WINE
OR
FRUIT OF THE VINE
DIFFERENT VERSIONS OF EPHESIANS 5:18
New American Standard Bible
And do not get drunk with wine, for that is dissipation, but be filled with the Spirit,
King James Version
And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit;
Holman Bible
And don’t get drunk with wine, which leads to reckless actions, but be filled by the Spirit:
International Standard Version
Stop getting drunk with wine, which leads to wild living, but keep on being filled with the Spirit.
A Conservative Version
And do not become intoxicated with wine, during which is debauchery, but be filled in Spirit,
American Standard Version
And be not drunken with wine, wherein is riot, but be filled with the Spirit;
Amplified
Do not get drunk with wine, for that is wickedness (corruption, stupidity), but be filled with the [Holy] Spirit and constantly guided by Him.
An Understandable Version
And do not get drunk on wine, which results in ruined lives, but be filled with the Holy Spirit.
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DIFFERENT VERSIONS OF THE GOSPELS
Matthew 26:29 NKJV “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.”
Matthew 26:29 KJV 29 “But I say unto you, I will not drink henceforth of this fruit of the vine, until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father’s kingdom.” KJV
Mark 14:25 NKJV “Assuredly, I say to you, I will no longer drink of the fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it new in the kingdom of YHWH.”
Mark 14:25 KJV 25 Verily I say unto you, I will drink no more of the fruit of the vine, until that day that I drink it new in the kingdom of YHWH.
Luke 22:18 “For I say to you, I will not drink of the fruit of the vine until the kingdom of YHWH comes.” NKJV
Luke 22:18 KJV 18 “For I say unto you, I will not drink of the fruit of the vine, until the kingdom of YHWH shall come.” NKJ
Luke 22:18 — The New International Version (NIV)
18 For I tell you I will not drink again from the fruit of the vine until the kingdom of YHWH comes.”
Luke 22:18 — The New King James Version (NKJV)
18 for I say to you, I will not drink of the fruit of the vine until the kingdom of YHWH comes.”
iFor I tell you that from now on I will not drink of the fruit of the vine until the kingdom of YHWH comes.”
Luke 22:18 — The New International Version (NIV)
18 For I tell you I will not drink again from the fruit of the vine until the kingdom of YHWH comes.”
Luke 22:18 — King James Version (KJV 1900)
18 For I say unto you, I will not drink of the fruit of the vine, until the kingdom of YHWH shall come.
Luke 22:18 — New Living Translation (NLT)
18 For I will not drink wine again until the Kingdom of YHWH has come.”
Luke 22:18 — The New King James Version (NKJV)
18 for I say to you, I will not drink of the fruit of the vine until the kingdom of YHWH comes.”
Luke 22:18 — New Century Version (NCV)
18 I will not drink again from the fruit of the vine until YHWH’s kingdom comes.”
Luke 22:18 — American Standard Version (ASV)
18 for I say unto you, I shall not drink from henceforth of the fruit of the vine, until the kingdom of YHWH shall come.
Luke 22:18 — 1890 Darby Bible (DARBY)
18 For I say unto you, that I will not drink at all of the fruit of the vine until the kingdom of YHWH come.
Luke 22:18 — The Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)
18 For I tell you, from now on I will not drink of the fruit of the vine until the kingdom of YHWH comes.”
Luke 22:18 — The New Revised Standard Version (NRSV)
18 for I tell you that from now on I will not drink of the fruit of the vine until the kingdom of YHWH comes.”
