Parable of the New Wine into Old Wineskin; Matthew 9:17

_{New Wine into Old Wineskins – A Call to Renewed Hearts and Minds}

As believers, we often desire God to move in our lives — to pour out His blessings, renew our faith, and bring spiritual growth. Yet many times, our hearts are not ready to receive the “new wine” He wants to give. We hold on to old habits, traditions, and mindsets that cannot contain His fresh work of grace. 

There is a need for renewed hearts and minds — hearts that are flexible, humble, and teachable. God cannot pour new blessings into hearts that are hardened by pride, unforgiveness, or fear. Just as new wine needs new wineskins, so too does God’s Word require hearts that are ready to change and be molded by His Spirit.

_{The Context of Jesus’ Words}

When Jesus spoke these words, He was answering a question about fasting. People were wondering why His disciples weren’t following the old religious customs. And Jesus, with this short parable, explained something deep and impactful.

Matthew 9:17
“Neither do people pour new wine into old wineskins. If they do, the skins will burst, the wine will run out, and the wineskins will be ruined. No, they pour new wine into new wineskins, and both are preserved.”

^{Background Understanding}

First, let’s build some knowledge.

In ancient times, wine was kept in animal skins. When new wine was poured in, it would ferment — releasing gases that made it expand. If you used an old wineskin — one that was already stretched and brittle — it would burst under the pressure of the new wine. So, new wine always required new wineskins.

_{The Spiritual Lesson}

What Christ was teaching at this point outlined that His message — the gospel of grace and the new covenant of love, forgiveness, and spiritual renewal — could not be contained within the old religious system of law, rituals, and sacrifices. This was the spiritual renewal that He brought.

_{Bringing It Closer to Home}

Let’s, for an instance, take the wineskin to represent our hearts and mindset, while the wine represents the new covenant and the Word of God. Many of us desire to forgive, live by the Word of God, and be free of some vices. But we must start by examining our hearts. Are our hearts rigid and fatigued like the old wineskins? Maybe we are clinging on to old wounds and old ways of thinking. Or are they like the new wineskin — receptive and ready to receive the Scriptures and the love that Christ shares with us?

_{The Challenge of Resistance}

How often are we resisting the very change we pray for?

• We pray for courage, yet when moments arise to stand firm, we shrink back.
• We pray for growth, yet in the unfamiliar we complain.
• We pray for God’s love, yet we never want to come near to Him.

Old wineskins burst because of this pressure and resistance. Many believers are similar — when God calls for forgiveness, they reluctantly hold onto offenses. When Christ calls for peace, they cling to resentment.

_{A Call to Renewal}

My call to you today is to examine your heart. Let go of old pride and rigid customs. See that Christ is doing a new thing — pouring out new wine into our hearts. It is up to us to be receptive to His Word.