Second, the image of new wine is suggested by the context of a feast at the beginning of a new age. The point of the metaphor is not replacement of old things with new, but rather appropriate behavior when the bridegroom is present (Gundry, Mark, 138). The disciples of John the Baptist are also questioning Jesus on fasting. This supersessionist reading is not what Jesus is saying.įirst, the contrast is not between Jesus and the Pharisees. But in the New Testament, the bridegroom is the Son of God and the bride is His church” ( Mark, 47). Sproul says “The bridegroom in the Old Testament is God and the bride is Israel. The new wineskins saying has often been taken to mean that Christianity is superior to Judaism and will replace it. What is the old and new in these analogies? What is the old thing that has been replaced by a new thing? Likewise, one who mourns at a wedding celebration ruins the celebration.
#Leather wineskin Patch
It is inappropriate for a person to patch clothing or store wine in these ways, the result will ruin the clothing, the wine and the wineskin. Likewise, patching an old cloak with a new piece of cloth that has not been preshrunk will likely result in tearing, and perhaps ruining the old cloak. If the new wine is placed an old skin, then the skins would naturally burst.
#Leather wineskin skin
“The fermenting wine was stored either in earthenware jugs that could hold up to ten gallons or in leather skins” (Donahue, 108 here is a photograph by Ferrill Jenkins of a Bedouin skin for churning). Putting new, still fermenting wine in an old dried out leather wine skin will destroy both the skin and the wine. The second and third analogies, patching cloth, old and new wineskin, have a slightly different nuance. The first analogy is that Jesus is like a bridegroom and fasting is inappropriate at a wedding. In response to the question about fasting, Jesus offers three analogies explaining his practice of sharing food with “sinners.”
![leather wineskin leather wineskin](https://i.etsystatic.com/20011341/r/il/eebedc/2560935025/il_794xN.2560935025_sa6k.jpg)
Jesus is the guest of honor at a festive meal at Matthew’s home and he shares food with tax collectors and “sinners.” The Pharisees question his choice of table partners (Matt 9:10-11) and John the Baptist’s disciples question him on the practice of fasting (Matt 9:14).