relationships (Matthew 9:14-17) Being Made New

(Matthew 9:14-17)

14 Then the disciples of John came to Him, asking, “Why do we and the Pharisees fast, but Your disciples do not fast?” 15 And Jesus said to them, “The attendants of the groom cannot mourn as long as the groom is with them, can they? But the days will come when the groom is taken away from them, and then they will fast. 16 But no one puts a patch of unshrunk cloth on an old garment; for the patch pulls away from the garment, and a worse tear results. 17 Nor do people put new wine into old wineskins; otherwise the wineskins burst, and the wine pours out and the wineskins are ruined; but they put new wine into fresh wineskins, and both are preserved.”

TODAY'S TAKEAWAY

I'm going to start with a basic social norm that is an unhealthy outlook.  There are those who equate and evaluate someone's love by how much time and money is spent on them, and/or how many extravagant hoops someone jumps through.  Like, "you must prove your love to me by fulfilling every single whim that I have!"  As well, there are those who say their "love language" is gift-giving.  Even if they say it is only about GIVING gifts, if they are really honest, it'll also be about GETTING gifts!  And even if these gifts are inexpensive and/or handmade, the cost still adds up, with a lot of time and effort that has to go into this.

What if money is tight?  What if one has to work longer hours or get a second job just to accommodate these acquisitions in their budget?  What if one gets sick or is laid off?  What happens when the gifts stop?  Does that mean they no longer love you, or that you no longer love them?  In the Bible, we are told to love, and we are given the definition of how, in 1 Corinthians 13.  And the ways that we are told to be generous with our resources, is to give to God, His church... and to those in need, while always making sure that we do not neglect our family's needs!  These are very practical things, but in God's kingdom, everything that we do, which includes serving God and others, should be done with God's agape (unconditional and sacrificial) love!

We know that all of God's commandments can be summed up into two:  love God with all your heart, soul, mind and strength;  and then, love others!  Christianity and our faith is not about the do's and don'ts, it is all about God's love and having a personal relationship with Him!!!  Then, our obedience to God's will, in everything we say and do in His love, strength, wisdom and guidance will be the evidence of our love for Him.

Now to tie this into the verses above.  Not that giving or getting gifts, or having traditions is wrong, but these should not become religious.  Traditions can run very deep, and for the Israelites, there was a big problem with the Pharisees who kept adding to them, and not just as traditions, but as spiritual tenants and must-do-rituals.  Like, IF you say you love God - if you REALLY love God - then you are going to do this and this and this and this... but "this" is only in efforts to APPEAR righteous, and nothing about BEING righteous (which is to HAVE God's righteousness in our lives)!

The only place that God asked the Israelites to fast, was on the Day of Atonement, to be accompanied with prayer.  As we just saw in previous verses, fasting and prayer was to be kept personal, and not to become a big production for attention.  But the very religious Jews added many other mandatory fasts.  Many Pharisees would fast two days a week without food and even without water.

Meanwhile, wedding feasts traditionally were seven days of festivities and joy!  Therefore, people were not to fast or mourn or even do difficult labor during the time of a wedding feast.  Therefore, Jesus likens Himself to a groom who is celebrating with His attendants (the disciples).  The time for fasting and mourning would happen later - when Jesus went to the cross.  And then after His ascension, during the Church Age, there are times we can take to fast, and really focus on Him in prayer.  

Jesus in flesh is not here with us, but He is always with us in spirit... as the Lord is omnipresent, as well, all believers have His indwelling Holy Spirit.  We just kind of forget and/or take Him for granted, and so, we require daily devotions, praying without ceasing, being with our church family, and periodic fasting...!

So, now, how does the clothes and wineskin analogies apply?  Very practically, just doing nice things in efforts to please God and others, is like unwisely putting a patch of new fabric onto older fabric, which shrinks and causes clothing to tear!  And new wine as it ferments will expand and burst old wineskins, because they have already been stretched to capacity.  But Jesus isn't even recommending that we try to patch ourselves up!  Jesus wants to make people new!  

When we become believers, and put our faith in the Lord, there is a spiritual transformation.  As soon as we repent and ask the Lord into our lives, we are born of water and the Spirit, being cleansed from sin and receiving His indwelling Holy Spirit which comes with a spiritual renewal.  Dying to sin, we are born again into God's family.  We are covered in the righteousness of Jesus and become a new creation in Christ!  Then..

In our spiritual journey, it is our decision to strive in obedience and steadfastness.  We just have to remember that we have the Lord with us at all times, and He wants to help us in everything!  It is not about appearing righteous, and certainly not about doing what we think is right, which diminishes or adds to God's word.  It is about allowing God to help us be righteous... in His righteousness!

I recently heard it being put this way, and it's an amazing way to view this... Let us not ask ourselves what we can do for God, but let us ask God what He wants us to do for Him, and experience how He is going to equip and help us in our obedience, and bless the process and result!