Category: New Covenant

Old Cloth, Old Garment—New Wine, New Bottles #10

Saturday, September 21, 2024

“No man putteth a piece of new cloth unto an old garment, for that which is put in to fill it up taketh from the garment, and the rent is made worse. Neither do men put new wine into old bottles: else the bottles break, and the wine runneth out, and the bottles perish: but they put new wine into new bottles, and both are preserved” (Matthew 9:16,17 KJV).

What is our Lord Jesus Christ teaching here?

Being a “publican” or tax collector, Matthew/Levi was financially able to host a large banquet at his house in Jesus’ honor (Matthew 9:9,10; Mark 2:14,15; Luke 5:27-29). Apparently, a great many people attending this feast were Matthew’s friends and/or acquaintances, for the Bible says “publicans and sinners” were present. These were the very societal outcasts, the souls, Christ had come to save. They were the same spiritually-sick people the Great Physician purposed to deliver from their satanic blindness and ignorance: “I am not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance” (Matthew 9:13; Mark 2:17; Luke 5:31).

The adjective “righteous” in the above three verses designates those who do not regard themselves as sinners. They are thus the self-righteous, those who saw no need for any personal Saviour. In contradistinction to such smugness, the “sinners” who recognized their pitiful and lost estate were continually attracted to the Lord Jesus Christ in large numbers—which only sparked more moans and grumbles from the Jewish “religious” community. “Then drew near unto him all the publicans and sinners for to hear him. And the Pharisees and scribes murmured, saying, This man receiveth sinners, and eateth with them” (Luke 15:1,2).

It is at this point (Luke chapter 15) that Christ issued three parables—The Parable of the Lost Sheep (verses 3-7), The Parable of the Lost Coin (verses 8-10), and The Parable of the Lost/Prodigal Son (verses 11-32). Respectively, these apply to Christ’s earthly ministry, the early Acts period, and Daniel’s 70th Week (yet future). In each case, it is a believing remnant in Israel—never the entire nation. That Little Flock will become the new nation Israel, that which is given the New Covenant and filled with the indwelling Holy Spirit….

Old Cloth, Old Garment—New Wine, New Bottles #9

Friday, September 20, 2024

“No man putteth a piece of new cloth unto an old garment, for that which is put in to fill it up taketh from the garment, and the rent is made worse. Neither do men put new wine into old bottles: else the bottles break, and the wine runneth out, and the bottles perish: but they put new wine into new bottles, and both are preserved” (Matthew 9:16,17 KJV).

What is our Lord Jesus Christ teaching here?

John the Baptist expected the Pharisees and Sadducees (works-religionists in Judaism) to offer the lame excuse that they needed no repentance (change in mind) or water baptism because of their Jewish heritage. They would say something like, “Abraham is our father, and this alone automatically gives us a right standing before God. We have no sins to confess!” (We infer this based on John’s own words in Matthew 3:9 and Luke 3:8, plus the Apostle John’s comments in 1 John 1:6,8,10.)

While God the Father designed John the Baptist’s ministry to introduce Israel to His Son, Messiah Jesus, some of John’s disciples (followers) never actually transferred to Jesus like those in John 3:26. They joined the unbelieving Pharisees and Sadducees by opposing Him instead of coming to Him by faith (see Matthew 9:14 and Mark 2:18). In Matthew 21:33-46, Mark 12:1-12, and Luke 20:9-20; apostate Israel plots to kill the King so as to take His kingdom (nation Israel) from Him!

The New Covenant cannot be given to lost Israel, for they will not come by faith to the God-Man who can inaugurate that New Covenant via His shed blood. Likewise, if they are not partakers of the New Covenant, they are prohibited from entering His literal, physical, visible, earthly, Davidic kingdom. “Therefore say I unto you, The kingdom of God shall be taken from you [unbelieving Israel], and given to a nation bringing forth the fruits thereof” (Matthew 21:43). This “nation” is believing Israel, the Messianic Church, the “little flock” of Luke 12:31,32: “But rather seek ye the kingdom of God; and all these things shall be added unto you. Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom.”

