Thank you for the interpretative question on Matthew 9:17, “How would you explain Matthew 9:17?”
As I read again the context of Matthew 9:14–17, there is a contrast between the “old” and the “new” and the effects of the “old” and “new” as they interact with each other.
John’s disciples and the Pharisees fast in waiting for the coming of the Messiah. They represent the “old.” Jesus and his disciples represent the “new” for Jesus gives the explanation that the groomsmen do not fast when the groom with them. There is no mourning but only joy and happiness in the presence of the groom. No one goes to a wedding in mourning clothing. The two can’t mix together at the same time. Jesus hints that one day the groomsmen will mourn like the disciples of John and the Pharisees when the groom is taken away from them, but for now the groom is present so John’s disciple and the Pharisees should rejoice with the groomsmen.
Jesus uses two common knowledge among women and men. For the women, they understood that sewing a new patch of unshrunk material on a shrunk material will cause a worsen tear on the old fabric. Equally, the men understood that new wine is not poured into old wineskin for the expansion of the new wine will tear or burst the old wineskin. New wine must be poured into new wineskin.
As the listeners heard the illustrations, they understood that the mixture of the old teaching of the Law with the new teachings of Jesus on the Sermon on the Mount can’t mix together. It will be one or the other, but the two teachings can’t co-mingle together.
Jesus said in the Sermon on the Mount, “It has been said…” and “Do not…” are two contrary teachings. The Law or the interpretation of the Law by the Pharisees contradicts the new wine, teaching that Jesus gives regarding the spirit of the Law. The follower must decide which to follow, the Law or the teaching of Jesus. The two can’t mix together. The new cloth and the new wine doesn’t have a place in the old cloth and the old wineskin.
Perhaps an imperfect modern illustration is that when a person has a wireless connection, one doesn’t want to go back to the old coax cable or phone lines. Most of us would discontinue the old phone line and just use our wireless phones. The mixing of them would be confusing for callers whether to call you on the landline number or on the cell phone number. If two systems are kept, one is likely to miss a call.
Jesus is teaching his disciples if one wants new wine, then one must need a new life. This is seen in Matthew the tax collector. He can’t be a dishonest tax gather and be a follower of Jesus. His transformation comes when he hears that I have not come to call the righteous but sinners. Matthew experienced a new life and found the new teaching a breath of fresh air or a cool refreshing spring of water for his thirsty soul. Matthew wanted Jesus and his teaching, not the interpretations of the Law by the Pharisees.
SUMMARY: The teachings of Jesus can only be contained with a transformed heart of a believer. Nothing else can satisfy a searching soul.
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