Luke 5

And it came to pass, that, as the people pressed upon him to hear the word of God, he stood by the lake of Gennesaret,

And saw two ships standing by the lake: but the fishermen were gone out of them, and were washing their nets.

And he entered into one of the ships, which was Simon's, and prayed him that he would thrust out a little from the land. And he sat down, and taught the people out of the ship.

Now when he had left speaking, he said unto Simon, Launch out into the deep, and let down your nets for a draught.

And Simon answering said unto him, Master, we have toiled all the night, and have taken nothing: nevertheless at thy word I will let down the net.

And when they had this done, they inclosed a great multitude of fishes: and their net brake.

And they beckoned unto their partners, which were in the other ship, that they should come and help them. And they came, and filled both the ships, so that they began to sink.

When Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus' knees, saying, Depart from me; for I am a sinful man, O Lord.

For he was astonished, and all that were with him, at the draught of the fishes which they had taken:

And so was also James, and John, the sons of Zebedee, which were partners with Simon. And Jesus said unto Simon, Fear not; from henceforth thou shalt catch men.

And when they had brought their ships to land, they forsook all, and followed him.

And it came to pass, when he was in a certain city, behold a man full of leprosy: who seeing Jesus fell on his face, and besought him, saying, Lord, if thou wilt, thou canst make me clean.

And he put forth his hand, and touched him, saying, I will: be thou clean. And immediately the leprosy departed from him.

And he charged him to tell no man: but go, and shew thyself to the priest, and offer for thy cleansing, according as Moses commanded, for a testimony unto them.

But so much the more went there a fame abroad of him: and great multitudes came together to hear, and to be healed by him of their infirmities.

And he withdrew himself into the wilderness, and prayed.

And it came to pass on a certain day, as he was teaching, that there were Pharisees and doctors of the law sitting by, which were come out of every town of Galilee, and Judaea, and Jerusalem: and the power of the Lord was present to heal them.

And, behold, men brought in a bed a man which was taken with a palsy: and they sought means to bring him in, and to lay him before him.

And when they could not find by what way they might bring him in because of the multitude, they went upon the housetop, and let him down through the tiling with his couch into the midst before Jesus.

And when he saw their faith, he said unto him, Man, thy sins are forgiven thee.

And the scribes and the Pharisees began to reason, saying, Who is this which speaketh blasphemies? Who can forgive sins, but God alone?

But when Jesus perceived their thoughts, he answering said unto them, What reason ye in your hearts?

Whether is easier, to say, Thy sins be forgiven thee; or to say, Rise up and walk?

But that ye may know that the Son of man hath power upon earth to forgive sins, (he said unto the sick of the palsy,) I say unto thee, Arise, and take up thy couch, and go into thine house.

And immediately he rose up before them, and took up that whereon he lay, and departed to his own house, glorifying God.

And they were all amazed, and they glorified God, and were filled with fear, saying, We have seen strange things to day.

And after these things he went forth, and saw a publican, named Levi, sitting at the receipt of custom: and he said unto him, Follow me.

And he left all, rose up, and followed him.

And Levi made him a great feast in his own house: and there was a great company of publicans and of others that sat down with them.

But their scribes and Pharisees murmured against his disciples, saying, Why do ye eat and drink with publicans and sinners?

And Jesus answering said unto them, They that are whole need not a physician; but they that are sick.

I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.

And they said unto him, Why do the disciples of John fast often, and make prayers, and likewise the disciples of the Pharisees; but thine eat and drink?

And he said unto them, Can ye make the children of the bridechamber fast, while the bridegroom is with them?

But the days will come, when the bridegroom shall be taken away from them, and then shall they fast in those days.

And he spake also a parable unto them; No man putteth a piece of a new garment upon an old; if otherwise, then both the new maketh a rent, and the piece that was taken out of the new agreeth not with the old.

And no man putteth new wine into old bottles; else the new wine will burst the bottles, and be spilled, and the bottles shall perish.

But new wine must be put into new bottles; and both are preserved.

No man also having drunk old wine straightway desireth new: for he saith, The old is better.

What does Luke 5:39 mean?

Explanation

Luke 5:39 reads, "No man also having drunk old wine straightway desireth new: for he saith, The old is better." This verse comes from a parable Jesus tells about new wine being poured into new wineskins to explain why his disciples do not follow the fasting and prayer rituals of the Pharisees or John's disciples.

The metaphor contrasts the old and the new, suggesting a resistance to change and an adherence to tradition.

The deeper meaning here is often interpreted as Jesus teaching that new teachings cannot be constrained within the old forms or ways of thinking; just as new wine would burst old wineskins, Jesus' message of the Kingdom of God requires new perspectives and receptivity.

This signifies the transition from the old covenant of Judaism to the new covenant Christianity represents.