Again, like today’s Scripture declares, Old Covenant self-righteousness cannot mix with New Covenant righteousness….

Old Cloth, Old Garment—New Wine, New Bottles #8

Thursday, September 19, 2024

“No man putteth a piece of new cloth unto an old garment, for that which is put in to fill it up taketh from the garment, and the rent is made worse. Neither do men put new wine into old bottles: else the bottles break, and the wine runneth out, and the bottles perish: but they put new wine into new bottles, and both are preserved” (Matthew 9:16,17 KJV).

What is our Lord Jesus Christ teaching here?

Again, re-read today’s Scripture and its companion passages of Mark 2:21-22 and Luke 5:36-39. The Lord told this “parable” or illustration in light of the Pharisees, their disciples, and John the Baptist’s disciples being obsessed with Old Testament legalistic practices (particularly fasting, their primary controversy with Jesus’ disciples). Such Old Covenant rituals are incompatible with New Covenant righteousness—the righteousness lost Israel cannot possess unless they have the New Covenant, the foundation of the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew chapters 5–7). As long as Israel is fanatical about religious works instead of Messiah, the nation is unable to be what the LORD God purposed it to be.

Old cloth patches should be paired with old garments, and new wine ought to be placed in new bottles. Why would Christ mention, of all things, garments and wine in these metaphors? To answer this, we must be proficient in the Word of God, recalling what has already been stated in other verses. Let us now think about the wine. In Judges 9:13, wine “cheereth God and man.” Over in John 2:1-11, at the wedding feast in Cana, they were without water (a type of the Word of God and the Spirit of God). Subsequent to filling the waterpots (symbolizing Israel) with water, the Lord Jesus miraculously turns the water into wine (grape juice). That wine or juice pictures the joy of the Holy Spirit (as in Galatians 5:22 and 1 Thessalonians 1:6). God cannot take an old bottle or wineskin, apostate Israel, and place the Holy Spirit (and His joy) within it. He can, however, take Israel’s believing remnant, justify these believing Jews, and give them the indwelling Holy Spirit (Ezekiel 36:25-28; cf. Matthew 7:7-12; Luke 11:9-13).

The Old Covenant thus gives way to the New Covenant….

Old Cloth, Old Garment—New Wine, New Bottles #7

Wednesday, September 18, 2024

“No man putteth a piece of new cloth unto an old garment, for that which is put in to fill it up taketh from the garment, and the rent is made worse. Neither do men put new wine into old bottles: else the bottles break, and the wine runneth out, and the bottles perish: but they put new wine into new bottles, and both are preserved” (Matthew 9:16,17 KJV).

What is our Lord Jesus Christ teaching here?

If you must, dear friend, re-read today’s Scripture and its analogous passages of Mark 2:21-22 and Luke 5:36-39. The Lord spoke all these words, this “parable” or illustration, in conjunction with the Pharisees, their disciples, and John the Baptist’s disciples trapped in Old Testament legalistic practices (especially fasting, their main point of contention with Jesus’ disciples). Such Old Covenant rituals cannot be combined with New Covenant righteousness, which righteousness lost Israel lacks apart from the New Covenant that lies at the heart of the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew chapters 5–7). As long as Israel is fixated on religious works instead of Messiah, the nation cannot be what JEHOVAH God designed it to be.

Old cloth patches should be paired with old garments, and new wine ought to be placed in new bottles. Why would Christ mention, of all things, garments and wine in these metaphors? To answer this, we must be skilled in the Word of God, recalling what has already been stated in other verses. Consider the garments first. “I will greatly rejoice in the LORD, my soul shall be joyful in my God; for he hath clothed me with the garments of salvation, he hath covered me with the robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decketh himself with ornaments, and as a bride adorneth herself with her jewels” (Isaiah 61:10). As with Adam and Eve (Genesis 3:21), physical clothes or garments are pictures or symbols of a “[spiritual] robe of righteousness.” Isaiah the Prophet foresees Israel’s New Covenant and kingdom restoration/salvation in the ages to come. A new cloth cannot be applied to an old garment, any more than righteousness can be applied to apostate or unbelieving Israel.

