In almost unanimous consent interpreters and commentators have agreed that the old wine, old wineskins and the old coat are all symbols of Judaism and Law whereas the new wine and the new coat are symbols of Christianity and Grace.

Just as the new wine would burst the old skins and be spilled, so too the New Covenant Gospel of the Church Kingdom would be wasted if it was poured into the Old Covenant, Mosaic, legalistic religion of Judaism.

Similarly, the new wine is the Gospel/Grace/Kingdom/Church and the old wineskin is the Old Covenant/Law/Judaism. No one tears a new garment to patch an old one. The new garment is the Gospel/Grace/Kingdom/Church and the old garment is the Old Covenant/Law/Judaism. The meaning of the parable is seemingly obvious. IncompatibilityĮxpositors have been scratching chins and nodding heads for a long time over the double parable of Luke 5:36-39. They don't ask him any more questions, but perhaps that was only because, like the rest of us, they have no idea what Yeshua was talking about. It seems that the Master's profound observations concerning old wineskins, torn coats and new patches leave them speechless. And no one after drinking old wine wants the new, for he says, 'The old is better.' (Luke 5:36-39) No, new wine must be poured into new wineskins. If he does, the new wine will burst the skins, the wine will run out and the wineskins will be ruined. And no one pours new wine into old wineskins. If he does, he will have torn the new garment, and the patch from the new will not match the old. No one tears a patch from a new garment and sews it on an old one. When these same critics turn to Yeshua, informing him that his disciples don't fast like the disciples of Yochanan and the disciples of the Pharisees, Yeshua disarms them with the double parable of the Old Coat and the New Wine. They would not deign to eat with the sinners and tax collectors that constitute Yeshua's friends and followers, but they are intrigued enough to stay close and observe.Īs the meal progresses, the Pharisees began to ask Yeshua's disciples some questions such as, 'How often do you fast?' The disciples are unable to answer with their mouths full, so they shrug and look at Yeshua. They have been following Yeshua, learning from him and scrutinizing him. On the periphery of the scene are the Pharisees and several disciples of Yochanan the Immerser.We should not assume that the two groups are mutually exclusive. There is singing and drinking and eating and merriment, and in the midst of it reclines the Master and his disciples. Imagine, if you will, a banquet at the house of Levi the tax collector. 'Thus,' said he to her, 'It is the same with Torah!' She asked, 'But are there not handsome people who are learned?' He replied, 'If they were ugly they would be even more learned!' (Talmud Bavli Nedarim 50b) 'But all the common people store their wine in jars of clay! You use them too? You should keep your wine in jars of gold and silver!' She went and had the wine placed in vessels of gold and silver, and it turned sour. In what is the wine stored?' 'In jars of clay,' she answered. The Emperor's daughter said to Rabbi Yehoshua ben Chananiah: 'What beautiful Torah in an ugly vessel.' He replied, 'Learn from the house of your father.

Old wineskin