Wineskins

Luke 5:36-39
36 And He was also telling them a parable: "No one tears a piece from a new garment and puts it on an old garment; otherwise he will both tear the new, and the piece from the new will not match the old.37 "And no one puts new wine into old wineskins; otherwise the new wine will burst the skins, and it will be spilled out, and the skins will be ruined.38 "But new wine must be put into fresh wineskins.39 "And no one, after drinking old {wine} wishes for new; for he says, 'The old is good {enough.} "(NAS)

The word "also" in the Greek used here is apparently often a word involving cumulative force with previous statements. Before this, Jesus was talking about why His disciples did not fast, because "...You cannot make the attendants of the bridegroom fast while the bridegroom is with them, can you?" (Luke 5:34). In other words, Jesus was with His disciples here on earth, what need did they have to fast? Taking this context into the meaning of the parable, it could be that Jesus is comparing the Jewish traditions that had been corrupted to the old patch or the old wineskins. The problem at hand didn't need the same old temporary fix that had been in service for hundreds of years, instead a "new patch" was needed. That permanent fix to the problem of sin and forgiveness of that sin is found in Jesus.

The part that caught me off guard is that last verse (39). Humans have a habit of sticking to what we're used to. We cling to things because they are comfortable or familiar. Why try something new when what we have works fine? Why should I trust in Jesus for my salvation when I have Moses' sacrificial system to purify me? Why should I try to grow spiritually when I'm secure in my salvation through Jesus Christ? The problem obviously takes on many forms, but the main point is that we should not be content with staying put, but instead growing.