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Different versions of the Bible were showcased above to prove that FRUIT OF THE VINE was commanded by our MASTER YAHSHUA MESSIAH, instead of WINE with alcohol content. Wine can be produced from FRUITS or other sources. The Master commanded Wine without Alcohol, which means fruit vine or grape juice [pure blood]. When wine is not properly preserved, it ferments and produces alcohol, and alcohol is forbidden in the Passover and Unleavened Bread Feasts. Presence of alcohol surely defeat the purpose of “pureness” and “cleanness” in the Passover Meal. Passover Meal must be free from corruption or contamination. It must be holy! This is the reason we must get rid of any “leaven” in the house before we commence the feast. As we read the Bible, we must be conscious of additions and subtractions which were built into it to corrupt the faith of believers. These additions and subtractions exist in the Old and New Covenant Books. To avoid deception and corruption of writers, YHWH gave us His Pastors to teach us His truth.
Jeremiah 3:15 “And I will give you pastors according to mine heart, which shall feed you with knowledge and understanding.”
Now let’s understand what Wine and Fruit of the Vine mean.
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WHAT IS FRUIT VINE?
The above from the Gospels are the only verses that mention the contents of the cup in the institution of the Master’s Supper. If we simply take the Master’s statement, that it was the fruit of the vine, then we have no problem with understanding what we must use. However, there have been many, over the centuries, that have claimed that the cup contained something vastly different. The contention became so great during the time of the restoration movement in the United States, that some denominations substituted either water or nothing in the cup to resolve the disputes. This did not resolve the problem, it merely avoided the truth.
The phrase “fruit of the vine” is another way to refer to the juice of the grape or blood of the grape. The “fruit of the vine” or grape juice is something that is not fermented. We are now stating this as fact, however, the proof of this statement will be developed as we progress in this material. First, we must consider some foundational truths that will aid us in our investigation of the drink element of the Master’s Supper.
UNITY OF SYMBOL
The night that our MASTER YAHSHUA instituted HIS PASSOVER MEAL [Master’s Supper], He took a Loaf of Unleavened Bread. He also took a cup containing the fruit of the vine. There were two things that He handled, yet there were three elements within the two. To understand the meaning of the Master’s Supper, we must recognize that there are three important elements in this Supper. Each of these elements is there for a definite purpose. YHWH has never set something up for His people by happenstance [accident or coincidence]. There is always a purpose and design in what He does. There is a unity of symbols in the three elements of the Master’s Supper. The key to this unity can be found in the words of Paul:
1 Corinthians 11:26 For as often as you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Master’s death till He comes.
This verse tells us that whenever we partake of the emblems [or symbols] of the Master’s Supper, we are “proclaiming” the suffering and death of the Master. This word “proclaim” or in the KJV “show forth” comes from “kataggello” [Strong’s Greek #2605] and means to “proclaim or teach.” This word is used elsewhere in the scriptures to show that when something is done, there is teaching or demonstration occurring. Whenever we partake of the elements of the Master’s Meal, we are not only remembering the suffering and death of the Master, we are demonstrating (teaching) others what occurred in the suffering and death of our Master. If we are teaching, or demonstrating the suffering and death of our Master Yahshua Messiah, we need to lean what occurred in the death of our Master. The elements of the Master’s Meal must proclaim those events that occurred in our Master’s death. Herein we shall learn the unity of the symbols.
What do we proclaim in the Master’s death? Our Master did three very important things in His death. Each of these is symbolized in the elements of the Master’s Supper or Meal. The three things accomplished by the Master’s death can be found in the three things necessary to ratify a COVENANT. In all Biblical Covenants, there had to be:
- a body that was sacrificed;
- the blood of the sacrificed body;
- the Covenant or Agreement that was made binding only after the shedding of the blood of the sacrifice.
Body of Sacrifice: When we partake of the Loaf [Unleavened Bread], which represents the body of our Master, we are showing that our Master Yahshua gave His body freely as the sacrifice necessary to establish the New Covenant. Before any covenant could become effective, there had to be a sacrifice. This sacrifice was a symbol of unity and binding force between all who would come into Covenant with each other. Under the Old Covenant the body of sacrifice also was a symbol of what would happen to anyone who broke Covenant. The sacrifice was slain and had to forfeit its life. If anyone break the Covenant, their fate was symbolized by the body that was sacrificed in ratifying the Covenant. The sacrificed body of our Master not only represented all the animal sacrifices under the Old Covenant, it was also the body that was necessary to establish the New Covenant.
