THE TRUTH OF THE OLD AND THE NEW

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LUKE 5:27-39
Lesson #15
THE TRUTH OF THE OLD AND THE NEW

• Memory Verse: Luk 5:32
• In our previous lesson we discussed the calling of the disciples, the healing of a man with leprosy, and the healing of a paralytic man. All of these events in the first part of Luke 5 had mentioned sin in one way or another.
• The rest of Luke 5 continues to follow the two themes of calling the disciples and the theme of sin.
• Read Luk 5:27-32 Jesus calls Matthew
  • Levi (Matthew)
    • This man was the author of the gospel of Matthew.
    • His profession was a tax collector. (A publican is a tax collector.)
      • Background:
        • Because the Roman Government had control over the entire nation of Israel, they exercised the right to tax the people.
        • However, taxes were accomplished in a different way than in the way we are accustomed.

Rome set the amount of taxes they expected.

The taxes were used to pay the armies and for the extension of the Roman Empire into new areas.

Rome used local collectors to collect the taxes for Rome but they did not pay the collectors.

Therefore, for a person like Matthew that collected taxes for Rome, he was permitted to collect over and above the Roman tax and use it for his own income. The amount charged was what he could manage to coerce a person to pay.

Some tax collectors charged very high taxes and lived very well.

• • • • • Because tax collecting became legalized extortion, the Jews considered Jewish tax collectors as traitors. The Jews hated those Jews that collected taxes for Rome for two reasons:

=1= Rome used the money to pay armies to put down rebellion of which the Jews were notorious for their rebellions against the Roman Empire. Taxes were used to harm their own people that desired freedom from Rome.

=2= The collectors were charging exorbitant fees from their own people.

• • • You can imagine the reaction of the other disciples and those around Jesus when he extended to Matthew (Levi) the calling to be a close disciple of Jesus.
      • Matthew responded positively to the calling of Jesus.
      • He held a big feast inviting Jesus, the disciples and all his publican friends. (29)
      • This big celebration tells us that Matthew was a wealthy man.
    • Opposition from the Scribes and Pharisees:
      • These religious hypocrites, the Scribes and Pharisees were critical.
      • Their criticism is that Jesus is eating with sinners, the hated publicans.
    • Jesus’ response to the criticism (31-32):
      • What did Jesus mean by the following words, “They that are whole need not a physician; but they that are sick.” (31)
      • Everyone thought the publicans (tax collectors) were the worst of sinners because they were traitors in their support of Rome.
      • Therefore, Jesus gives us His reason for coming to this earth…to be a physician to those that are sick.
        • Jesus’ words agree with the opposition’s evaluation of the tax collectors.
        • The publicans are sinners and need a doctor to heal them of their sin. Jesus is that Great Physician.
    • “I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.” (32) Who are the righteous and who are the sinners?
      • In reality the Bible tells us that no one is righteous.
      • Read Rom 3:10
      • The problem is that not everyone realizes he is a sinner. The Scribes and Pharisees certainly did not. They thought they were righteous.
      • Notice that before you call a doctor, you must come to the point in your life where you know you are sick and in need of a doctor.
        • The same is true spiritually. Before you can call upon Jesus Christ to be your savior, you must first come to realize you are a sinner in need of a savior.
        • Remember that was John the Baptist’s ministry…to call people to repentance from sin to prepare the way for the coming of the savior who would forgive their sin.
• Read Luk 5:33-35 Reference to John the Baptist and fasting
  • Notice that the Scribes and Pharisees understand the connection between the ministry of John the Baptist and the ministry of Jesus when they mention John the Baptist in verse 33.
  • The question:
    • “Why do the disciples of John fast often, and make prayers, and likewise the disciples of the Pharisees; but thine eat and drink?” (33)
    • Fasting was a common practice in the Old and New Testaments.
      • The purpose was to be in communion with God to receive direction.
      • The purpose was to conform oneself with the will of God.
    • However, the Pharisees did not fast for those reasons but to appear religious and holy to other people.
    • Fasting in the ministry of John the Baptist was to prepare oneself for the coming of the Messiah so that person would know the will of God when Jesus came.
  • Jesus gives us the reason He and the disciples did not fast. (34-35)
    •  “Can ye make the children of the bridechamber fast, while the bridegroom is with them?” (34)
      • Who is the bridegroom? Jesus Christ.
      • Who are the children of the bridechamber?
        • They are the believers that recognize they are sinners in need of a savior.
        • Now that the savior, Jesus Christ, has come, they rejoice that they are now forgiven.
    • After Jesus was crucified, resurrected, and ascended into heaven, then the believers would fast to know God’s direction and will in their lives. At this point, they are to follow Him.
• Read Luk 5:36-39 The Parable of the Old Garments and Old Bottles
  • What did Jesus mean when He said, “ And no man putteth new wine into old bottles”? (37)
  • What does the “patch of unshrunk cloth” represent?
    • If you were thinking of a wedding garment, you would not put a patch of new cloth on an old garment. This parable was prior to the sanforized era of pre-shrunk fabrics. If you did put a new piece on an old garment, when next it was washed, the new patch would split away from the old garment.
    • The illustration for the wedding garment represents the righteousness of Christ.
      • Read Rev 21:2
      • Read Rom 3:10-26
      • Read Eph 4:22-24
    • What does the old garment represent?
      • The old garment represents our old sinful nature.
      • Discussion: Why is the rightousness of Christ incompatible with the old nature?
        • Read Gal 2:20
        • The old nature does not have a heart attitude toward God but the new spirit does. A person cannot be for Christ and against Christ at the same time.
        • John’s disciples and Jesus’ disciples must be born again after the crucifixion.
    • The Pharisees were critical of Jesus for not keeping the traditions of the elders.
      • What does the “new wine” represent?
      • (Remember what wine represents in scripture!)
        • Read Act 2:13
        • Wine symbolizes the flowing of the Holy Spirit.
    • What do the “old wineskins” represent?
      • The use of wineskins is an ancient practice. They made bottles of the skins of animals. When the skin is “green” (new) it stretches as the wine in it ferments. If you put new wine into an old skin, the fermenting process will cause the skin to burst.
      • The old wineskins represent the religious traditions of the Pharisees.
        • Jesus indicates that you cannot put the new flowing of the Holy Spirit into the old legalistic traditions of Judaism practiced by the Pharisees.
        • Discussion:

Why?

Legalistic tradition without a heart attitude toward God will not permit the moving of the Holy Spirit in the lives and hearts of men.

• • • What do the “new wineskins” represent?
      • The new wineskin represents Jesus’ teachings in the New Testament based on his crucifixion, resurrection, and ascension.
      • Faith in him makes a new heart ready to hold the Holy Spirit.
      • Read Joh 7:37-39
  • The central truth of the parable of wine bottles: (Mat 9:16-17)
    • The new attached to the old is incompatible. Old things are passed away. All things are become new.
    • Read 2Cor 5:17
• Summary and Application:
  • Jesus did not come into the world to fix the corruption in Judaism promoted by the Scribes and Pharisees.
  • Jesus did not come into the world to promote the Law of Moses and all the religious traditions attached to it.
    • Instead, Jesus came to bring us a new gospel based on a new born-again nature purchased by Christ’s blood on the cross.
    • The new gospel must be placed in the new wineskin of grace.
    • You cannot obtain the righteousness of Christ by keeping the Old Testament Law of Moses because the Law does not change man’s heart. He needs a new birth experience by the Holy Spirit of life.

Homework
Luke 6:1-11

• Application of Luk 5:27-39
  • In what ways do you trust in the Ten Commandments to reveal to you the will of God for your life?
  • In what ways do you trust the Holy Spirit to reveal to you the will of God for your life?
  • Which do you think is better, the Ten Commandments or the Holy Spirit? Why?
• Preparation for Luk 6:1-11
  • Read Luk 6:1-11
    • Did the disciples really break the Sabbath?
    • Did Jesus really break the Sabbath?
    • Why is it important to understand the Sabbath?
• Memory Verse: Heb 8:13