Reflection on Matthew 9:14- 17

/ newlifenarrabri / Leave a comment

Scripture

“No one puts new wine into old wine skins, for the old skins would burst from the pressure, spoiling the wine and ruining the skins. New wine is stored in new wine skins so that both are preserved.”

Observation

Disciples of John the Baptist come to Jesus and ask him why His disciples do not fast like they and the Pharisees do.

Jesus replies with three analogies:

1. Guests don’t mourn at a wedding, but one day the groom will be taken away from them, and then they will fast.

2. You don’t patch old clothing with new cloth, for the new cloth will shrink, tearing a hole in the old garment.

3. You don’t put new wine into old wine skins because the new wine continues to ferment, and the old wine skin will split, spilling the wine.

Application

People often speak of new wine and old wine skins to justify throwing away traditions they disagree with.

Here, Jesus is pointing out he is bringing a New Covenant that goes beyond what was possible in the Old Covenant. Therefore, our practices reflect the new realities of the presence of the Holy Spirit in every believer.

The problem is that we keep wanting to go back to old wine skins – the known ways are easier than the new ways.

Our common church buildings reflect Greek and Roman secular culture, not New Covenant culture. The institution of the pastor as the source of all wisdom is not New Covenant. The cherished three point sermon is based in Greek rhetoric not Holy Spirit direction.

Every part of our corporate worship and individual practice must be a new wine skin, otherwise the new wine of the Holy Spirit cannot be contained in it.

Prayer

Father, forgive me for wanting the comfort of old wine skins. Please help me to allow you to renew my thinking. Amen.

Quote for the Day

/ newlifenarrabri / Leave a comment

If churchgoers can be convinced there’s something shameful and unchristian in bringing their values to the democratic process, first, it will blunt their influence on the culture. Second, they will be distracted from noticing the secular left’s long and well-documented history of infiltrating churches and buying influence among church leaders—a history that still marches on today. Megan Basham

Reflection on Matthew 9:1-13

/ newlifenarrabri / Leave a comment

Scripture

“For I have come to call not those who think they are righteous, but those who know they are sinners.”

Observation

Jesus returns to his own town Capernaum. Some people bring a paralysed man to him. Jesus encourages the man and says his sins are forgiven.

Some of the teachers of the religious law think that this is blasphemy. To prove that He has authority to forgive sins, Jesus tells the man to get up and walk. The man leaps to his feet, to the amazement of the people.

Jesus passes a tax collector called Matthew. He calls him to come and follow Him, which he does.

Matthew invites Jesus and the disciples to his home, along with tax collectors and other disreputable people. The Pharisees are offended by. Jesus tells them that it is sick people who need the doctor, not those who are healthy. He came to save the people who know they are sinners, not those who think they are righteous.

Application

The hardest people to share the gospel with are the “good people”. They think they are OK with God. They aren’t murderers or paedophiles, so why would they need saving?

Those who know their lives are a mess are much easier to convince. They have seen that running their own show has, brought devastation, broken relationships, addictions

Everybody needs a saviour. We just cannot see that until until we come to the end of ourselves.

The the good news is that Jesus died for sinners. Everybody can receive His salvation.

All we need to do is lay down our self-righteousness and self-sufficiency.

Prayer

Lord Jesus, thank you for saving me. Please help me to remember that it is the poor in spirit who receive your Kingdom. Amen.