Hebrews 10:4-5 For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and goats could take away sins. Therefore, when He came into the world, He said: “Sacrifice and offering You did not desire, But a body You have prepared for Me.” [see Ps. 40:6;
HaMashiach came into this world so that He could establish the New Covenant [Jer. 31:31-33; Heb. 8:7-11]. This could only happen by His death. HaMashiach could not die in His deity, so YHWH prepared a body for Him to inhabit. He was made a Man, after the likeness of men, so that He could die. This idea is taught in detail in Hebrews Chapter 2:8. The essential thing for us to remember is that it took the body of the Master in sacrifice so that we could return into a Covenant relationship with YHWH. Every time that we partake of the Passover Meal that symbolise the body of our Master, we are showing forth this sacrifice. We are teaching others that it took the sacrifice of our Master’s body to bring us into Covenant with YHWH our FATHER.
Blood of Sacrifice Body: The next two things proclaimed by the Master’s death, when we observe the communion of the shed BLOOD, are united in a way that they cannot be viewed apart. HaMashiach shed His Blood, thereby ratifying the COVENANT. Now the Blood of the Covenant is not the Covenant, neither is the Covenant the Blood of the Covenant. They are distinct, yet cannot be separated from each other. Without the one the other could not be effective.
Paul recognized this unity of symbol when he reflects back upon the establishment of the first Covenant YHWH made between Himself and Yisrayah.
Hebrews 9:19-20 For when Mosheh had spoken every precept to all the people according to the Law, he took the blood of calves and goats, with water, scarlet wool, and hyssop, and sprinkled both the book itself and all the people, saying, “This is the blood of the covenant which YHWH has commanded you.”
Covenant: From this account, we see that the blood came from the calves and goats that were sacrificed to ratify the Covenant. The book of the Covenant was something different from the blood. When Mosheh sprinkled the blood on the Covenant and the people, this became a binding symbol of the unity of YHWH with His children through that Covenant. The Covenant, although presented to Mosheh in the mount many months before this event, did not become binding until this ceremony. It took blood to make it binding.
What wisdom YHWH displayed in giving us this unity of the blood and the covenant ratified by the blood. What better symbol for this unity than a cup and its contents! An empty cup is of no value to people. Like the covenant written on stone, it was of no value until the blood made it binding. The cup, with its contents (the fruit of the vine), is the united and unbroken symbol. The cup, Shaul [Paul] says “is the new covenant in my blood.” Thayer implies that the expression “in my blood” means ratified by my blood.
“Moreover, the HaMashiach’s dying blood served to re-establish the relationship between men and YHWH which was broken down as a result of disobedience; it is also likened to a federative or covenant sacrifice: the blood by the shedding of which the covenant should be ratified, Matt. 26:28; Mark 14:24, or has been ratified, Heb. 10:29; 13:20 (cf. 9:20); add, 1 Cor. 11:25; Luke 22:20. The writers of the New Covenant picture this unity of symbol between the BLOOD and the COVENANT:
Matthew 26:28 “For this is My BLOOD of the NEW COVENANT, which is shed for many for the remission of sins.”
Luke 22:20 Likewise He also took the cup after supper, saying, “This cup is the New Covenant in My BLOOD, which is shed for you.”
Although it seems that Matthew and Luke are saying two different things about the cup, they are saying the same thing, yet from different perspectives. These two statements give greater force to the unity of the symbol of the cup and its contents. Just as the blood is of no value without the covenant, so too, the covenant is of no value without the blood. Matthew views the saying from the contents of the cup, saying that “this is” the blood which ratified the covenant. The expression “this is” had reference to the drink element. Luke, however, concerning the cup says “this is” the New Covenant that is ratified by the BLOOD. Both the blood of the covenant and the covenant are important. You cannot speak of one without speaking of the other.
