What is the meaning of Luke 5 verse 39?
No one wants new wine after drinking old wine. They say, "The old wine is better."
Luke 5:1 - 39
NKJV - 1 So it was, as the multitude pressed about Him to hear the word of God, that He stood by the Lake of Gennesaret. 2 And saw two boats standing by the lake; but the fishermen had gone from them and were washing their nets.
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Asked March 09 2022
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Ken Brown
Supporter
Community answers are sorted based on votes. The higher the vote, the further up an answer is.
Donna Williams
Supporter
I believe that Jesus spoke this parable to illustrate the difference between law and grace. The law was given to the children of Israel through Moses the Lord's prophet, but John 1:17 says, "Grace and truth came by Jesus Christ." Law and grace cannot be mixed under the new covenant. This parable speaks of the old verses the new covenant.
kel gens
Supporter
One cannot put new wine into an old wine skin, otherwise the skin would burst. New wine can only be poured into new wine skins. Jesus is using wine as a comparison to his new teaching and the old law. For example, “You have heard it said, ‘An eye for an eye and tooth for tooth,’ but I say [Jesus speaking], “Love your neighbor and forgive 7x 70 times.”
Jack Gutknecht
Supporter
Good question, Ken! Jesus said this in Luke 5:39 The old is just fine. This saying is found only in Luke. Jesus’ point seems to be that those who are content with the current way of doing things tend to resist anything new—even when it involves God’s work of salvation. FSB "The old is just fine." The religious leaders were resistant change. NLTPSB. Most of the Jews preferred the old and refused the new. Wiersbe Pray for an unsaved Jewish man with whom I work. Pray that he would listen to Dr. J. Vernon Mcgee's Thru the Bible's radio broadcast this Sunday as I believe he is open to the Gospel of Jesus Christ, the Savior of the world. He is seeking.
Shirley H
Supporter
2 Timothy 4:11: Paul writes to Timothy, "Only Luke is with Me." Acts 13:38 - 40: "My brothers, I want you to realize that it is through Him that forgiveness of sins is being proclaimed to you. Through Him justification from all sins from which the Law of Moses was unable to justify is being offered to every believer. 'So be careful - or what the prophets say will happen to you.'" The verse above is only reported in Luke's Gospel. The "new wine" is what Jesus provides: Grace. Paul was well acquainted with the difficulty of preaching to the Jewish community about Jesus. He always went to the Jews first. Later on in his ministry, he went to the gentiles.
John Appelt
Supporter
The parable of Luke 5:36-39 is universally considered that Jesus taught law and grace cannot be mixed, and that by inference the New Covenant (i.e., Christianity) has replaced the Old Covenant (i.e., Judaism). A problem of the law and grace interpretation is that this was not the time Jesus introduced the church or the concept of Christianity. He was not putting an end to the law but fulfilling it. In the parables, everything is ruined and can never be renewed. It does not fit the interpretation. Another problem is what Luke 5:39 actually says. “And no one, having drunk old wine, immediately desires new; for he says, ‘The old is better.’” This verse, which is original, is unique to Luke. If this parable is understood as law and grace, then this verse is saying the new wine, supposedly the Gospel, is not as good, and that Judaism is much better which makes no sense. The parables of Luke 5:36-39 cannot refer to the incompatibility of the old and new faiths. The context of Luke 5 is antagonism and criticism by the scribes and Pharisees against the Lord and, by connection, His choice of disciples who seem to be an eclectic group of men, not formally trained in Jewish traditions. They charged the disciples with associating with tax collectors and sinners and then asked why they did not fast. In response, Jesus said he came to call sinners and then asked how the friends of the bridegroom could fast while the bridegroom is with them, Luke 5:34-35. The parables of the garments and wineskins are in response to these criticisms. The parable of the garments describes the wasted action of patching an old garment with new material from a new garment. The wineskins parable portrays the wasted action of pouring new wine in old wineskins which would burst open the skins and waste the wine. The key to understanding this last parable is the Jewish tradition that noted that the wine symbolizes the Scriptures and the vessels the students. A Jewish rabbi, Elisha ben Avuyah, likened teaching a young student to one who starts with fresh paper and ink, while teaching an old student to one who starts with writing on paper that has been erased. The choice of vessels makes a big difference and so is the choosing of a student. The wrong student, who knows it all, will be a disaster waiting to happen. However, with a teachable student, there is great potential. The disciples, not encumbered with the teaching of traditions, would start with a clean slate under the teaching of the Master. As the students continue to learn the truth, the new wine ages into a rich wine. This is the goal of the Owner of the vineyard. The objective is to prevent spoilage and loss, and to ultimately produce the best wine. So, the point of Luke 5:39 is that new wine is not as much desired as the best and preferred pure, aged wine.
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