Keraia
Matthew 9

Matthew 9:17

The Patches and the Wineskins · Matthew 9:16–17
Read Matthew 9

Translations

Modern
Neither do men pour new wine into old wineskins. If they do, the skins will burst, the wine will spill, and the wineskins will be ruined. Instead, they pour new wine into new wineskins, and both are preserved.”
Traditional
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.
Literal
Nor do they put new wine into old wineskins; and if otherwise, the wineskins are burst, and the wine is poured out, and the wineskins are destroyed. But they put new wine into new wineskins, and both are preserved.”
Latin
Neque mittunt vinum novum in utres veteres: alioquin rumpuntur utres, et vinum effunditur, et utres pereunt. Sed vinum novum in utres novos mittunt: et ambo conservantur.

Original

Greek
English
Neither do men pour new wine into old wineskins. If they do, the skins will burst, the wine will spill, and the wineskins will be ruined. Instead, they pour new wine into new wineskins, and both are preserved.”

Notes

Matthew 9:16–17

These short parables compare the new covenant (the promises between God and his people) that Jesus began (Matthew 6:26–29) with the old covenant. The comparison focuses especially on religious ceremonies like fasting. Jesus completes the law, but he does not cancel it (5:17–20; see Galatians 2:21; 5:4). At the same time, the new covenant brings new practices.

Matthew 9:1–17

There was debate and conflict among Jesus opponents. This included the teachers of the law and the Pharisees (Matthew 9:1–13), and also the disciples of John the Baptist (9:14–17).

Matthew 8:1–9:34

Here, the kingdom of God appears with supernatural power (see Matthew 4:23–25; 11:2–6). It reaches people who were previously excluded from God's blessings. This included:

  • non-Jewish people,

  • lepers,

  • blind people,

  • sick women,

  • people possessed by demons,

  • tax collectors,

  • those with long-term bleeding, and

  • the dead.

Jesus showed compassion to people in need. But the religious leaders reacted with anger and opposition. Jesus called his followers to respond with faith and to walk in discipleship (living as his learners and followers).

Theme notes and profiles

The Stone the Builders Rejected

Events

Parallels

Mark 2:21–22 Luke 5:36–39

Glossary

Gospel of Matthew Heal, Healing Jesus Christ John the Baptist Miracle Vines, Vineyard

Topics

Bottle: Made of Animal Skins Bottles: Made of Skins: when Old, Unfit for Holding New Wine Capernaum: Miracles of Jesus Performed At Jesus, the Christ: Eats with Tax Collectors and Sinners, and Discourses on Fasting (Capernaum) Judaism: The Religion of the Jews: To Make Room for the Gospel Parables: Parables of Christ: New Wine and Old Bottles Wine in Bottles Wine in Skins (Rv)