Matthew 9:14-17 – New nature for new vessel

People with the mindset of the old regime are still insistent that the old system should be honored and practiced. But the movement that Jesus introduced was very different. Hence, we see the disciples of John coming to Him asking, “Why do we and the Pharisees fast but your disciples do not fast?” Jesus answered by telling them that no one mix the mood in mourning, with the jubilant celebration in a wedding. Why should wedding guests be in mourning when they are having a wedding celebration? How can the guests of the bridegroom refrain from rejoicing when the bridegroom is in their midst? Implicitly, Jesus had indicated that He is that heavenly bridegroom, the Messiah whom everyone is waiting to usher in the Kingdom of light. How can people mourn and be sad when the Messiah is with us.

Jesus’s reply also implies that in the old regime, everyone was waiting for God’s light to break through the darkness. They failed to see that in Christ Jesus, the heavenly bridegroom, the light of God had broken through. Jesus had drawn back the curtain so that the light of God can shine through. In contrast, the Pharisees and the disciples of John the Baptist were still trying to light the lamp, or try to keep the flicking lamp of the past burning. In talking about the bridegroom being taken away, He was hinting about His impending death. When that time comes, then it’s time to fast and mourn.

Jesus used two other illustrations to show that we cannot come to the Kingdom movement that He came to introduce with the old system. The unshrunk cloth and the new wine skins are referring to the new movement Christ has introduced. The old cloth that could be torn and the old wine-skins that could burst, are referring to the old lifestyle. What Jesus is saying is the movement he has introduced will continue to expand. We need new perspective, mindset and spiritual openness to allow the Spirit to work through us. The old person in us is not congruent with the new nature Christ has given to us. The issue is: are we living a lifestyle of the new creation? Or do we slip back every now and then and try to bring back our old habits, while trying to live out our new nature created in Christ?