In Matthew 9, Jesus uses the image of new wine in old wineskins to explain why His disciples weren’t fasting like others. He wasn’t dismissing fasting but showing that His arrival marked something entirely new—a shift from old religious systems to a relationship built on grace. Just as new wine would burst old, brittle wineskins, trying to fit Jesus’ message into rigid traditions or legalism simply doesn’t work.
This isn’t just about ancient customs—it’s about your walk with God today. Are you trying to follow Jesus while still clinging to old habits, guilt, or religious performance? He offers new life, not just spiritual tweaks. Keep reading to dig deeper into Jesus’ powerful metaphor—and discover how it challenges us to let go of the old and fully embrace the new.
If you’ve ever read Matthew 9:14-17, you probably paused at Jesus’ metaphor about new wine and old wineskins. It sounds poetic, but what does it really mean—especially when He’s answering a question about fasting?
Let’s break it down so it actually makes sense and connects with your life today.
The Question: Why Aren’t Jesus’ Disciples Fasting?
Here’s the setup.
“Then John’s disciples came and asked him, ‘How is it that we and the Pharisees fast often, but your disciples do not fast?’” – Matthew 9:14 (NIV)
Back then, fasting was a common religious practice. The Pharisees fasted twice a week (Luke 18:12), and John the Baptist’s followers likely fasted as a sign of repentance. So naturally, people noticed that Jesus’ disciples weren’t fasting like the rest.
The question wasn’t just about diet—it was really asking, “Why don’t you follow the religious rules we follow?”
Jesus’ Response: Three Short Parables
Jesus answers with three short illustrations:
- The Bridegroom
- The Patch on an Old Garment
- New Wine in Old Wineskins
Each one builds on the last. The final image—new wine and old wineskins—is the climax, and it holds deep meaning.
First, What Are Wineskins?
To understand the metaphor, let’s get practical.
- In ancient times, wineskins were made from animal hides, typically goat.
- When new wine (unfermented grape juice) was poured into a new wineskin, it would ferment over time, producing gas and pressure.
- New skins were soft and flexible—they could stretch without breaking.
- But once used and aged, old wineskins became brittle. If you poured new wine into them, the fermentation process would cause them to burst.
So Jesus says:
“Neither do people pour new wine into old wineskins. If they do, the skins will burst, the wine will run out and the wineskins will be ruined. No, they pour new wine into new wineskins, and both are preserved.” – Matthew 9:17 (NIV)
What’s the Point of the Wineskin Metaphor?
Here’s the direct meaning:
Jesus is the “new wine.” His presence, teaching, and mission are something completely new—not just a tweak to the old system.
Trying to fit Jesus’ message into old religious structures (like the Pharisees’ fasting traditions) is like pouring new wine into old wineskins. It doesn’t work. The structure can’t handle it. Both the wine and the wineskin are ruined.
He’s saying:
“You can’t put the new life I bring into old religious rituals designed for a different purpose.”
So, Why Was Fasting the Trigger?
Jesus wasn’t against fasting. In fact, He fasted for 40 days (Matthew 4:2), and He taught about how to fast the right way (Matthew 6:16-18). But here’s the key:
- The Pharisees fasted out of tradition and rule-keeping.
- John’s disciples fasted to prepare for the Messiah.
- But Jesus’ disciples were already with the Messiah!
That’s why Jesus says:
“How can the guests of the bridegroom mourn while he is with them?” – Matthew 9:15
He compares Himself to a bridegroom at a wedding, and His disciples are like wedding guests. You don’t fast at a wedding—it’s a time of joy, not mourning.
So for now, it’s not time to fast—because the Messiah is present. But He does say:
“The time will come when the bridegroom will be taken from them; then they will fast.” – Matthew 9:15
He’s pointing to His coming death. After He’s gone, fasting will make sense again—because it’ll be out of longing and seeking Him, not just rule-following.
Key Lessons You Can Apply
Let’s get practical. What does this mean for you?
1. Jesus Brings a New Way of Relating to God
Old wineskins = old religious systems based on law, sacrifice, tradition
New wine = Jesus’ message of grace, the Holy Spirit, and new life
You can’t mix the two. You either follow a religion of rules, or you follow a relationship with Jesus.
Galatians 2:21 says:
“If righteousness could be gained through the law, Christ died for nothing!”
Don’t try to earn God’s love through performance. Jesus didn’t come to patch up your old life—He came to give you a new one.
