what does matthew 9 14-17 mean

3 min read 26-12-2024

Matthew 9:14-17 presents a seemingly simple yet profound passage about the transition from the old covenant (Old Testament law) to the new covenant (the era of Jesus and the Gospel). Understanding this passage requires examining the context of Jesus' ministry and the cultural norms of the time. Let's delve into the meaning of these verses.

The Context: Disciples' Fasting and Jesus' Response

Matthew 9:14-17 (NIV):

14 Then John’s disciples came to Jesus and asked, “Why do we and the Pharisees fast, but your disciples do not?” 15 Jesus answered, “How can the guests of the bridegroom mourn while he is with them? The time will come when the bridegroom will be taken from them; then they will fast. 16 “No one sews a patch of unshrunk cloth on an old garment, for the patch will pull away from the garment, making the tear worse. 17 Neither do people pour new wine into old wineskins. If they do, the skins will burst; the wine will run out and the wineskins will be ruined. No, new wine must be poured into new wineskins.”

The passage begins with John the Baptist's disciples questioning Jesus about the fasting practices of his disciples. Fasting was a common religious practice among Jews, particularly associated with repentance and prayer. Both the Pharisees and John's disciples practiced fasting, yet Jesus' disciples didn't. This discrepancy prompted the question.

The Bridegroom's Celebration: A Time for Joy, Not Mourning

Jesus' reply centers on the analogy of a wedding feast. He likens himself to the bridegroom and his disciples to the wedding guests. During the bridegroom's presence, mourning and fasting are inappropriate; it's a time for celebration and joy. This directly addresses the disciples' question. The implication is that Jesus' presence, the new era of God's kingdom, is a time of joy and celebration. Fasting would be out of place during this time of revelry.

The Old Garment and the New Patch: The Limitations of Legalism

The next analogy focuses on a practical limitation: sewing a new patch onto an old garment. Unshrunk cloth, when washed, shrinks and pulls, damaging the garment further. This illustrates the incompatibility of trying to patch up the old system of the law with the new teachings of Jesus. The old law, represented by the old garment, is flawed and worn. Trying to mend it with the new teachings (the unshrunk cloth) only worsens the situation.

The Old Wineskins and New Wine: Adapting to the New Covenant

The final analogy uses the image of new wine and old wineskins. New wine is fermenting and expanding. Pouring it into old, inflexible wineskins will cause them to burst. This is a powerful image demonstrating the transformative nature of Jesus' teachings and the inadequacy of the old legalistic system. The old system, symbolized by the old wineskins, is unable to contain the transformative power of the new wine (the Gospel).

The Significance of Matthew 9:14-17

These verses highlight a key theme in Matthew's Gospel: the transition from the old covenant under the law to the new covenant established by Jesus. The old covenant, while containing God's law, was ultimately insufficient to fully address humanity's spiritual needs. The new covenant, ushered in by Jesus, offers a radical transformation—a new way of life based on grace, love, and forgiveness.

Fasting, in itself, wasn't wrong. The issue was the timing and the motive. The disciples' fasting was not necessarily wrong. However, during this period of Jesus' active ministry, the focus should be on the joy and celebration of the kingdom's arrival, not on outward acts of repentance.

The analogies of the patch, the garment, and the wine and wineskins emphasize the need for a complete transformation rather than a mere superficial adjustment. The old legalistic system couldn't contain the transformative power of the Gospel. A new approach, a new understanding, was necessary. The new covenant brought about a new way of relating to God, characterized by grace rather than mere adherence to the law.

Conclusion: Embracing the New Covenant

Matthew 9:14-17 calls us to understand the significance of Jesus' ministry as a new era in God's relationship with humanity. The old ways, while having their place, are superseded by a deeper and more transformative relationship with God made possible through faith in Jesus Christ. It's a call to embrace the new wine of the Gospel and to recognize the inadequacy of trying to patch up the old. The message is one of radical transformation and a complete embrace of the new covenant. The joy of salvation surpasses the need for outward expressions of repentance until the appropriate time.