How can we apply Luke 5:39 to accepting new teachings from Scripture? Setting the Scene Luke 5 records a cluster of parables Jesus used at Levi’s banquet. One of them closes with Luke 5:39. “And no one after drinking old wine wants new wine, for he says, ‘The old is better.’” Jesus linked this statement to the wider picture of old and new garments and wineskins (Luke 5:36-38). The immediate target was the Pharisees, yet the principle reaches every generation. What Luke 5:39 Says and Shows • Old wine represents long-held traditions, familiar ways of understanding God’s dealings. • New wine pictures the fresh work Jesus was unveiling—the new covenant, fulfilled in His blood (Luke 22:20). • Human nature tends to hold the familiar in higher esteem: “The old is better.” Why Hearts Gravitate Toward the Familiar • Comfort in established routines (Jeremiah 6:16). • Fear of doctrinal error or spiritual counterfeit (2 Peter 2:1). • Pride that confuses longevity with accuracy (Matthew 15:9). Welcoming Fresh Light While Honoring Unchanging Truth 1. Remember that Scripture, not tradition, is final authority (2 Timothy 3:16-17). 2. Admit that growth in understanding is normal; even Peter said some things Paul wrote were “hard to understand” (2 Peter 3:15-16). 3. Receive the “new wine” of deeper insight without tearing the “old garment” of foundational doctrine (Luke 5:36). 4. Recognize that Jesus Himself is unchanged (Hebrews 13:8), so legitimate new insight never contradicts His revealed character. Practical Steps for Testing and Receiving New Teachings • Compare every claim with the clear teaching of the whole Bible (Acts 17:11). • Seek corroboration from multiple passages; Scripture interprets Scripture (Psalm 119:160). • Await the witness of the Holy Spirit, who guides into all truth (John 16:13). • Observe the fruit produced—sound teaching cultivates holiness and love (1 Timothy 1:5). • Remain teachable, yet anchored; refuse anything that denies core doctrines such as the deity of Christ, the authority of Scripture, or salvation by grace through faith (Galatians 1:8-9). Biblical Snapshots of Believers Embracing Fresh Revelation • Berean Jews weighed Paul’s message daily against the Scriptures and many believed (Acts 17:11-12). • Apollos, mighty in the Scriptures, accepted fuller teaching about baptism from Priscilla and Aquila (Acts 18:24-26). • Peter adjusted his understanding of clean and unclean after the rooftop vision, opening the door to Gentile salvation (Acts 10:28-35). Daily Habits to Cultivate a Receptive, Disccerning Heart • Read the whole counsel of God systematically, allowing context to shape interpretation. • Memorize key passages that guard essential doctrines. • Fellowship with mature believers who model both conviction and humility (Proverbs 27:17). • Submit insights to the leadership of a Bible-honoring local church (Hebrews 13:17). Putting It All Together Luke 5:39 exposes the natural impulse to cling to what feels familiar. Instead of reflexively saying, “The old is better,” believers weigh every new teaching by Holy Scripture, welcome true biblical light, and keep their lives pliable like new wineskins. In this way, God’s unchanging Word continues to renew minds and shape hearts without compromise. |
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