What Jesus Did! 'New Wine' — Matthew 9:16-17

Sunday, April 20, 2025

[After pointing out that wedding guests do not fast, Jesus continued:] "Besides, who would patch old clothing with new cloth? For the new patch would shrink and rip away from the old cloth, leaving an even bigger tear than before.

"And no one puts new wine into old wineskins. For the old skins would burst from the pressure, spilling the wine and ruining the skins. New wine is stored in new wineskins so that both are preserved."

— Matthew 9:16-17 NLT

Key Thought

None of us likes to give up something familiar or comfortable. This dislike is even more true when this "something" has been the controlling point for our view of reality, morality, and religion. So we have a tendency to plug something we like about a new experience or religion into our old religious context and try to make it fit. Jesus' point here is that what he brings cannot be made to fit in the old order and old forms of religion with which people are familiar. No, to do that would be destructive to both the old and the new. What Jesus brings is new, fresh, and transformational. It will rip apart anything that tries to force it into another way of doing, perceiving, and experiencing. The Kingdom family is God's way of doing life, not just another religion to be thrown into the world mix of faiths.

Today's Prayer

Father, you are the one and true God. I come to you today asking you to strengthen my resolve and deepen my commitment to live according to your will revealed by Jesus. I confess to you that I find it easy to rationalize away the bite in some of Jesus' words and simply combine his teaching with what I already believe. Through your Spirit, I pray that you will help me see your truth in Jesus and lose my prejudices and prior preferences and beliefs. In Jesus' name, I pray. Amen.

Related Scripture Readings

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Illustration

Illustration of Matthew 9:16-17 NLT — "Besides, who would patch old clothing with new cloth? For the new patch would shrink and rip away from the old cloth, leaving an even bigger tear than before. "

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About This Devotional

What Jesus Did! is a series of one-year devotional guides through each gospel, using one short scripture passage each day and following the Gospel in sequential order. Each devotional consists of a scripture passage and a reflection and a prayer which open up the day's scripture and show how it challenges you to live for Jesus.

What Jesus Did! is written by Phil Ware and is available in book form.

Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright ©1996, 2004, 2007, 2013, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

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