Thursday, February 18, 2010

New Wine, New Wineskins

Today's Text: Matthew 9:14-17
Easy on the analysis.   No rush to figuring out what the wine and wineskins represent. What's the story? John's disciples want to know why they fast and the pharisees fast, but Jesus' pharisees don't.  Classic triangulation.

Maybe John's disciples thought Jesus and his guys were on the same side.  Because Jesus and his guys don't fast it looks like they aren't even playing the same game.  "The truly righteous fast don't they? Jesus?  Don't they?"

Groomsmen party with the bridegroom. Winemakers know new wine expands. Perhaps the Groom is making new wine?

Seems interesting that we would read this parable at the beginning of Lent, a time of fasting and self-denial. How do you think this parable fits into Lent?