All Things Made Anew: Luke 5:33-38
Have you ever read a passage of Scripture and thought, "Wait, why is this here?" In Luke 5:33-38, Jesus speaks about new wine and old wineskins. For me it feels out of place. Tell me if you notice? I'm not alone, some scholars wonder if this is a scribal issue or simply Luke’s way of arranging themes. But here’s the beauty: even if the placement feels unexpected, it works for me because it highlights Jesus’ revolutionary NEW covenant and its contrast with old traditions. I bring this up for only one reason - these "out of place" passages remind us to pause, dig deeper, and pay attention—because even when something seems a big "off", Scripture always has something profound to teach us.
New here? Read the scripture first in the CMC App. To get there, Click Bible icon at the Bottom, then click Plan. After reading the NT and OT verses for the day, come back here for discussion.
New here? Read the scripture first in the CMC App. To get there, Click Bible icon at the Bottom, then click Plan. After reading the NT and OT verses for the day, come back here for discussion.
Day 1: The Question
Key Scripture: Luke 5:33
Parallel OT Scripture: Isaiah 58:3–7
Fasting was supposed to be a way of humbling yourself before God, of repenting and drawing near to Him. But the Pharisees? They turned it into a performance. So they ask Jesus, “Why don’t your disciples fast like everyone else?” It’s as if they’re saying, “Are you even legit, Jesus? A real Rabbi would follow the rules!”
Here’s the thing: Jesus wasn’t about empty traditions. He was about transformation. Think about the traditions we follow in church today: lighting candles, singing hymns, reciting prayers. These can be beautiful ways to connect with God—but only if our hearts are in the right place. Otherwise, it’s just going through the motions.
Devotional Thought: Are your spiritual practices about looking good or about growing closer to God? What can you do today to realign your heart with His?
Key Scripture: Luke 5:33
Parallel OT Scripture: Isaiah 58:3–7
Fasting was supposed to be a way of humbling yourself before God, of repenting and drawing near to Him. But the Pharisees? They turned it into a performance. So they ask Jesus, “Why don’t your disciples fast like everyone else?” It’s as if they’re saying, “Are you even legit, Jesus? A real Rabbi would follow the rules!”
Here’s the thing: Jesus wasn’t about empty traditions. He was about transformation. Think about the traditions we follow in church today: lighting candles, singing hymns, reciting prayers. These can be beautiful ways to connect with God—but only if our hearts are in the right place. Otherwise, it’s just going through the motions.
Devotional Thought: Are your spiritual practices about looking good or about growing closer to God? What can you do today to realign your heart with His?
Day 2: The Presence
Key Scripture: Luke 5:34–35
Parallel OT Scripture: Hosea 2:19–20
Many years ago, I went to a wedding where one of the guests had recently lost her husband. She sat quietly in the corner, not eating, not talking. People couldn’t help but notice her sadness, and soon, she became the focus of the room, drawing more attention than the bride and groom.
This is the kind of situation Jesus was talking about when He said, “Can you make the friends of the bridegroom fast while he is with them?” A wedding is for feasting, not fasting. Jesus, the bridegroom, was with His disciples, bringing joy, fulfillment, and celebration. There would be a time for mourning and fasting, but that moment wasn’t it.
And yet, life is full of seasons. I mention that only because I like saying the word Ecclesiastes. You know - a time to weep and a time to laugh, a time to mourn and a time to dance. But when we’re in the presence of Jesus, we receive the joy He brings—and that joy is a glimpse of the eternal celebration He’s preparing for us.
Great – now I have that song in my head - "Turn! Turn! Turn! (To Everything There is a Season)". What band sings this?
Devotional Thought: Have you ever found it hard to celebrate because of the weight of grief or struggles in your life? How can you let Jesus’ presence bring you joy, even in the hardest seasons?
Key Scripture: Luke 5:34–35
Parallel OT Scripture: Hosea 2:19–20
Many years ago, I went to a wedding where one of the guests had recently lost her husband. She sat quietly in the corner, not eating, not talking. People couldn’t help but notice her sadness, and soon, she became the focus of the room, drawing more attention than the bride and groom.