Let us now see how wine relates to this situation….

Old Cloth, Old Garment—New Wine, New Bottles #6

Tuesday, September 17, 2024

“No man putteth a piece of new cloth unto an old garment, for that which is put in to fill it up taketh from the garment, and the rent is made worse. Neither do men put new wine into old bottles: else the bottles break, and the wine runneth out, and the bottles perish: but they put new wine into new bottles, and both are preserved” (Matthew 9:16,17 KJV).

What is our Lord Jesus Christ teaching here?

Considering the larger context of today’s Scripture, we discover how chapters 8 and 9 of Matthew radiate from chapters 5–7 (the Sermon on the Mount). Whereas the Sermon on the Mount is Christ’s Kingdom Constitution (God’s work with and through Israel in the ages to come), and chapters 8 and 9 contain 10 specific miracles to validate how the Lord Jesus can bring that kingdom restoration of Israel to pass, there are interspersed various references as to how Israel languishes in unbelief (a national refusal to leave behind her religious efforts or self-righteousness [the Old Covenant] and move on to kingdom righteousness [the New Covenant]). For example, see Israel’s unbelief in Matthew 8:10,12,20,33,34 and Matthew 9:3,4,11,13,14,24,33,34.

Go back to today’s Scripture and the two verses immediately preceding it: “Then came to him the disciples of John, saying, Why do we and the Pharisees fast oft, but thy disciples fast not? And Jesus said unto them, Can the children of the bridechamber mourn, as long as the bridegroom is with them? but the days will come, when the bridegroom shall be taken from them, and then shall they fast. No man putteth a piece of new cloth unto an old garment, for that which is put in to fill it up taketh from the garment, and the rent is made worse. Neither do men put new wine into old bottles: else the bottles break, and the wine runneth out, and the bottles perish: but they put new wine into new bottles, and both are preserved” (Matthew 9:14-17; cf. Mark 2:18-22; Luke 5:33-39).

The Pharisees, their disciples, and John’s disciples were trapped in Old Testament legalistic practices, but the Lord Jesus taught how Old Covenant rituals cannot be combined with New Covenant righteousness….

Old Cloth, Old Garment—New Wine, New Bottles #5

Monday, September 16, 2024

“No man putteth a piece of new cloth unto an old garment, for that which is put in to fill it up taketh from the garment, and the rent is made worse. Neither do men put new wine into old bottles: else the bottles break, and the wine runneth out, and the bottles perish: but they put new wine into new bottles, and both are preserved” (Matthew 9:16,17 KJV).

What is our Lord Jesus Christ teaching here?

Today’s Scripture is in the context of the Lord and His disciples eating at Matthew’s (Levi’s) house, where many “publicans [tax collectors] and sinners [societal outcasts]” (presumably friends of Matthew/Levi) have assembled for a great feast (Matthew 9:10, Mark 2:15; Luke 5:29). The “scribes” (Hebrew Bible copyists and Mosaic-Law teachers) and “Pharisees” (conceited, self-righteous works-religionists and traditionalists in Judaism) “murmur” (complain) how Jesus and His disciples “eat with publicans and sinners,” a charge Christ eagerly answers (Matthew 9:11-13; Mark 2:16,17; Luke 5:30-32): “I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance!”

During this large banquet, John the Baptist’s disciples also whined to Jesus. “Why do we and the Pharisees fast oft, but thy disciples fast not?” (Matthew 9:14). Mark 2:18 adds, “And the disciples of John and of the Pharisees used to fast.” Luke 5:33 reports, “Why do the disciples of John fast often, and make prayers, and likewise the disciples of the Pharisees; but thine eat and drink?” The Lord’s disciples should be fasting not eating (or so these detractors argue)!

Matthew 9:15 reads: “And Jesus said unto them, Can the children of the bridechamber mourn, as long as the bridegroom is with them? but the days will come, when the bridegroom shall be taken from them, and then shall they fast.” See also Mark 2:19,20 and Luke 5:34,35. The Lord Jesus Christ is not dead yet, so His disciples have no reason to fast or be sad; they should be eating. At this point, He contends how it is improper to pair new (unshrunk) patches with old garments and new wine with old bottles (today’s Scripture; Mark 2:21,22; Luke 5:36-38). Luke 5:36 declares this is a “parable” (illustration or analogy). Christ’s critics need to move from Old Covenant ritualism to New Covenant righteousness….

