Luke 5:33-38 Parables

[Dave27360]

From today’s readings

And he also told them a parable.
“No one tears a piece from a new cloak to patch an old one.
Otherwise, he will tear the new
and the piece from it will not match the old cloak.
Likewise, no one pours new wine into old wineskins.
Otherwise, the new wine will burst the skins,
and it will be spilled, and the skins will be ruined.
Rather, new wine must be poured into fresh wineskins.
And no one who has been drinking old wine desires new,
for he says, ‘The old is good.’”

What do you think is the meaning of these two parables?

 

[Gorgias]

Jesus is talking about the old law and the new law. If you try to constrain the new law to the context of the old law, it just doesn’t work – the old contexts cannot handle the new law. You have to open yourself up to the new context in order to handle Jesus’ teaching. Otherwise, the old contexts aren’t “elastic” enough to hold the new teaching.

Moreover, those who are comfortable with the old law are apt to say “meh, I don’t need these new teachings; I’m happy with Moses”, and thus, miss out entirely on Jesus’ teaching!

 

[Dave27360]

I guess the confusing part of this is that the old ritualistic and dietary laws no longer apply but the natural laws (ten commandments) does still apply.

 

[Vico]

…
What do you think is the meaning of these two parables?

See Homily 30 on Matthew of Saint John Chrysostom (covers Luke also), where he writes:

• The present time is of joy and gladness, therefore do not bring in the things which are melancholy.
• He signifies, that what they did was not of gluttony, but pertained to some marvellous dispensation.
• The disciples have not yet become strong, but still need much condescension. They have not yet been renewed by the Spirit, and on persons in that state one ought not to lay any burden of injunctions.
• Do you see His illustrations, how like the Old Testament? The garment? The wine skins? For Jeremiah too calls the people a girdle, and makes mention again of bottles and of wine. Jeremiah 13:10-12 Thus, the discourse being about gluttony and a table, He takes His illustrations from the same.

https://www.newadvent.org/fathers/200130.htm

 

[Gorgias]

I guess the confusing part of this is that the old ritualistic and dietary laws no longer apply but the natural laws (ten commandments) does still apply.

So, properly speaking, the Ten Commandments aren’t part of the Mosaic Law, although they’re certainly mentioned there. In other words, as part of God’s natural law, present in all times and all places, they’ve always existed for us and will always exist.

So… the Mosaic Law is the part that is the “old wineskins”, not the Ten Commandments.

 

[fhansen]

And yet the ten commandments are to be fulfilled in a new way, under grace, by the Spirit who enables it, by love, by fulfilling the Greatest Commandments to put it another way:
"The commandments, “You shall not commit adultery,” “You shall not murder,” “You shall not steal,” “You shall not covet,” and whatever other command there may be, are summed up in this one command: “Love your neighbor as yourself.” Love does no harm to a neighbor. Therefore love is the fulfillment of the law." Rom 13:9-10

Both Jesus and St Paul mention those laws as necessary to fulfill. We’ll be judged by them even though they cannot, by themselves, justify us. Rom 2:12

 

[Dan_Defender]

I guess the confusing part of this is that the old ritualistic and dietary laws no longer apply but the natural laws (ten commandments) does still apply.

Because the rituals were only symbolic and prophetic of the Messianic time. It would not make sense to have the lamb killed ritually at the Temple after the true lamb sacrificed his life for us all.