Matthew 9:16-17 Mark 2:21-22 Luke 5:36-39

http://biblehub.com/parallelgospels/Christs_Defense_of_His_Disciples_for_Feasting_Instead_of_Fasting.htm

The three illustrations in today’s texts must be understood in the context of what Jesus said about fasting in the previous verses.  The Pharisees required their disciples to fast as a religious ritual but the disciples of Jesus did not fast because He was still with them.  However, when He was no longer with them Jesus said they would fast in humility.  The Pharisees were all about rules while Jesus was promoting a relationship.  There are really only two religions in the world: the religion of man’s works and the religion of God’s grace.  Jesus wants to show us that these two views of how man can be reconciled to God cannot be mixed.  There are two dangers associated with these two views that Jesus wants to warn us to avoid.

THE DANGER OF SYNCRETISM: Syncretism is the attempt to sync or mesh multiple beliefs into one.  Jesus wants to make it very clear that it is not possible to mix works with grace.  We cannot merely add a patch of grace onto a foundation of works or try to fill up a container of works with the wine of grace.  Grace and works cannot co-exist.  One eliminates the other.  Either we believe that we are saved though our own merits by keeping the rules and regulations of our religion; or we believe that we are saved by grace through faith in the sacrifice of Christ on the cross.  We cannot believe both.  People often attempt to pick and choose the things that they like from a multitude of belief systems.  Today’s society is based on tolerance and a plurality of ideas.  Jesus wants to make it clear that this type of thinking will not work.  All throughout history people have been attempting to add grace to a foundation of works.  Legalism stems from this way of thinking.  Paul made it very clear that man is justified by grace through faith alone.  Works are not a means by which man is saved but they do flow from the heart of those who have been saved through faith.  Good works can be wonderful when see as the natural result of faith; but works become diabolical when seen as a prerequisite to faith.

THE DANGER OF SATISFACTION: God wants our satisfaction to be found in Him and Him alone.  Luke is the only Gospel writer to add this illustration to the two illustrations of the patch and the wine.  He states that those who drink of the old wine will say that it is good enough and will not desire to taste the new wine.  I don’t know much about wine, but I believe that in today’s world the older the wine is; the more expensive it tends to be.  I don’t think that was the intention that Jesus had in this illustration.  I believe that He was warning against the danger of being satisfied with the “old wine of works.”  Those who are trusting in their own works will be closed to the idea of trusting in Jesus alone for salvation.  Tradition and the status quo are grave dangers to faith.  Judaism had become a tradition of regulations that were imposed by men onto other men but that nobody could keep.  The danger with tradition is that people can be easily satisfied in their traditions because they become comfortable in them.  People get comfortable in the idea of keeping rules and earning their way to heaven but the Bible does not permit this type of thinking.  Only salvation by grace through faith in the sacrifice of Jesus on our behalf will satisfy the wrath of God on sin.

APPLICATION: Don’t allow the doctrines of works to be added onto the doctrine of God’s grace.  Trust fully and solely on the death and resurrection of Jesus as our only hope for salvation from sin.  Beware of the tendency in our hearts to be drawn to traditions and the doctrines of works.  Our satisfaction must be found in Jesus.