OLD WINESKINS

 

Matthew 9:17 says

 

“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.”

 

The reason for this remark of Jesus was the question of the disciples of John the Baptist why Jesus’ disciples were not bound by the same rigid religious rulings as they were.  We know that it had cost John much self-sacrifice to follow those rules, what with his living in the wilderness and off the fruits of nature – his food was locusts and wild honey according to Matthew 3:4.  Jesus’ disciples, on the other hand, were privileged sometimes to eat with their Master at the homes of notables. We read that Jesus once was called a glutton and wine-boozer!  To the disciples of John, it was a complete riddle to reconcile Jesus’ system with that of their master.

LAWS OF LOVE

 

The “new wine”, in Jesus’ words, points to the time of love and grace of the new regime, which He, as the Son of God, had come to establish.  What the real cost would be, nobody knew at that stage.  The New Testament that Jesus had come to establish with His costly blood would forswear the strict demands and rules of the old system.  The old system, as we know, consisted of laws that were just, and based on God’s love, but impossible for man to fulfil.  Neither Moses, who had received them from God, nor the prophets, who often called the people to obedience, nor the judges, the kings, all who reigned, were able to do so. Christ, therefore, came to fulfil them in the place of us all, and more, also to take the consequence of our sins onto Himself.  The price of that new wine was Jesus’ blood and His body – hence the Holy Communion as a symbol thereof.

 

TEMPLE ADORATION

 

Just as the strict rules for fasting and eating applied to John the Baptist, so also did the Jews, the Pharisees and the Sadducees have their systems concerning temple adoration and sacrifices.  The temple was to the Jew the utmost symbol of his religion, and even nowadays they worship in front of the ruins, clad according to prescription, and in a manner as prescribed, too.  Their synagogues, in other countries, serve as symbols of their religious regime.

 

CHRISTIAN SYMBOLISM

 

Although we as Christians believe in the New Testament, we have also fallen into the trap of using outward symbols to demonstrate our faith to non-believers.  Examples are fish, crosses, and buildings.  I realize that I am now touching a sensitive nerve, but I am ready to bear the brunt. Like the Jews, we have erected our own temples. Having seen the temples that the heathens had built for their idols, the Jews desired the same after their arrival in the Promised Land.  Their tent, the tabernacle, no longer satisfied them and therefore Solomon erected the temple in all its glory, contrary to the fact that God hadn’t desired it. Read what God has to say in Acts 7:44-49

 

“Our fathers had the tabernacle of witness in the wilderness, as he had appointed, speaking unto Moses, that he should make it according to the fashion that he had seen.  Which also our fathers that came after brought in with Jesus into the possession of the Gentiles, whom God drove out before the face of our fathers, unto the days of David, who found favour before God, and desired to find a tabernacle for the God of Jacob. But Solomon built him a house. Howbeit the most High dwelleth not in temples made with hands; as saith the prophet, Heaven is my throne, and earth is my footstool: what house will ye build me? saith the Lord: or what is the place of my rest?”

 

The argument is that the tabernacle was laid aside for the temple by God’s command; that God does not confine himself in any house made with hands, and hence the temple might be laid aside. God’s real temple was greater than the building they reverenced so superstitiously.

 

LEAVING THE TABERNACLE

 

After the ark had been carried off by the Philistines, the presence and the glory of the Lord left the tabernacle, never to return again.  The reason why God this time handed the Israelites over to the Philistines may have been the sin of the high priest Eli.

Be that as it may, we know that the tabernacle had to be constructed according to a special design and that it served as a symbol of the real temple God had in mind for His children – not the one built by King Solomon, nor the one in Jesus’ time.  Jesus Himself referred to the man-made temple and its destruction. The temple was built three times:  first by Solomon, second by Zerubbabel, after the Jews’ return from Babylon, and third by King Herod.  Today an Islamic Mosque stands there…

 

THE TABERNACLE CONCEPT

 

While man tries to build his own symbols for his faith in God, God is only interested in the tabernacle concept.  The Roman Catholic Church built illustrious cathedrals worldwide.  The followers of the Reformation and Protestantism were satisfied initially with simple buildings, but soon there were replaced with “temples”, too.  Both the Pentecostal and lately the charismatic churches are going down the same path.

We just cannot cease to try to capture the presence of God in our temples of worship.  It is the one factor leading to a hypocritical form of religion lacking true power.  This kind of religion leads to a bottleneck structure, with worshipping centred around the pulpit, the modern altar from where the priest, pastor, or minister, with one or two assistants, performs all the actions.  Where these individuals are not truly committed to the Holy Spirit, the members of the flock will suffer from spiritual famine.  Small wonder that these temples are running empty.  It is the youth, mainly, who can no longer compromise themselves with the situation, and getting them to attend church takes a lot of persuasion – not always peaceful!

 

DR KRIGE AND HOUSE REGENERATION

 

This adapted content was extracted from Make your Stand, authored by Dr Ado Krige, the Founding Director of House Regeneration, a South African drug rehabilitation centre offering a comprehensive discipleship training program. By applying principles of Biblical Therapy, using the Scriptures to teach, rebuke, correct, and train in righteousness, House Regeneration counsellors show anyone who has suffered from addiction how to fully understand why they do what they do and how to bring their belief systems in line with the Word of God.