This is the kind of situation Jesus was talking about when He said, “Can you make the friends of the bridegroom fast while he is with them?” A wedding is for feasting, not fasting. Jesus, the bridegroom, was with His disciples, bringing joy, fulfillment, and celebration. There would be a time for mourning and fasting, but that moment wasn’t it.
And yet, life is full of seasons. I mention that only because I like saying the word Ecclesiastes. You know - a time to weep and a time to laugh, a time to mourn and a time to dance. But when we’re in the presence of Jesus, we receive the joy He brings—and that joy is a glimpse of the eternal celebration He’s preparing for us.
Great – now I have that song in my head - "Turn! Turn! Turn! (To Everything There is a Season)". What band sings this?
Devotional Thought: Have you ever found it hard to celebrate because of the weight of grief or struggles in your life? How can you let Jesus’ presence bring you joy, even in the hardest seasons?
Day 3: The New Garment
Key Scripture: Luke 5:36
Parallel OT Scripture: Jeremiah 31:31–34
When I was in my teens I had a pair of converse sneakers that my mom repeatedly tried to throw in the trash. But I pulled them out and wrapped the toes in duct tape (We also used it to patch the dings on our surfboards with it. Great stuff.) Eventually, my feet outgrew the sneakers, and the tape was just impractical – and sticky.
That’s what Jesus is saying in this parable: You can’t mix the old (shoes) with the new (duct tape). They don’t work well together long term.
Well, Jesus is not referring to sneakers – the old garment is the old covenant—the rules and rituals of the law. The new patch? That’s the covenant of grace Jesus brings. And here’s the thing: the new isn’t just an upgrade of the old—it’s completely different.
Devotional Thought: Are you holding onto old habits or mindsets that don’t fit the new life Jesus offers? How can you embrace His grace and let go of the past?
Key Scripture: Luke 5:36
Parallel OT Scripture: Jeremiah 31:31–34
When I was in my teens I had a pair of converse sneakers that my mom repeatedly tried to throw in the trash. But I pulled them out and wrapped the toes in duct tape (We also used it to patch the dings on our surfboards with it. Great stuff.) Eventually, my feet outgrew the sneakers, and the tape was just impractical – and sticky.
That’s what Jesus is saying in this parable: You can’t mix the old (shoes) with the new (duct tape). They don’t work well together long term.
Well, Jesus is not referring to sneakers – the old garment is the old covenant—the rules and rituals of the law. The new patch? That’s the covenant of grace Jesus brings. And here’s the thing: the new isn’t just an upgrade of the old—it’s completely different.
Devotional Thought: Are you holding onto old habits or mindsets that don’t fit the new life Jesus offers? How can you embrace His grace and let go of the past?
Day 4: A New Teaching Style
Key Scripture: Luke 5:37–38
Parallel OT Scripture: Ezekiel 36:26–27
Napoleon Bonaparte said, "In victory, you deserve Champagne. In defeat, you need it." When I think of this metaphor from Jesus I think of bubbly wine and how the cork can shoot out of a Bottle. Pop, Pop, Fizz, fizz, oh what a… (whoops, wrong commercial). All wine expands as it ages, so you shouldn’t pour new wine into old, brittle wineskins. New wine needs new wineskins and metaphors can be fun!
Jesus is the new wine—His message is fresh, alive, and transformational. But it can’t fit into rigid, old structures. It requires new hearts and new ways of thinking.
Devotional Thought: What areas of your life need a fresh start? Are you willing to let Jesus reshape you for the new work He’s doing?
Key Scripture: Luke 5:37–38
Parallel OT Scripture: Ezekiel 36:26–27
Napoleon Bonaparte said, "In victory, you deserve Champagne. In defeat, you need it." When I think of this metaphor from Jesus I think of bubbly wine and how the cork can shoot out of a Bottle. Pop, Pop, Fizz, fizz, oh what a… (whoops, wrong commercial). All wine expands as it ages, so you shouldn’t pour new wine into old, brittle wineskins. New wine needs new wineskins and metaphors can be fun!
Jesus is the new wine—His message is fresh, alive, and transformational. But it can’t fit into rigid, old structures. It requires new hearts and new ways of thinking.
Devotional Thought: What areas of your life need a fresh start? Are you willing to let Jesus reshape you for the new work He’s doing?
