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I will not drink of this fruit of the vine Theme of Matthew: “Behold your King
is coming to you” (Zech.9:9; Mt.21:4-5) CHARTING THE COURSE FOR THIS STUDY Ø “I will not drink of this fruit of the
vine…” (v.29) Ø Jesus prays in Gethsemane (vv.36-46) I WILL NOT DRINK OF
THIS FRUIT OF THE VINE…
(Matthew 26:29//Mark 14:25//Luke 22:16,18) Why does Jesus mean,
“I will not drink of this fruit of the vine from now on until that day when I
drink it new with you in My Father’s kingdom” (v.29)? Meaning
of fruit of the vine in Scripture
1. Image of joy and happiness a.
Feasting (Job’s children, Job 1; Ahasuerus’s banquet, Est. 1; Belshazzar’s
feast in Babylon, Daniel 5; Isaiah
22:13). b.
Jesus performed His first sign at a wedding by turning water into wine (John
2:1-11). c.
In Ester 7:8 a banquet hall is called a “house for drinking wine.” (see also
Song of Solomon 2:4).
e.
Wine “gladdens the heart of man” (Judges
9:13; Psalm 104:15; cf. Eccl. 2:3; 9:7; 10:19; Zec. 10:7). f.
Love is better than wine (Song of Solomon 1:2,4; 4:10; 7:9). g.
Wine is a manifestation of God’s gift, love and blessing (Genesis 27:28; Deuteronomy 7:13; Amos
9:13-15). As such, wine is a sign
of covenant blessing upon Israel (Isaiah
53:12 with 54:5 with 55:1-3; Hosea
2:8,21-22; Joel 3:18; 9:13). That
wine is used in the Lord’s Supper reminds us of God’s New Covenant blessing
upon us in Christ.
2. Wine was prominent in the temple
and Israel’s worship (cf. Acts 2:1-13). a.
Wine was used as a libation/drink offering (Genesis 35:14; Leviticus 23:13; Numbers 28:7,14; Deuteronomy 32:38;
Hosea 9:4). b. Wine was brought to the Temple
and tithed (Deuteronomy 14:26; Nehemiah 10:36-39). In biblical times the wine of Helbon
(Ezekiel 27:18) and the wine of Lebanon (Hosea 14:7) were renowned. 3. Wine and bread were brought by
Melchizedek to victorious Abraham to celebrate his victory (Genesis
14:18-19). The combination of bread
and wine in Gen.14:18-19 is a “merism for a full dinner, a royal banquet (see
2 Sam.17:27-29; Prov.9:5)” (Waltke 233).
a.
Other passages speak of battlefield victory and banquets (Isaiah 34:5-7; Zechariah 9:15; Revelation
19:16-19). b.
The gathering of Israel’s warriors to transfer the kingdom from Saul to David
was celebrated with a banquet (1
Chronicles 12 [esp. vv.23-40]; cf. Psalm 22:26-29). c.
There is an irony in Adonijah’s kingly banquet
(1 Kings 1:39-41). d.
Solomon’s coronation was marked by eating before the LORD (1 Chronicles
29:22). d.
Babylon would one day vomit what she banqueted on (Jeremiah 51:34-44). 4. Wine was not allowed to priests
while they were ministering in the Temple! (Leviticus 10:8-11; Ezekiel 44:21) a.
Nazirites were forbidden to drink or eat fruit of the vine (Numbers 6:1-4;
cf. Judges 13:4ff.; Amos 2:11-12). b.
There are interesting parallels between the Nazirite Vow and the High Priest: i.
The status of both & High Priest was, “Holy to the LORD” (Num.6:8;
Lev.21:7). ii.
The heads of both the Nazirite and the High Priest were dedicated to God
(Numbers 6:2,3 with Ex.28:36-38; see esp. Judges 16:17). iii.
Neither Nazirite nor the High Priest were allowed to touch a corpse (Numbers
6:6-7 with Lev.21:11-12). iv. Both Nazirite and High Priest
had to abstain from wine. The Nazirite
abstained during the time of his vow (Num.6:3-4) and the High Priest was not
allowed to drink wine when he ministered in the tabernacle or temple
(Lev.10:8). Meaning
of that day and My Father’s kingdom
Meaning
of when I drink it new with you
The
word “new” in this context is the consummation of the New Covenant in the new
heavens and new earth (Isa.65:17; 2 Peter 3:13; Revelation 21:1); new
Jerusalem (Rev.3:12; 21:2); when all things will be made new (Isa.43:19; Rev.21:5); when we receive our new names
(Isaiah 62:2; 65:15; Rev.2:17; 3:12). In light of this,
Christ’s not drinking from the fruit of the vine may mean: 1. Even though Jesus has entered
into His rest, our Lord is not yet feasting.
Our king is not “celebrating” while the rest of His body on earth is
carrying the cross (cf. Matthew 9:15). 2. Our king makes a kind of promise
that reminds us of His priestly work.
Christ now serves as our High Priest in heaven (Hebrews 7:23-25;
8:1-2).
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