No Wedding Garment! #9

Tuesday, July 30, 2024

“And when the king came in to see the guests, he saw there a man which had not on a wedding garment: And he saith unto him, Friend, how camest thou in hither not having a wedding garment? And he was speechless” (Matthew 22:11,12 KJV).

Who is this who has no “wedding garment?”

If Israel will fellowship with JEHOVAH God under the New Covenant, it must be imputed righteousness instead of self-righteousness (The Parable of the Wedding Feast, Matthew 22:1-14). God is calling all Jews in the prophetic program via the Gospel of the Kingdom, but those chosen for service are they who will believe and thus possess His righteousness not self-righteousness (verse 14). Only believing Israel, justified in the Lord because of His righteousness, will be Christ’s wife because they alone have the wedding garment. “Therefore say I unto you, The kingdom of God shall be taken from you [lost Israel, especially religious leaders], and given to a nation [believing remnant, Little Flock of Luke 12:32] bringing forth the fruits [righteousness] thereof” (Matthew 21:43).

Isaiah 64:6: “But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away.” The Hebrew word rendered “filthy” means “menstruation,” the monthly bleeding of a woman’s reproductive organs. According to the Holy Bible, man’s “very best” is but a soiled sanitary napkin in God’s sight! (How flattering!) Billions upon billions are still struggling in vain to obtain a right standing in God’s court (justification) by offering their “filthy rags.”

Like Adam and Eve, they wear their “fig leaves” hoping to cover their spiritual nakedness—but God is not fooled (Genesis 3:7-11). Following apostate Israel’s example, they use the Law of Moses to prove their supposed “goodness” and “worthiness of Heaven.” Unfortunately for them, God is not impressed… save (except) in Jesus Christ’s death, burial, and resurrection as sufficient payment for our sins (1 Corinthians 15:3,4)! Like self-righteous Saul of Tarsus (the Apostle Paul) had to learn in Philippians 3:9, “And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith:….” May we learn this too!

No Wedding Garment! #8

Monday, July 29, 2024

“And when the king came in to see the guests, he saw there a man which had not on a wedding garment: And he saith unto him, Friend, how camest thou in hither not having a wedding garment? And he was speechless” (Matthew 22:11,12 KJV).

Who is this who has no “wedding garment?”

The “wedding” is in Revelation 19:7-9, the Marriage Supper of the Lamb: “Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honour to him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife hath made herself ready. And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white: for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints. And he saith unto me, Write, Blessed are they which are called unto the marriage supper of the Lamb. And he saith unto me, These are the true sayings of God.” The “supper” itself is Revelation 19:11-21.

As for the proper wedding garment, see Revelation 7:9-14—God’s righteousness, not man’s self-righteousness (recall Isaiah 61:10; cf. Genesis 3:1-13,21). Only Israel’s believing remnant, the Little Flock, will have it. National Israel will be without the wedding garment, having only works-religion. As for the wedding, Jesus Christ marries Israel under the New Covenant. Hosea 2:16,19,20: “And it shall be at that day, saith the LORD, that thou shalt call me Ishi [‘Husband’]; and shalt call me no more Baali [‘Lord’]…. And I will betroth [engage] thee unto me for ever; yea, I will betroth thee unto me in righteousness, and in judgment, and in lovingkindness, and in mercies. I will even betroth thee unto me in faithfulness: and thou shalt know the LORD.”

Also see Isaiah 62:4,5: “Thou shalt no more be termed Forsaken; neither shall thy land any more be termed Desolate: but thou shalt be called Hephzibah [‘Delight’], and thy land Beulah [‘Married’]: for the LORD delighteth in thee, and thy land shall be married. For as a young man marrieth a virgin, so shall thy sons marry thee: and as the bridegroom rejoiceth over the bride, so shall thy God rejoice over thee.” God marries (joins) Israel to the Promised Land, and then Jesus Christ marries Israel.

