"And no man puts new wine into old wineskins, else the wine burst the skins, and the wine perishes, and the skins: but they put new wine into fresh wineskins." Mark 2:22
These words of Jesus were spoken in response to the disciples of the Pharisees who asked why his disciples were not fasting. Jesus' response pointed first to the consideration of timing--he was still with his disciples; then to the matter of mixing old with new--first shown by new cloth sewn into old, then illustrated by putting new wine into old wineskins.
We may have learned the explanation that new wine will ferment and expand, and old skins, already stretched, cannot be stretched further without bursting.
These familiar words point to a critical truth, easily missed, resulting in waste. It is understood that the new wine is Jesus' teaching.
Because he is God with us, his word is living and active.
It is inherently expansive and stretches the hearts that receive it.
For that reason, the only hearts that can contain it must be made new .
If the new wine is put into an old heart, it will burst, because it cannot expand . It is better not to know his words, than to know and reject them. cf. 2 Peter 2:21 Jesus' words are quick to discern the intents of our hearts. We cannot be safe in the presence of his word, unless we have received new hearts to hold it.
These words are a good example of much of Jesus' teaching.
They are intended to engage us, stirring our mind to understand
what is latent in them.
In these words we are pointed once again to the necessity of a new heart. We cannot create a new heart for ourselves, anymore than a child begets itself. A new heart must be made for us.
We might ask, "How can I receive one?"
In such a question lies the answer. The new heart must be received .
It is received in surrender of our self-will,
and the claims of our self-goodness and self-sufficiency.
The resistance against our Creator must end.
From our first surrender, many more lesser surrenders,
will inevitably follow.
"Create in me a clean heart, O God." Psalm 51:10a
"Behold, I stand at the door and knock: if any man hear my voice and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me."
Revelation 3:20