Old And New
Jesus said, "No one puts a piece of unshrunk cloth on an old garment; for the patch pulls away from the garment, and the tear is made worse. Nor do people put new wine into old wineskins, or else the wineskins break, the wine is spilled, and the wineskins are ruined. but they put new wine into new wineskins, and both are preserved" (Matthew 9:16-17).
The Old and New Law — The disciples of John asked Jesus about the subject of fasting. Fasting had been a part of the Jews religion (See 2 Samuel 12:23; 1 Kings 21:9-12; Ezra 8:21; Psalm 69:10; 109:28; Isaiah 58:3-6; Jeremiah 14:12; etc.) Jesus had come to fulfil or complete the law (Matthew 5:17), and then nail it to His cross (Colossians 2:14). In this text, Jesus identifies fasting as a part of the old and not a part of the new. It was allowed (but never commanded) among early disciples for two reasons: (1) They were used to fasting as a part of their devotion to God. (2) It does not matter to God whether one fasts or not. The point Jesus is making is that fasting is not enjoined as a part of worship to God under the new covenant. However, if because of practice or need (See I Corinthians 7:5) one wishes to fast, do as you judge best. God does not have a preference in the matter. It might be to the Jews who had fasted so much that they felt the need to continue it. Let me illustrate: All my life I have attended services on Wednesday evening. However, a few years back I worked with a congregation who could only get the building they were renting on Thursday evening. When I first went there, it felt very strange not attending services on Wednesday evening. To those who were so used to fasting, it might take a while to realize that it was not necessary.
The Old and New Year — With this issue, we begin a new year. There are things associated with the old year that really are not important. Other things are important but they are now history. Paul said, "Forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus" (Philippians 3:13-14). When the children of Israel were being chased by the Egyptians and hindered in their progress by the Red Sea, the Lord said, "Go forward!" (Exodus 14:15). There are times in life that — for whatever reason — seem to be times to start fresh. New Years is just such a time. If you have not obeyed the gospel, become a Christian. In faith be baptized for the remission of your sins (Mark 16:15-16; Acts 2:38). Then as Christians, let each one determine in his or her own heart to make this new year one that is spent in complete devotion to our Lord as we together worship and work in such a way as to honor God.