2. New Life Requires a New Mindset
Trying to fit Jesus into your old patterns—whether it’s religion, habits, or thinking—is like trying to make an iPhone run on a floppy disk. It just won’t work.
Romans 12:2 says:
“Be transformed by the renewing of your mind.”
If you’re in Christ, you’re a new creation (2 Corinthians 5:17). That means letting go of the old wineskin.
3. Religious Traditions Aren’t Bad—But They Aren’t the Goal
Fasting, praying, going to church—all those things are good. But if you do them just to follow rules or look spiritual, you’ve missed the point.
Jesus isn’t calling for external reform. He’s after internal transformation.
Final Thoughts: Are You Living with Old Wineskins?
Here’s the question Jesus forces us to ask:
“Am I living in the freedom and joy of the new wine, or am I still holding on to old wineskins of religion, guilt, or control?”
You can’t hold both. If you try to fit Jesus into your old life, something will break. He didn’t come to tweak your behavior—He came to make you new.
So let go of the old. Make space for the new wine.
Quick Summary
| Concept | Meaning |
| Fasting Question | John’s disciples ask why Jesus’ disciples aren’t fasting. |
| Jesus’ Answer | New wine (His message) can’t go into old wineskins (old religious practices). |
| Main Point | Jesus brings something entirely new, not just a better version of the old. |
| Application | Let go of religious performance. Embrace the new life Jesus offers. |
Want to Dig Deeper?
Check out these related Bible passages:
- Luke 5:33-39 – Parallel account of the wineskins
- Mark 2:18-22 – Another version with added detail
- Isaiah 43:19 – “See, I am doing a new thing!”
- 2 Corinthians 3:6 – The letter kills, but the Spirit gives life
One Last Thing
If you’re clinging to an old system, whether it’s shame, rules, or tradition, Jesus is inviting you to something better.
Not a patched-up life.
A new one.
Full of joy, freedom, and transformation.
Let go of the old wineskin. He’s ready to pour in the new wine.
🔎 10 FAQs: Why Did Jesus Compare Fasting to Old Wineskins in Matthew 9?
1. Why did Jesus compare fasting to old wineskins in Matthew 9?
Jesus used the old wineskins metaphor in Matthew 9 to explain that His message was new and transformative. Trying to fit it into the old religious system—like fasting as a ritual—would cause both the message and the system to break. His teaching couldn’t be contained by outdated traditions.
2. What does the “new wine” represent in Matthew 9?
The “new wine” represents Jesus’ new covenant—a life of grace, transformation, and relationship with God through Him. It contrasts with the old system of law, rituals, and religious traditions.
3. What do the “old wineskins” symbolize?
The old wineskins symbolize rigid religious systems, like the Pharisees’ traditions or legalistic approaches to God. These can’t contain the dynamic, life-giving truth of Jesus.
4. Why weren’t Jesus’ disciples fasting like others?
Jesus’ disciples weren’t fasting because they were in the presence of the Bridegroom—Jesus Himself. Fasting in that moment would’ve been out of place. It was a time for joy, not mourning.
5. Was Jesus against fasting?
No, Jesus wasn’t against fasting. He fasted Himself (Matthew 4:2) and taught on it (Matthew 6:16-18). But He emphasized fasting with the right heart, not as a religious rule.
6. How does this parable apply to Christians today?
For Christians today, the message is clear: you can’t mix Jesus’ new life with an old mindset. You must let go of legalism, self-effort, or tradition-based faith and embrace the freedom of grace.
7. What does the bridegroom metaphor mean in this passage?
The bridegroom represents Jesus. Just like guests at a wedding wouldn’t fast in the groom’s presence, Jesus’ disciples were celebrating His arrival. Fasting would be appropriate later, after His departure.
8. What’s the danger of putting new wine into old wineskins?
It causes both to be ruined. Spiritually, trying to force Jesus’ message into outdated religious practices leads to spiritual burnout, confusion, and missing the point of the gospel.
9. Did this teaching challenge religious leaders at the time?
Yes. Jesus’ words challenged the Pharisees’ authority and traditions. He wasn’t just offering a new idea—He was introducing a whole new way to relate to God.
10. What’s the main takeaway from Jesus’ wineskin teaching?
The core message is: Jesus didn’t come to reform religion—He came to bring new life. That life can’t be contained by old rules or systems. It calls for renewal from the inside out.
