New wine in old wineskin

[Wretched_one]

What did Jesus mean by the saying of new wine and old wineskin? Did he mean that Jews could not have been Christians then? It seems unlikely. He said it at a time when Jews asked him about difference between Jews and Christians and hence the doubt.
Thanks in advance. My internet connection is sporadic. So please excuse my sporadic participation.

 

[COPLAND_3]

Fr. William Most says

Jesus refers to two images: sewing a piece of unshrunk cloth onto old cloth - when the new would shrink, it would tear at the older cloth, - and the image of new wine in old wineskins, which could not easily contain the fermentation. - the sense of both is that the new spirit of Christ could not fit with the old spirit of the Pharisees.

Theophylact says

The “old garment” and the “old wineskins” mean the weakness of the disciples.

 

[Pfaffenhoffen]

What did Jesus mean by the saying of new wine and old wineskin? Did he mean that Jews could not have been Christians then? It seems unlikely. He said it at a time when Jews asked him about difference between Jews and Christians and hence the doubt.
Thanks in advance. My internet connection is sporadic. So please excuse my sporadic participation.

Following Christ means that you are a New Person.
Do not try to reconcile the Old with the New for it is neither Old nor New.
You must forget totally the past and start a new life in Jesus Christ.
My view.

 

[Wretched_one]

Fr. William Most says

Jesus refers to two images: sewing a piece of unshrunk cloth onto old cloth - when the new would shrink, it would tear at the older cloth, - and the image of new wine in old wineskins, which could not easily contain the fermentation. - the sense of both is that the new spirit of Christ could not fit with the old spirit of the Pharisees.
.

It seems from your answer and from the context in the Bible that Jesus is implying that the Jews could not have accepted him as the Messiah at least at that time, because he is new wine and they are old wineskin. My theory is that Jews had been accustomed to be the “servants” of God and to transform suddenly into “sons” of God with the spirit of Jesus would not have been well with them. Gentile of course were not accustomed to be the servants; so they adopted easily. Having watched the Gentiles as the sons of God and realizing their mistake of not accepting Christ and feeling repentent when Jews become Christians they would at last be ready to be the “sons” of God. It seems strange that Jesus is implying that Jews should not accept him as Christ at that time, but it seems to be so.
Thanks.

 

[COPLAND_3]

Jesus was a Jew and so were the first Christians, i would be careful how I would word it because it can come across as incorrect and anti-Jew. The Judiasm of the Pharisees and all its laws is the problem, not Jews as a people. Scripture uses the word Jews at times in the negative, not referring to a race but a religion that had become fulfilled in Christ.

 

[Wretched_one]

Jesus was a Jew and so were the first Christians, i would be careful how I would word it because it can come across as incorrect and anti-Jew. The Judiasm of the Pharisees and all its laws is the problem, not Jews as a people. Scripture uses the word Jews at times in the negative, not referring to a race but a religion that had become fulfilled in Christ.

To set the record straight, if there is any doubt I have highest respect for Jews as people and even as a religion, but of course they are wrong for not accepting Christ as their Messiah and one day I am sure they will do so.

 

[DCNBILL]

[BIBLEDRB]Mark 2:21-22[/BIBLEDRB]

 

[AlanFromWichita]

The new wine is a new way of thinking and believing that Jesus taught us.

But he has to “break” the old ways of thinking first.

For example, He tells about the Good Samaritan. Now this didn’t compute. Samaritans were not good, and Jesus is saying the Samaritan acted better than the priest.

So here Jesus is destroying group identity as means to salvation, as He often did. It seems that our dualistic minds want us to think that belong to this group or that group is something that God cares about. Jesus has to destroy these old wineskins (basically your brain with old ways of thinking) and create new, more open minds and hearts, ready to be filled with the Truth of God.

Another time was when Jesus said the last shall be first, and the greatest is the one who serves. Now he’s turning around role identities, totally confounding the only way people thought at a time. That breaks the old way of thinking, leaving open the non-dualistic teaching. Same way with the tax collector justified over the pharisee.

Then how about the Prodigal son? The son who did not sin ends up the one with the attitude problem. Breaking the old ways of thinking.

When He washed feet, he blew away the disciples. They had to learn how to accept kindness before they could understand Him. Again, they “flipped their lid,” so that New Truth may enter their new wineskins.

Alan

 

[COPLAND_3]

To set the record straight, if there is any doubt I have highest respect for Jews as people and even as a religion, but of course they are wrong for not accepting Christ as their Messiah and one day I am sure they will do so.

I was sure how you meant it, but on forums people can misunderstand the language in which people use. Ive been misunderstood many times!