新酒新皮囊

by FLL Editorial Team
2013-07-06

wineskins瑪竇福音 9:14-17

那些問耶穌為甚麼祂的門徒不禁食的人,其實是在吹毛求疵,並且暗示多次禁食的自己和法利塞人更守法律。但耶穌並沒有動怒。祂以新郎和伴郎的比喻來表示,祂的門徒在此時得到禁食的豁免,並暗喻自己就是那個新郎,因為若翰洗者否認自己是默西亞時,也用過新郎的比喻 -- 即默西亞是新郎,若翰自己只是新郎的朋友,所以耶穌是在重申自己是默西亞,並預兆自己將要接受苦難。

祂跟著說出酒和皮囊的比喻,這對當時的人來說十分生活化,因為他們習慣用皮囊來保存酒,但如果把仍然會發酵的新酒裝入已失去彈性的舊皮囊裡,皮囊便會破裂,結果兩者都不能保全。

耶穌這樣一方面是指責對祂提問的人和法利塞人固守舊法律,不接受祂宣講的福音,還處處挑剔祂和門徒的作為;另一方面,也是給祂的門徒說,包括我們在內:已信從祂的人,既已接受福音,便不能同時對舊惡或過去的價值觀有所保留;我們必須轉化自己,脫去舊我,成為有彈性的新皮囊,常常以聖言更新心靈,接受天主的改造。

Matthew 9:14-17

People who asked Jesus why His disciples do not fast, are actually nitpicking and challenging His way of leading His disciples, while implying the Pharisees and themselves who fast often are more righteous. However, Jesus did not get upset, and used the parable of the bridegroom and groomsmen to explain while the groomsmen is still with the bridegroom, they're exempt from fasting. When John the Baptist denied being the Messiah, he also used the term bridegroom -- the Messiah is the bridegroom, while John the Baptist is only the groom's friend. Therefore by this Jesus reiterated He is the Messiah, and He will be taken away soon.

Jesus then talked about the patched cloth and wine and wineskin parables, and turned the people's accusation into an opportunity to teach. At that time people used wineskin to store wine, so they should know while new wineskin can hold new wine because it can stretch to hold the carbon dioxide gas being emitted, old wineskin that is already stretched out cannot, and will burst. On one hand Jesus was condemning the questioner and the Pharisees who cling to their interpretation of the Law rather than accepting the Gospel He proclaims, while finding ways to criticize Him; at the same time He is teaching His disciples: one cannot accept the Gospel while preserving their old ways of thinking and living. We have to be open and let go of our old values, and allow God's Word to transform us, to welcome the kingdom of God like new wineskin.

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