Luke 5:33-39

Jesus and His disciples had just been accused by the religious leaders of eating and drinking with tax collectors and sinners which, in their opinion, was a violation of their religious “rules.” Jesus responded to this opposition by explaining that He was interested in spending time with people who recognized their need for help and were unlike the prideful scribes and Pharisees; furthermore, Jesus gave purpose to His earthly ministry when He said, “I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners, to repentance” (5:32). Ignoring the significance of Jesus’ statement, the scribes and Pharisees begin pestering Jesus with more questions like “Why do the disciples of John fast often and make prayers, and likewise those of the Pharisees, but Yours eat and drink?” (5:33) Since fasting was a voluntary act, except for fasting on the Day of Atonement, and never commanded in Scripture, these “religious” men were simply emphasizing external displays of spirituality rather than dealing with the real problem – the sinful condition of their heart.

In a rare explanation to His accusers, Jesus says, “Can you make the friends [Jesus' followers] of the bridegroom [Jesus] fast while the bridegroom is with them? But the days will come when the bridegroom will be taken away from them; then they will fast in those days” (5:34-35). There was no need to fast in those days since Jesus walked with His followers daily; however, Jesus’ future death and ascension to heaven would bring back the necessity of longing for His presence through the act of fasting.In an obvious attempt to explain the difference between His teachings and the teachings of the scribes and Pharisees, Jesus provides two illustrations for their understanding. First He says, “No one puts a piece from a new garment on an old one; otherwise the new makes a tear, and also the piece that was taken out of the new does not match the old” (5:36). A new piece of cloth does not belong on an old garment, which was Jesus’ way of saying that His new way of forgiveness cannot be connected with the old rituals and traditions of the law. Secondly, Jesus says, “…no one puts new wine into old wineskins; or else the new wine will burst the wineskins and be spilled, and the wineskins will be ruined” (5:37). New wine does not belong in old wineskins, which was Jesus’ way of saying that the old traditions of the law cannot be contained by the new offer of hope and forgiveness through Jesus. In both of these illustrations, Jesus was teaching what Paul would later write in his letter to the Romans, “…by the deeds of the law no flesh will be justified in His sight, for by the law is the knowledge of sin” (Romans 3:20). Keeping the Old Testament law was never meant to bring forgiveness of sin, but only expose the impossibility of keeping the law and its demands. When a person realizes their sinfulness and inability to gain God’s favor through trying to keep the law, he will be forced to find forgiveness through other means, Jesus Christ. Forgiveness and cleansing from sin cannot be attained through prideful expressions of spirituality, but only through humbling ourselves before a holy God and seeking His forgiveness. Paul writes to the church at Corinth that Jesus took our sins upon Himself so that those who repent and believe will receive a righteous standing before God, even though they are still sinners (2 Corinthians 5:21; Romans 5:8).

Dear God, I know that I do not gain favor with You by performing outward displays of spirituality, but rather by humbling myself before You in recognition of my sin and serving You with my life.