Jesus’ New Wine and Wineskins

In Matthew 9:16 Jesus continues to respond to the question (about fasting) and concerns of disciples of John the Baptist. After portraying himself as a bridegroom with “sons” (disciples) who celebrate his presence, Jesus now adds another riddle: do not use a new piece of cloth to patch up a hole in an old garment.

When John was arrested, it left a gaping hole in his group of disciples. But John had pointed to Jesus as the one who would bring God’s final decisive judgment on Israel, baptizing with the Holy Spirit and fire–gathering the good “grain” and burning the “chaff” with unending fire (see Mat. 3:11-12). While John and his disciples had lived in the barren wilderness, often fasting, Jesus had instead been eating and drinking with even tax collectors and “sinners” (Mat. 9:10). So John’s disciples were confused about whether this Jesus was really the one who would replace John, being the new “patch” in the hole of the old garment that was John’s disciples.

Then Jesus continues to address this problem with yet another riddle: do not put new wine into old wineskins; that would destroy the wineskins and spill the wine. If, however, the new wine is put in new wineskins, the combination will last (Mat. 9:17). So now the “old garment” becomes the “old wineskins,” both pointing to John and his disciples. Likewise, the new wineskins would be Jesus and his disciples, including the newest disciple, Matthew, the outcast tax collector. And the new wine would include the joy of the bridegroom and his “sons” as they celebrate Jesus’ presence and compassion for outcasts. Indeed, this joy and compassion from Jesus also reflects Jesus’ anointing of the Spirit from heaven and affirming of the voice of God that this Son was well pleasing, after he was baptized by John (see Mat. 3:16-17).

When Jesus came to John ro be baptized, John protested, saying Jesus should be the one to baptize him (with the Spirit). But Jesus responded that his baptism would help “fulfill all righteousness” (Mat. 3:13-15). Instead of ending history with the final judgment of God now, there was much righteousness to come, as Jesus would share the power and compassion of the Spirit broadly, even among outcasts, even among Gentiles. And even this righteousness would be seen in disciples of Jesus, whom Jesus would baptize with his Spirit, leading them to continue spreading Jesus’ gospel (good news) of the kingly power of God, as the power of the Spirit worked through them showing joy, compassion, gentleness, and making peace among all the nations of the world. Only after this world mission had fulfilled all righteousness, would the end come, including God’s final judgment, when Jesus would judge all the nations–as John had predicted.