NOT
SO FAST, OR COMPASSIONATE UNDERSTANDING PART 2
Matthew 9:16-17 "Besides,
who would patch old clothing with new cloth? For the new patch would shrink and
rip away from the old cloth, leaving an even bigger tear than before. (17) "And no one puts
new wine into old wineskins. For the old skins would burst from the pressure,
spilling the wine and ruining the skins. New wine is stored in new wineskins so
that both are preserved."
These two verses have always left me a bit befuddled until two
days ago when I was reading an old commentary by Matthew Henry. I have heard
all sorts of deep, dark, secret, hyper-spiritual answers to what Jesus is
teaching here. Thank you, Matthew Henry for giving some simple insight.
Jesus is still answering the question asked by the disciples
of John the Baptist, as to why the disciples of Jesus do not fast. The first
reason Jesus gave was because He was still present with them. In that, Jesus
recognized that John was not with his disciples at this point, but in prison.
He showed compassion for their plight.
In this second reason He is showing compassion for His own
disciples, recognizing that they were not ready for something as rigorous as
fasting. Brand new cloth would have to be prepared before it could be used to
patch old clothing. It would need to be washed and dried to allow any shrinkage
to take place before it could be used in such an application lest it destroy
the old cloth when it did shrink. Jesus was preparing them for what lay ahead,
for the difficulties of ministry.
What they were before they met Jesus could not handle the
power that was to come their way. A change needed to take place in them. They
needed to be prepared and made new by the saving power of Jesus Christ before
they would be able to be filled with the new wine that was coming. Fasting is
not easy and if done half-heartedly or flippantly can open us up to spiritual
attack. The disciples were not spiritually disciplined men. They knew their
former jobs which were all secular jobs. In the things of God they were babes.
When Jacob was returning to his homeland his brother Esau met
him and encouraged him to follow him quickly, Jacob said this… Genesis 33:13 But Jacob replied, "You can see, my
lord, that some of the children are very young, and the flocks and herds have
their young, too. If they are driven too hard, even for one day, all the
animals could die.”
Jacob showed compassion for those with
him. He knew they needed to take their time. They were young and unseasoned in
travel. He even showed compassion for the animals.
Jesus shows the same compassion for His
disciples at this point in their journey of faith. They weren’t ready for
fasting, but one day they would be.
As we deal with new believers may we be
as compassionate and sensitive to where they are in their journey with Jesus
Christ. Sometimes we are quick to write someone off who doesn’t seem to be
moving along as fast as we think she should. I believe that as long as someone
is showing up and making some effort, showing some sign of wanting to do right,
we should keep on encouraging him, helping him, showing him the right way.
Father in heaven, may we be found showing
deep, encouraging compassion for each other. May we have understanding as together
we travel this faith journey. In Jesus Name, AMEN!!!
