New Wineskins

“And no one puts new wine into old wineskins. Otherwise, the skins will burst, the wine spills out, and the skins are ruined. No, they put new wine into fresh wineskins, and both are preserved.” Matthew 9:17

Have you ever felt like things in your life just don’t seem to fit anymore - habits, choices, daily routines, people, patterns, or ways of thinking? Many times, as we transition into new seasons throughout our lives, we may feel like we are outgrowing things that used to once feel common. Things that were second nature to us now may start to feel foreign.

Recently, I have been experiencing some of these shifts as I feel God moving me into a new season. There are patterns and old habits that He is calling me to let go of so that I can stretch my capacity for this new season. While pondering on this, I was reminded of this verse in Matthew where Jesus warns us to not put new wine into old wineskins. 

Nowadays, wine is most commonly fermented in stainless steel tanks or wooden barrels. Back in Jesus’ day, wine was mostly fermented in clay jars or animal skins. New wineskins, mainly from sheep or goats, were cleaned thoroughly and then sewn together to make an airtight sack where the wine could ferment. Freshly cleaned animal skins were soft and supple, allowing them to expand and stretch as the wine released gases during fermentation. With time, a wineskin that had already been used to ferment wine would become dry and stiff, making it unsuitable for more fermentation. If new wine was placed into an old wineskin, the skin would burst as it was unable to stretch and hold the expansion of the fermentation process. 

In the context of this verse, Jesus was referring to the way that the Pharisees were holding on tightly to the old rules and rigid systems that were in place according to Jewish law. With their stiffness of not being pliable to Jesus’ new teachings, they did not have capacity to expand their mindset and fully receive the new covenant that Jesus was offering them. 

Just as the Pharisees weren’t able to let go of their old mindsets and ways of thinking to be able to step into the new life Jesus had for them, I believe this is still the same for us today. As God calls us into new seasons of our lives, He calls us to let go of old mindsets, patterns, and ways of thinking that will not serve us in our next season. He does not want us to burst under the pressure of old ways and does not want our pasts to taint and damage the incredible things He has in store for us in the future. He wants us to be able to stretch and have the capacity to expand into all He has planned for us.  

Letting go of old habits and things that no longer serve us can be hard. It takes time to unlearn patterns and forge new paths, especially when we are changing patterns and mindsets that have been constant throughout our lives or the generations that came before us. As we learn to let go of these old ways that no longer serve us, God’s grace is always there for us as He guides us into our next season. 

Journal Prompt - Think about something God is calling you to let go of so that you can expand in your next season. Maybe it is letting go of bitterness, unforgiveness, defensiveness, or fear. Maybe it is letting go of being judgmental in order to allow room for compassion and patience towards others. Maybe it is letting go of control and choosing to trust. Maybe it is an old habit He wants to free you from. Whatever it is, ask God to give you the strength to make the changes necessary to receive all He has for you in the next season of your life. Leave the old with the old, and don’t try to mix it in with the new.

“And no one puts new wine into old wineskins. Otherwise, the skins will burst, the wine spills out, and the skins are ruined. No, they put new wine into fresh wineskins, and both are preserved.” Matthew 9:17

Prayers & Love Always