Day 5: A New Result
Key Scripture: Luke 5:39
Parallel OT Scripture: Numbers 14:2–4
If you ever watched the movie the Jerk you might remember Steve Martin's character, Navin, misunderstands wine etiquette and says: "Bring us some fresh wine, the freshest you’ve got. This year’s! No more of this old stuff!" Navin was celebrating, and wine was a new experience for him. He didn’t know “the rules.”
Jesus gets it. He knows we’re told to prefer the old, even when He’s offering us something infinitely better. But He’s patient, calling us to step out of our comfort zones and into the new life He has planned.
Devotional Thought: Only one question today - Where are you resisting change in your life?
Key Scripture: Luke 5:39
Parallel OT Scripture: Numbers 14:2–4
If you ever watched the movie the Jerk you might remember Steve Martin's character, Navin, misunderstands wine etiquette and says: "Bring us some fresh wine, the freshest you’ve got. This year’s! No more of this old stuff!" Navin was celebrating, and wine was a new experience for him. He didn’t know “the rules.”
Jesus gets it. He knows we’re told to prefer the old, even when He’s offering us something infinitely better. But He’s patient, calling us to step out of our comfort zones and into the new life He has planned.
Devotional Thought: Only one question today - Where are you resisting change in your life?
Day 6: The Newness of Jesus
Key Scripture: Luke 5:36–39
Parallel OT Scripture: Isaiah 43:18–19
We are revisiting this again as this is the first parable by Jesus in Luke’s Gospel. It is interesting to see He is trying new ways to make the Pharisees understand. Later, his parables become more intentionally more difficult to understand. But this one is like training wheels on the bicycle. A safe way to learn His style so you can understand the hard ones later. Here is an early reminder for you about His parables – you HAVE to know the context of the listener to understand it.
In this parable the point is obvious - Jesus didn’t come to tweak the old system—He came to bring something entirely new. That’s why I paired it with Isaiah 43: “Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing!”
The newness Jesus offers isn’t just a slight improvement; it’s a total transformation. He invites us into a new covenant, a new relationship with God, and a new way of life.
Devotional Thought: What old things do you need to leave behind to fully embrace the new life Jesus is offering you?
Key Scripture: Luke 5:36–39
Parallel OT Scripture: Isaiah 43:18–19
We are revisiting this again as this is the first parable by Jesus in Luke’s Gospel. It is interesting to see He is trying new ways to make the Pharisees understand. Later, his parables become more intentionally more difficult to understand. But this one is like training wheels on the bicycle. A safe way to learn His style so you can understand the hard ones later. Here is an early reminder for you about His parables – you HAVE to know the context of the listener to understand it.
In this parable the point is obvious - Jesus didn’t come to tweak the old system—He came to bring something entirely new. That’s why I paired it with Isaiah 43: “Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing!”
The newness Jesus offers isn’t just a slight improvement; it’s a total transformation. He invites us into a new covenant, a new relationship with God, and a new way of life.
Devotional Thought: What old things do you need to leave behind to fully embrace the new life Jesus is offering you?
Day 7: Reflection and Response
Key Scripture: Luke 5:33–39
Parallel OT Scripture: Micah 7:18–19
Take a moment to look back on this week. We’ve explored the newness Jesus brings—new practices, new perspectives, and a new covenant. But here’s the most important question: Are you willing to let go of the old and trust Him with the new?
Micah 7 reminds us of God’s mercy and love: “You do not stay angry forever but delight to show mercy.” No matter how stuck in the old you feel, God is always ready to lead you into something better.
Devotional Thought: What’s one step you can take today to embrace the newness Jesus offers? Pray, journal, or talk to someone about it.
Key Scripture: Luke 5:33–39
Parallel OT Scripture: Micah 7:18–19
Take a moment to look back on this week. We’ve explored the newness Jesus brings—new practices, new perspectives, and a new covenant. But here’s the most important question: Are you willing to let go of the old and trust Him with the new?
Micah 7 reminds us of God’s mercy and love: “You do not stay angry forever but delight to show mercy.” No matter how stuck in the old you feel, God is always ready to lead you into something better.
Devotional Thought: What’s one step you can take today to embrace the newness Jesus offers? Pray, journal, or talk to someone about it.
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Posted in Lenten Season 2025
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