Top Rated Luke Books

Historical Context

Luke 5:39 was documented during a period when Christianity was not yet established as a separate religion but rather was a sect within Judaism.

The Jewish people had an entrenched religious system with rites and traditions that had been developed over centuries.

Jesus' teachings often clashed with these traditions, and he faced resistance from religious leaders of his time.

The saying reflects the cultural context where wine was a common staple and its storage in wineskins was a relatable metaphor for Jesus' audience.

It captures a broader theme of a shift occurring from the old Jewish teachings to the embracing of Jesus’ new message.

Theological Insights

From a theological standpoint, this verse has been discussed from various perspectives.

Traditionalist Christians may emphasize the sanctity of ancient truths and the risks of abandoning time-honored traditions.

On the other hand, progressive theologians might stress the importance of being open to fresh interpretations and understandings of faith that resonate with contemporary believers.

Some see the old wine as symbolizing the Law of Moses, while the new wine represents the Gospel of Christ and the necessity for a new, more spiritual understanding of God's will.

Practical Applications

In a practical sense, Luke 5:39 can encourage individuals to be open-minded and flexible in their beliefs and practices.

It can be applied to everyday life by advocating for a willingness to learn new ideas and adapt to changing circumstances, rather than rigidly adhering to old patterns that may no longer be applicable or beneficial.

It might also support the idea of reflecting on one’s traditions critically to assess if they serve the current context or whether they need to be re-evaluated.

Cross-References

Matthew 9:17: "Neither do men put new wine into old bottles: else the bottles break, and the wine runneth out, and the bottles perish: but they put new wine into new bottles, and both are preserved."
Mark 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."
Jeremiah 31:31: "Behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel, and with the house of Judah:"
Hebrews 8:13: "In that he saith, A new covenant, he hath made the first old.

Now that which decayeth and waxeth old is ready to vanish away."

Language Study

Key words from this verse in the original Greek include:

"New wine" (νέος οἶνος, neos oinos): "Neos" implies something that is new in time, and "oinos" means wine.
"Desireth" (θέλει, thelei): This is a form of the verb "to will" or "to wish," implying a preference or choice.
"Straightway" (εὐθέως, euthéōs): This term means immediately or at once.
"Old" (παλαιός, palaios): This means old in time, ancient, or not new.
"Better" (κρείττων, kreittōn): This means stronger, more excellent, or preferable.

The study of these words helps to clarify that the verse contrasts what is new with what is established, indicating a human tendency to prefer what is familiar over what is unknown or newly introduced.

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

The sentiment expressed in this verse can be compared with the reluctance in many cultures and religions to embrace change.

In ancient traditions, wisdom was often equated with age, and new philosophies or religious practices faced skepticism.

For example, in ancient Greek culture, the value of tradition and ancient wisdom was highly respected, which can be seen in the reverence for the teachings of long-deceased philosophers like Plato and Aristotle.

Similarly, some branches of Hinduism emphasize the authority of ancient scripts like the Vedas.

This cultural tendency to favor the old over the new is a universal phenomenon that transcends specific religious contexts.

Scientific Perspectives

From a scientific viewpoint, the verse may reflect a psychological principle known as the status quo bias, where individuals have a preference for the current state of affairs.

The status quo bias is an emotional bias; a preference for the current state of affairs.

People are generally more comfortable with what they know and may be reluctant to try new approaches unless the benefits are clear and substantial.

This aversion to change can also be connected to the concept of loss aversion in behavioral economics, where the pain of losing is psychologically twice as powerful as the pleasure of gaining, causing a conservative approach in decision-making.

Commentaries

Different biblical commentators and scholars have various interpretations of Luke 5:39:

Matthew Henry’s Commentary emphasizes the disdain some of the Pharisees and followers of John the Baptist had for Jesus' teachings and the new doctrine He presented.
The Pulpit Commentary notes that the old wine symbolizes the "settled convictions of a lifetime," suggesting that it's difficult for people to accept new truths that contradict long-held beliefs.
In the Benson Commentary, Joseph Benson interprets the reluctance to accept the new wine as indicative of human nature's general tendency to prefer older, established customs and doctrines over innovative ideas.
William Barclay in his Daily Study Bible series highlights that Jesus' message was too new and too vibrant to be confined within old traditions and practices; it needed fresh vehicles for expression.

All these commentaries seek to understand the resistance of Jesus' contemporaries to His message and to draw lessons that are relevant for different eras and generations.

Luke 5

Luke 5

What does Luke 5:39 mean?

Explanation

Top Rated Luke Books

Historical Context

Theological Insights

Practical Applications

Cross-References

Language Study

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

Scientific Perspectives

Commentaries

Want more context?

What does Luke 5:39 mean?

Explanation

Top Rated Luke Books

Historical Context

Theological Insights

Practical Applications

Cross-References

Language Study

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

Scientific Perspectives

Commentaries

Want more context?