Let us summarize and conclude this devotionals arc….

Jeremiah 29:11 and Right Division #7

Sunday, May 26, 2024

“For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end” (Jeremiah 29:11 KJV).

What is the truth about today’s Scripture?

Today’s Scripture is connected to the Jews’ Babylonian Captivity (see verse 10). For 70 years, the Kingdom of Judah would live in the foreign territory of Babylonia because of habitual violation of the Law of Moses. However, a remnant would come back to the Promised Land. In the short-term, that was the return under Zerubbabel and Ezra (see the Books of Ezra, Nehemiah, Haggai, Zechariah, and Malachi). In the long-term, however, it speaks of a regathering of Israel even future from us. That would be Christ’s Second Coming in Matthew 24:30,31.

Read the verses immediately following today’s Scripture: “[12] Then shall ye call upon me, and ye shall go and pray unto me, and I will hearken unto you. [13] And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart. [14] And I will be found of you, saith the LORD: and I will turn away your captivity, and I will gather you from all the nations, and from all the places whither I have driven you, saith the LORD; and I will bring you again into the place whence I caused you to be carried away captive.” Israel’s believing remnant will recognize their apostate nation is doomed under the Old Covenant—but will be blessed under the New Covenant. As God drove the Jewish people from the land of Canaan during the Babylonian Captivity, so He will bring them back to the land of Canaan at Messiah’s return. See also Deuteronomy 30:1-10; Psalm 126:1-6; Isaiah 11:11,12; Jeremiah 16:14,15; Ezekiel 36:16-38; Zephaniah 3:20; et cetera.

We study the Bible “rightly divided” (2 Timothy 2:15), carefully separating Israel from the Body of Christ, prophecy from mystery, Peter from Paul, earth from heaven, and law from grace. After the “evil” or curses of the Law have fallen on Israel and Jerusalem (Jeremiah 21:10; Jeremiah 39:16; Jeremiah 44:27), the “thoughts of peace” will be brought to pass (the “expected end” or hope of today’s Scripture). This is the LORD dealing with Israel, not us! “For thus saith the LORD; Like as I have brought all this great evil upon this people, so will I bring upon them all the good that I have promised them” (Jeremiah 32:42).

Spiritual Calligraphy #12

Saturday, May 18, 2024

“And the Gentiles shall come to thy light, and kings to the brightness of thy rising” (Isaiah 60:3 KJV).

What can today’s Scripture teach us about spiritual calligraphy?

Read this excerpt from the Sermon on the Mount, Christ’s Kingdom Constitution of Matthew chapters 5–7. It is Israel’s prospect in the ages to come, and complements today’s Scripture: “Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid. Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven” (Matthew 5:14-16). Also, Matthew 13:43: “Then shall the righteous shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father. Who hath ears to hear, let him hear.” Our parallel passage as members of the Church the Body of Christ is Philippians 2:13-16, what we read earlier.

Whether the nation Israel living in accordance with the Law of Moses (time past), or we the Church the Body of Christ conducting ourselves in agreement with the Pauline epistles of Romans through Philemon (but now), or the redeemed nation Israel functioning under the New Covenant or Law of Messiah (ages to come), it is the life of the one true (Creator) God being revealed in and through His people. He is thus glorified in His creation. Yet, if they do not walk in their respective identities, they will give an occasion for Satan’s people to sneer, laugh, and discredit them.

Indeed, it can be spiritual calligraphy—God the Holy Spirit’s attractive handwriting on the pages of Scripture being brought into the very details of human existence. Or, it can be spiritual cacography—hideous words and repulsive deeds that are not even worth mentioning or thinking about. To state it another way, either it will be a “sinner’s gospel” or a “scoffer’s creed.” We would do well to remember grace living as taught in Romans 6:1-14, Ephesians 5:1-20, Colossians 1:9-13, and Titus 2:11-15. It is our choice to allow the Holy Spirit to work in and through us, so any poor decisions we make will not be God’s fault. May we choose spiritual calligraphy! 🙂