Matthew 9:17 - Neither do people put new wine into old wine skins, or else the skins would burst, and the wine be spilled, and the skins ruined. No, they put new wine into fresh wine skins, and both are preserved.”

Generated Verse: Matthew 9:17

What does "Matthew 9:17" mean?


This verse from Matthew 9:17 is a parable used by Jesus to illustrate the incompatibility of certain ideas or systems. To understand it, let's break it down:

Old Wineskins: In Jesus' time, wineskins were made from animal hides. As they aged, they would become brittle and less flexible.

New Wine: Freshly fermented wine produces gases and expands.

The Parable's Meaning:
Old Wineskins & New Wine: If you put new, fermenting wine into old, brittle wineskins, the pressure from the fermentation would cause the old skins to burst. The wine would be lost, and the skins would be ruined.
Fresh Wineskins & New Wine: New, supple wineskins can expand with the fermentation process without bursting. Both the wine and the wineskins are preserved.

What Jesus was Illustrating:

Jesus was using this parable to explain why his teachings and practices were often at odds with the established religious traditions (represented by the "old wineskins") of the Pharisees and other Jewish leaders. He was essentially saying:

His new teachings (the "new wine") were fundamentally different and incompatible with the rigid, outdated traditions (the "old wineskins"). Trying to force the new message into the old framework would only lead to conflict and destruction (the bursting of the wineskins and the spilling of the wine).

A new system or approach (the "fresh wineskins") was needed to contain and preserve the new teachings (the "new wine"). This implied the need for a new way of thinking and practicing religion, one that was more flexible, adaptable, and open to change.

In broader terms, the verse highlights the following principles:

The Need for Change and Adaptation: Sometimes, outdated systems or structures need to be replaced to accommodate new ideas or approaches.
Incompatibility: Not everything can be mixed or combined successfully. Trying to force incompatible elements together can lead to failure.
Preservation and Growth: To preserve something valuable (like the "new wine" - Jesus' message), you need a suitable container or framework (the "fresh wineskins").

In essence, Jesus was saying that his message was so new and transformative that it couldn't be contained within the old religious framework. It required a new paradigm shift and a new way of understanding God's relationship with humanity.