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NASB | Matthew 26:29 "But I say to you, 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." |
AMPLIFIED 2015 | Matthew 26:29 "But I say to you, 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." |
Subject: What is 'the fruit of the vine'? |
Bible Note: Joe Let me address this issue on wine one last time. I have prayed it through and I think I calmed down. I jumped with both feet on the subject after what Tim Sheasby said, I’m sorry when I hear a Christian brag I’m teaching my kid to drink , I just jump. One of the things God brought me out of upon my salvation was drinking. I’m very familiar with alcohol, the effects of alcohol and I know the consequences well. I want to apologize to you and the forum for my abruptness and sarcasm. I pray that you, the forum and God will forgive my very un Christ like attitude. Let me say there is no prohibition to alcohol as such in the Bible, however there is about drunkenness. The bible also carries many warnings about alcohol and the dangers involved with it’s usage. It would be pharisaical or legalistic to dogmatically say the Bible prohibits us from drinking alcohol. However we do see people that are sanctified (set apart) commanded not to drink. The Hebrew and Greeks words that are translated wine do not in most situations clearly describe alcoholic or non alcoholic wine, and therefore allow assumptions to be made. The first assumption is, ‘By making alcoholic wine in a time without refrigeration would be a way to keep the grape juice.’ I have tried to show that natural fermentation by the average person of the time would be unable to reach alcoholic levels needed to prevent the juice from turning to vinegar or spoiling. That is not to say there weren’t people of the time able to ferment some powerful brews that is just saying the average wine was without alcohol or had a level so low we would not consider it alcoholic. The common method for preserving the grape juice at the time was to dehydrate it and keep it either in a paste form or dried to a film much like fruit rollups. This eliminated two problems storage containers and spoilage. Vessels to keep a half years (they basically had two growing seasons) supply of wine for a whole family in liquid form would take a lot of room but dehydration would reduce this down to a few small jars. Also without moisture spoilage is hard get started. The dried form would be reconstituted by adding water and would be very much like our juices made to day from reconstituted grape juice. However we all know premium grape juice is fresh squeezed with no reconstituted added. (check prices at grocery) The second assumption is in the story of Jesus turning water into wine at the wedding of Cana had to be alcoholic wine since the groom was complemented on the quality of the wine by a person saying usually high quality wine is served first and then (assumption) after the guest are drunk and can’t tell you serve the cheap stuff. However you serve the best last. I submit there can be another totally different assumption made. The wine in fact was non alcoholic and what the person was referring to was the fact at most celebrations fresh squeezed juice was served first. Then later as taste buds became satiated the lower quality reconstituted wine was served. Therefore the alcohol wasn’t even a consideration. Now putting this into perspective they served the best wine they could afford from the best grapes they could find and everyone was enjoying the wedding but they were running out. Jesus then turned water into wine. What the Bible is showing by this off handed complement to the host was this was that finest wine any had ever tasted. I contend this fruit of vine made by the hand of God would be finer than anything any of us has ever tasted. The last assumption I want to investigate is Passover. Everyone will agree leaven (yeast) as contained in leaven bread is prohibited. Yeast or leaven is portrayed in the Bible as a type of sin and therefore must be excluded from the Passover meal. However the discussion then turns to the juice with many claiming it is alcoholic which by definition would have to contain the forbidden yeast. The argument then continues that the yeast in wine would be killed by the alcohol thus making the wine permissible. I submit baking of the bread would also kill the yeast and thus rendering it permissible also. We all know this wasn’t the case leaven bread was forbidden as was alcoholic wine. Thus Jesus used the term fruit of the vine. There are many other points I feel prove the term wine as spoken of in the Bible is unfermented juice but space and time do not allow me to investigate them. I hope I calmly and rationally explained my view on this subject. I do not wish to prohibit alcohol by twisting scripture but to show scripture does not naturally imply alcohol by the use of word wine. Again I apologize to Joe and the forum for my less than gentle posts on this subject. To anyone that is teaching your kid to drink you need help and your kid probably will too in the future. EdB |