And no one puts new wine into old wineskins. If he does, the wine will burst the skins—and the wine is destroyed, and so are the skins. But new wine is for fresh wineskins.”
English Standard Version (ESV)
What's easy to miss is that the wine itself is also destroyed in this scenario. It's not just about the container failing; the precious new wine, full of life and potential, is lost along with the old, brittle skins. Jesus is saying His new way isn't meant to be crammed into the rigid, worn-out religious structures of the past, because both would be ruined.
And no one puts new wine into old wineskins. If he does, the wine will burst the skins—and the wine is destroyed, and so are the skins. But new wine is for fresh wineskins.”
English Standard Version (ESV)
Jesus has just healed a paralyzed man and forgiven his sins, which deeply offends the religious leaders. Now, the disciples of John the Baptist and the Pharisees question Jesus' disciples about why they don't fast like them. Jesus responds with parables about new and old, first comparing his disciples to wedding guests who rejoice in the groom's presence, not mourn. He then uses these two analogies – a new patch on an old garment and new wine in old wineskins – to illustrate that his new way of life and teaching cannot be crammed into the old religious systems.
Ever tried to force something new into an old, rigid structure? Jesus uses a vivid image to show why this just doesn't work.
Jesus is responding to questions about why His disciples don't fast like John the Baptist's or the Pharisees'. He explains that His arrival signals a new era, a "new wine" of joy and the presence of the Bridegroom (Himself). Trying to pour this "new wine" into the "old wineskins" of the Pharisees' rigid, external religious system would be disastrous. The old skins, representing the established, brittle traditions and legalism, couldn't contain the vibrant, life-giving reality of Jesus' ministry. The result? Both the "wine" (the new reality in Christ) and the "skins" (the old ways of thinking and practicing) would be ruined.
This isn't just about religious practices; it's about how we handle transformation. When God introduces something fresh and new into our lives, or into His Church, it requires a corresponding openness and flexibility. Trying to fit God's new work into our old, worn-out patterns of thinking or behaving will inevitably lead to breakage and loss.
Why would wedding guests fast? Jesus uses a wedding metaphor to explain the radical shift His presence brings.
The context for this "new wine" imagery is Jesus' response to why His disciples aren't fasting like others. He asks, 'Can the wedding guests fast while the bridegroom is with them?' (Mark 2:19). The presence of the bridegroom at a wedding is a time of immense joy, celebration, and feasting, not mourning or fasting.
Jesus is the Bridegroom, and His presence with His disciples inaugurates a time of spiritual celebration. The "new wine" represents this joyous, abundant life that comes from being in relationship with God through Him. It's a radical departure from the somber, penitential fasting that characterized much of the religious life under the old covenant. This "new wine" isn't meant for the "old skins" of self-righteousness or burdensome ritual; it's meant for the "fresh skins" – hearts transformed by the Spirit, ready to embrace the abundant life He offers.
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Understand the original words
neos oinos · Greek Adjective
In the context of the Gospels, refers to the radical, transformative message of the Kingdom of God brought by Jesus, which cannot be contained by or mixed with the rigid, decaying forms of legalistic Judaism.
palaios askos · Greek Noun phrase
Refers to the religious and social structures of the Old Covenant era, which were incapable of containing the dynamic life and power of the new covenant inaugurated by Christ.
This passage is the parallel account in Matthew, offering the same teaching from Jesus about new wine and old wineskins, reinforcing its importance.
Luke 5:38Luke's Gospel also records this teaching, emphasizing that new wine belongs in fresh wineskins, highlighting the incompatibility of old and new ways.
Galatians 3:25Paul discusses how under faith, believers are no longer under the old system of the Law, which is like the old wineskin, but are now in the new reality brought by Christ.
Romans 12:2This verse calls believers to be transformed by the renewing of their minds, showing that a new life in Christ requires a new way of thinking and living, like new wine in new skins.
2 Corinthians 5:17This passage speaks of being a 'new creation' in Christ, which directly parallels the idea that new wine (representing new life and a new covenant) requires new wineskins (representing new people transformed by God).
gillMark 2:22: "And no man putteth new wine into old bottles: else the new wine doth burst the bottles, and the wine is spilled, and the bottles will be marred: but new wine must be put into new bottles."
And no man putteth new wine into old bottles,.... By "old bottles" are meant, the Scribes and Pharisees, the whole, which needed not a physician, and the righteous, Christ came not to call; and by new wine, either the love of God, which is not shed abroad in the hearts of such persons; or the bles…
calvinMark 2:18-22: "And the disciples of John and of the Pharisees used to fast: and they come and say unto him, Why do the disciples of John and of the Pharisees fast, but thy disciples fast not?"
- Then come to him the disciples of John, saying, For what reason do we and the Pharisees fast often, while thy disciples do not fast? 15. And Jesus said to them, Can the children of the bridegroom [521] mourn, so long as the bridegroom is with them? But the days will come, when the bridegroom shall be…
What's easy to miss is that the wine itself is also destroyed in this scenario. It's not just about the container failing; the precious new wine, full of life and potential, is lost along with the old, brittle skins. Jesus is saying His new way isn't meant to be crammed into the rigid, worn-out religious structures of the past, because both would be ruined.
Jesus has just healed a paralyzed man and forgiven his sins, which deeply offends the religious leaders. Now, the disciples of John the Baptist and the Pharisees question Jesus' disciples about why they don't fast like them. Jesus responds with parables about new and old, first comparing his disciples to wedding guests who rejoice in the groom's presence, not mourn. He then uses these two analogies – a new patch on an old garment and new wine in old wineskins – to illustrate that his new way of life and teaching cannot be crammed into the old religious systems.
Jesus has just healed a paralyzed man and forgiven his sins, which deeply offends the religious leaders. Now, the disciples of John the Baptist and the Pharisees question Jesus' disciples about why they don't fast like them. Jesus responds with parables about new and old, first comparing his disciples to wedding guests who rejoice in the groom's presence, not mourn. He then uses these two analogies – a new patch on an old garment and new wine in old wineskins – to illustrate that his new way of life and teaching cannot be crammed into the old religious systems.
"And no one puts new wine into old wineskins. If he does, the wine will burst the skins—and the wine is destroyed, and so are the skins. But new wine is for fresh wineskins.”" — What's easy to miss is that the wine itself is also destroyed in this scenario. It's not just about the container failing; the precious new wine, full of life and potential, is lost along with the…
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Last reviewed October 2026