: There is a clear difference between the disciples of the two Masters. John’s disciples view themselves as different from those of the Nazarene. Jesus had selected his disciples from among those baptized disciples of John the Baptist. This difference lasts for some years even into the Book of Acts (Acts chapters 18, 19).

[2] Fast: Going without food for religious reasons. The first occurrence of the word “fasting” in the Bible is 1 Samuel 31:13 for a total of 30 times. Jesus does not condemn fasting, indeed, he gives counsel regarding proper fasting in Matthew 6:16. The prophets and teachers in Antioch fasted before making appointments (Acts 13:1, 2). The same fasting occurs before appointments in Acts 14:23.

[3] Sons of the bride-chamber: The literal phrase in Greek. It is variously rendered: KJV: children of the bride-chamber; TCNT: bridegroom’s friends; GDSP: wedding guests; BAS: friends of the newly married; NASB: attendants of the bride-groom.

[4] Feel sad: Or, mourn. The bridegroom’s buddies mourn or feel sad their friend’s affections will now be divided and likely he will not be free to do some of the things he did before.

[5] Bridegroom: The Greek is, interestingly, NYMPHIOS from which the English “nymph” is rooted. Yahweh was viewed as the Husband of Israel. Jesus becomes such to his Church who is likened to a bride (NYMPH) (Revelation 21:2).

[6] Will depart: The Greek is APARTHE and related to EPERTHE of Acts 1:9, HARPAGESOUMETHA at 1 Thessalonians 4:17, and HERPASTHE at Revelation 12:5.

[7] Then they will fast: Compare John 16:20.

[8] New wine: Possibly the teachings of the Nazarene or a new relationship with God. Rather than use the old bota of Israel under the Law the Messiah uses a new bota, his Church to contain new doctrine and relationships. Remember the original context was fasting.

[9] Wine-botas will tear and burst: The language may be an allusion to Joshua 9:13 and Job 32:19.

[10] Wine-botas: Or, wine-skins. Compare Genesis 21:14, 15, 19; Joshua 9:13; Job 32:19.

+

Preceding

Matthew 9:9-13 – The Nazarene’s Commentary: Pharisees Accuse When Matthew Is Called

+++

Related articles

1. Matthew 9, Jesus heals, forgives sins, calls Matthew, what about fasting?, great faith, the Lord’s harvest.
2. Gospel Reading (Matthew 9:14-17)
3. Matthew 9:14-17
4. Managing criticism (Matthew 9:14-17)
5. Thoughts to Ponder from Matthew 9:14-17
6. Daily Ponderings ~ “A Question of Fasting”…
7. Out With The Old, In With The New
8. New vintage
9. Behold the Bride of Christ of Jesus the Christ, the Bride Groom
10. Fasting: Some Food For Thought
11. Do You Believe? – Matthew 9:28
12. Daily Thoughts from Hebrews: New Wine
13. the need for new wineskins