Verse 33 The Pharisees are trying to say that Jesus doesn’t encourage his disciples to practice religion or honor God like John the Baptist does. They are not just looking for an answer but also wanting to stir up division between Jesus and John.

Verse 34 – 35 Jesus tells them there is a time to fast, like when we are confessing sin and filled with sorrow or when we are seeking divine intervention/God’s hand to change a situation or our lives. In this case, the Messiah is standing right there. Jesus says this is a time of celebration. He refers to himself as the groom at a wedding. (The Church is his bride.) And when people come to a wedding, they don’t fast. They are coming to celebrate! The disciples are celebrating that the Messiah is here, so why should they be fasting? Jesus does say there will be a time for the disciples to fast when He is no longer here. When Jesus goes to the cross will be the time to fast. When we need Jesus to draw near to us, we fast. When we feel He is far from us, we fast. When we need a supernatural change, a supernatural touch from heaven, we fast and draw close to Him for direction, for His will, for intimacy. We fast to experience God deeper, to be filled up with supernatural strength, and to receive supernatural wisdom.

Verse 36 Jesus tells them a parable, a short story, a word picture, with a moral or spiritual lesson. Jesus uses parables often and some can be difficult to understand. This one is basically saying that you can’t take a new patch and put it on an old cloth. The two pieces will not match, and the new patch will shrink when it’s washed and that will tear the old cloth.

Verse 37-38 And on the same note, you cannot put new wine in an old wineskin. When wine sits in a wineskin, the wine ferments and makes the glass brittle. Putting new wine in an old, brittle container will cause the glass to burst and you will lose both the wineskin and the wine. New wine needs a new wineskin.

Jesus is saying that he came to bring a new covenant. His disciples are following this new way (new cloth, new wine) and shouldn’t be tied down to or held in the old, strict set of religious rules (old cloth, old wineskin).

Jesus is asking us to abandon the old/bad set of views on how to obey the law. We don’t do things out of religious duty without the heart behind it. We don’t sin, confess, do something to make up for the sin (like a sacrifice) and then go back to this cycle again. We need a change of heart knowing we have a loving Savior who went to the cross to cover that sin. It’s not just a simple sin. It carries the weight of his life with it. That should change our hearts to want to change our ways. Someone (Jesus) paid the price for that sin with their life because He wants a relationship with us. He doesn’t want to just be a law we rigidly and righteously abide by. We will never be perfect enough and He knows that. That’s why He went to the cross.

The Pharisees were so stuck in their righteous thinking that they couldn’t see that Jesus was teaching them something.

Prayer: Jesus, thank you for releasing us from the old set of rules, the old law, and bringing a new covenant. Thank you for loving me and dying for me on the cross. Thank you that you’ve called us to a life of celebration because You came. You took my place on the cross. The Messiah, my Savior is here. Help me to remember this when life has me down when I’m tempted to complain when I’m frustrated with life. Help me remember you, Jesus, on the cross on my behalf. You saved me from my sin, my old way of thinking so that I might live a thankful life. Help me get unstuck from my old way of reasoning and thinking, Jesus. Your Word says, “Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18) Help me to consider it all joy when I face trials because the testing of my faith is producing perseverance (James 1:2-4). These are new ways of thinking. These thoughts keep You in mind, Jesus. They put You first. They keep You superior to all other thoughts. And when I need breakthrough, wisdom, and strength, Jesus, lead me into a season of fasting that I might rely on You, depend on You, expect You to show up on my behalf. Transform my thinking, renew my thoughts, Jesus. Help me not conform or be shaped by the patterns and ways of this world, Jesus. (Romans 12:2) I want to know Your will and do Your will. In Jesus’ name, Amen.