29 And Levi made a great entertainment to him in his house, and there was a great multitude of tax-gatherers and others who were with them reclining (at meat), 30 and the scribes and the Pharisees among them were murmuring at his disciples, saying, 'Wherefore with tax-gatherers and sinners do ye eat and drink?' 31 And Jesus answering said unto them, 'They who are well have no need of a physician, but they that are ill: 32 I came not to call righteous men, but sinners, to reformation.'
33 And they said unto him, 'Wherefore do the disciples of John fast often, and make supplications—in like manner also those of the Pharisees—but thine do eat and drink?' 34 And he said unto them, 'Are ye able to make the sons of the bride-chamber—in the bridegroom being with them—to fast? 35 but days will come, and, when the bridegroom may be taken away from them, then they shall fast in those days.' 36 And he spake also a simile unto them—'No one a patch of new clothing doth put on old clothing, and if otherwise, the new also doth make a rent, and with the old the patch doth not agree, that 'is' from the new. 37 'And no one doth put new wine into old skins, and if otherwise, the new wine will burst the skins, and itself will be poured out, and the skins will be destroyed; 38 but new wine into new skins is to be put, and both are preserved together; 39 and no one having drunk old 'wine', doth immediately wish new, for he saith, The old is better.'
Matthew Henry's Commentary on Luke 5:29-39
Commentary on Luke 5:27-39
(Read Luke 5:27-39)
It was a wonder of Christ's grace, that he would call a publican to be his disciple and follower. It was a wonder of his grace, that the call was made so effectual. It was a wonder of his grace, that he came to call sinners to repentance, and to assure them of pardon. It was a wonder of his grace, that he so patiently bore the contradiction of sinners against himself and his disciples. It was a wonder of his grace, that he fixed the services of his disciples according to their strength and standing. The Lord trains up his people gradually for the trials allotted them; we should copy his example in dealing with the weak in faith, or the tempted believer.