Role of Wine in New Covenant Symbolism and Celebration
Wine, a product of the vine, holds significant symbolic weight in the New Covenant, particularly through its role in the Last Supper and subsequent Christian celebrations. The cultivation of vines and the production of wine are ancient practices, dating back to Noah in biblical accounts [1, 2, 3]. Grapes were pressed to make wine, and the process was often accompanied by rejoicing [1, 4].
In the Old Testament, wine is mentioned frequently, sometimes as a blessing and other times with caution. For instance, Hosea warns that "promiscuity, wine, and new wine take away understanding" [6]. However, wine was also used in drink offerings as "a soothing fragrance to Jehovah" [8]. The vine itself was a prominent feature of Palestine, known for its luxuriant growth and large clusters of grapes [2, 3].
The concept of a "new covenant" is prophesied in the Old Testament, notably in Jeremiah 31:31-34, which speaks of a time when God will make a new covenant with Israel, writing His law on their hearts [9]. This prophecy is understood to be fulfilled through Jesus Christ's redemptive mission [10]. The author of Hebrews highlights that the first covenant, made at Sinai, was not faultless and did not fully address human weaknesses, thus necessitating a new covenant [9].
The symbolism of wine becomes central to the New Covenant through Jesus' institution of the Lord's Supper. During this meal, Jesus took a cup, gave thanks, and offered it to his disciples, saying, "This is my blood of the New Testament" [11, 12]. This act established the wine in the cup as an emblem and representation of his blood, which ratified and confirmed the covenant of grace [11]. The pouring out of Jesus' blood is understood as a sacrifice that initiated this new covenant [13]. This echoes the practice of the first covenant, which was sprinkled with the blood of bulls [11].
The "cup of salvation" in Psalm 116:13 is interpreted as a cup of thanksgiving for God's great salvation [5]. In the context of the New Covenant, the cup of wine in the Lord's Supper signifies the blessings of peace, pardon, righteousness, and eternal life that come through Christ's blood [11]. The idea of "new wine" is also present in Jesus' teaching about putting new wine into fresh wineskins to preserve both [7]. This can be seen as a metaphor for the new teachings and covenant that Jesus brought, which could not be contained by old forms or structures.
The significance of wine in the New Covenant is thus deeply rooted in its representation of Christ's atoning blood, which establishes and seals the new relationship between God and humanity. This symbolic act, performed by Jesus at the Last Supper, transformed a common element of ancient life into a profound symbol of redemption and grace.
Sources
- Smith's Bible Dictionary “Smith's Bible Dictionary: Wine — The manufacture of wine is carried back in the Bible to the age of Noah, (Genesis 9:20,21) to whom the discovery of the process is apparently, though not explicitly, attributed. The natural history and culture of the vine are described under a separate head. [[1296]Vine] The only other plant whose fruit is noticed as having been converted into wine was the pomegranate. (Song of Solomon 8:2) In Palestine the vintage takes place in September, and is celebrated with great rejoicing. The ripe fruit was gathered in baskets, (Jeremiah 6:9) as represented in Egyptian ”
- Smith's Bible Dictionary “Smith's Bible Dictionary: Vine — the well-known valuable plant (vitis vinifera) very frequently referred to in the Old and New Testaments, and cultivated from the earliest times. The first mention of this plant occurs in (Genesis 9:20,21) That it was abundantly cultivated in Egypt is evident from the frequent representations on the monuments, as well as from the scriptural allusions. (Genesis 40:9-11; Psalms 78:47) The vines of Palestine were celebrated both for luxuriant growth and for the immense clusters of grapes which they produced, which were sometimes carried on a staff between two men,”
- Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Vine — One of the most important products of Palestine. The first mention of it is in the history of Noah (Gen. 9:20). It is afterwards frequently noticed both in the Old and New Testaments, and in the ruins of terraced vineyards there are evidences that it was extensively cultivated by the Jews. It was cultivated in Palestine before the Israelites took possession of it. The men sent out by Moses brought with them from the Valley of Eshcol a cluster of grapes so large that "they bare it between two upon a staff" (Num. 13: 23). The vineyards of En-gedi (Cant. 1:14), H”
- Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Wine — First mention of -- Ge 9:20,21. Was made of The juice of the grape. -- Ge 49:11. The juice of the pomegranate. -- Song 8:2. First mode of making, notice -- Ge 40:11. Generally made by treading the grapes in a press -- Ne 13:15; Isa 63:2,3. Refining of, alluded to -- Isa 25:6. Improved by age -- Lu 5:39. Places celebrated for Canaan in general. -- De 33:28. Possessions of Judah. -- Ge 49:8,11,12. Lebanon. -- Ho 14:7. Helbon. -- Eze 27:18. Assyria. -- 2Ki 18:32; Isa 36:17. Moab. -- Isa 16:8-10; Jer 48:32,33. Many kinds of -- Ne 5:18. Sweet, esteemed for flavour ”
- Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Cup — A wine-cup (Gen. 40:11, 21), various forms of which are found on Assyrian and Egyptian monuments. All Solomon's drinking vessels were of gold (1 Kings 10: 21). The cups mentioned in the New Testament were made after Roman and Greek models, and were sometimes of gold (Rev. 17:4). The art of divining by means of a cup was practiced in Egypt (Gen. 44:2-17), and in the East generally. The "cup of salvation" (Ps. 116:13) is the cup of thanksgiving for the great salvation. The "cup of consolation" (Jer. 16:7) refers to the custom of friends sending viands and wine to”
- Hosea “Hosea 4:11 (BSB) — Promiscuity, wine, and new wine take away understanding.”
- Luke “But new wine must be put into fresh wine skins, and both are preserved. -- Luke 5:38”
- Numbers “Numbers 15:7 (LITV) — and wine for a drink offering, a third part of a hin. You shall bring it near, a soothing fragrance to Jehovah.”
- Hebrews (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Hebrews 8:7: 8:7-13 The author quotes Jer 31:31-34, an Old Testament prophecy concerning the new covenant that includes a number of striking promises. Establishing the superiority of the new covenant lays a foundation for the argument in Heb 9:1–10:18 that the Son’s offering under the new covenant was superior to the offerings of the old covenant. 8:7 The first covenant, made at Sinai, was not faultless. It was not the end of God’s plan, because it didn’t solve human weaknesses (see 7:11-28; 8:9).”
- Jeremiah (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Jeremiah 31:31: 31:31 The day of the new covenant was realized when Jesus Christ accomplished his redemptive mission on earth (see Heb 8:8-12).”
- Matthew (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Matthew 26:27: For this is my blood of the New Testament,.... That is, the red wine in the cup, was an emblem and representation of his precious blood, whereby was exhibited a new dispensation, or administration of the covenant of grace; and by which it was ratified and confirmed; and whereby all the blessings of it, such as peace, pardon, righteousness, and eternal life, come to the people of God: the allusion is to the first covenant, and the book of it being sprinkled with the blood of bulls, and therefore called the blood of the covenant, Exo 24:8. But the second covenant, or ”
- 1 Corinthians (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on 1 Corinthians 11:24: After the same manner also he took the cup,.... That is, off from the table, or out of the hands of the master of the house, and blessed or gave thanks, as he did before when he took the bread; see Mat 26:27, "when he had supped"; the Syriac, Arabic, and Ethiopic versions, read, "when they had supped"; which give a true sense, though not a literal translation; for both Christ and his disciples had supped, having both eaten the passover supper, and the bread, the principal part in the Lord's supper, when he took the cup, gave thanks, and gave it to them: sayi”
- Mark (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Mark 14:24: 14:24 The cup of wine represented Jesus’ blood, poured out as a sacrifice (10:45; Isa 53:12). It initiated the covenant that God has made with his people (Luke 22:20; 1 Cor 11:25; see Exod 24:8; Zech 9:11; Heb 9:18-20; 10:26-29). The term many refers to all people (see Mark 10:45; Rom 5:15-19).”