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Humble Hero
up of ceremonies and human rules. To unite Jesus’ teachings with
the established religion would be futile. The vital truth of God,
like wine, would burst the old decaying bottles of the Pharisees’
tradition.
New Bottles for New Wine
The Savior turned away from the Pharisees to find others who
would receive the message of heaven. In uneducated fishermen, in
the tax collector at the marketplace, in the woman of Samaria, in the
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common people who heard Him gladly, He found His new bottles
for the new wine. People who gladly receive the light that God sends
are His agents to give truth to the world.
Christ’s teaching, represented by new wine, was not new doctrine
but what had been taught from the beginning. But to the Pharisees,
His teaching was new in almost every respect, and they did not
recognize it or acknowledge it.
“No one, having drunk old wine, immediately desires new; for he
says, ‘The old is better.’” The truth that had come through patriarchs
and prophets was shining out in new beauty in the words of Christ.
But the scribes and Pharisees did not want the precious new wine.
Until they could be emptied of old traditions and practices, they had
no place in mind or heart for the teachings of Christ.
The Peril of Cherished Opinion
This proved to be the ruin of the Jews, and it will be the ruin
of many in our day. Rather than give up some cherished idea or
idol of opinion, many refuse the truth that comes from the Father of
light. They insist on being saved in some way by which they may
perform some important work. When they see that there is no way
of weaving self into the work, they reject the salvation provided.
A legal religion is a loveless, Christless religion. Fasting or
prayer, if it comes from a self-justifying spirit, is an abomination in
the sight of God. Our own works can never purchase salvation. To
those who do not know their spiritual bankruptcy comes the message,
“Because you say, ‘I am rich, have become wealthy, and have need
of nothing’—and do not know that you are wretched, miserable,