What wisdom YHWH employs in this united symbol. It is a simple, common, everyday necessity that YHWH chose to show the unity of the BLOOD and the COVENANT. To separate the two, or exclude the one does violence to YHWH’s wisdom.
Herein lies the significance of the expression “fruit of the vine.” YHWH chose something that was a natural symbol of BLOOD to represent the shed blood of HaMashiach. Without blood, Paul says, there would be no remission of sins. Without the blood of Messiah there would be no remission of sins, nor a covenant between YHWH and man.
BLOOD AND THE FRUIT OF THE VINE
After giving thanks for the cup, our Master gave it (the cup and its contents) to the Disciples. He commanded them to drink from this cup. According to Matthew and Mark, our Master then said:
Matthew 26:28 “For this is My BLOOD of the New Covenant, which is shed for many for the remission of sins.”
Mark 14:24 …”This is My BLOOD of the New Covenant, which is shed for many.”
The expression “this is” is a metaphor and refers to the drink element contained in the cup. In the next verse, Messiah says that he would not drink from that time on of “this fruit of the vine.” We now have clearly stated what was contained within the cup – fruit of the vine. This fruit of the vine, in some way, by metaphor, resembles blood. This implies that there are some characteristics of the fruit of the vine that would bring to the mind the idea of blood. Can we discover this relationship from the scriptures? If so, then we will possess a direct correlation between the fruit of the vine and the BLOOD of Messiah. There are two verses in the Old Covenant that show that the fruit of the vine’s juice had reference to BLOOD.
Genesis 49:11[KJV] Binding his donkey to the vine, And his donkey’s colt to the choice vine, He washed his garments in wine, And his clothes in the blood of grapes.
Deuteronomy 32:14 [KJV] … And thou didst drink the pure blood of the grape.
Deuteronomy 32:14 [NLT]… You drank the finest wine, made from the juice of grapes.
LEAVEN IN WINE & ITS ARGUMENT
These two verses in the three versions above show that there is a direct relationship between blood and the juice of the grape. The “wine” or “finest wine” mentioned are translated to “blood of grapes” or “the juice of grapes”. The word for blood in these verses is “dam” and is defined as “blood of wine.” Now blood is something that naturally exist within the body. The blood is the life of the body (Lev. 17:14). The juice of the grape is naturally within the grape, and is its life. Again, the wisdom of YHWH outweighs the wisdom of men. No better element could have been chosen as the representative of the shed blood of our Master. The fruit of the vine aptly represents “pure blood” of the grape [i.e., the sacrifice] in the holy Meal: the blood of our Master YAHSHUA MESSIAH. It’s pure, holy, and sacred blood. It has no blemish. The instruction of Passover Feast includes killing of Lamb, Goat or Sheep without blemish. In YHWH’s infinite wisdom, pure blood of the grape means the use of wine without FERMENTATION. Fermented wine contains alcohol. Alcohol contains huge YEAST which we must put away from the beginning of the FEAST. Anyone found eating foods or drinking beverages with YEASTS breaks the law of keeping the PASSOVER/UNLEAVENED BREAD FEAST. Drink with alcohol includes what to be removed or put away from the house on or before the feast begins. We are commanded to cleanse our homes so as to get rid of every “LEAVEN” or anything that contain leaven substance. Research has shown that fermented wine contain huge ALCOHOL.
In the second text above, Deut. 32:14, the KJV renders this text by: “the pure blood of the grape.” This word “pure“ comes from the Hebrew word “chemer“ and occurs only in one other verse, Isa. 27:2, where it is translated as a “vineyard of red wine.” The grapes that grow in this part of the world are red or dark purple in nature. The juice from these grapes resemble the colour of blood. Again, we can see a correlation between the juice of the grape and that of blood.
Through time, people who crave for alcoholic wine have through the years tried to change YHWH’s motive of pure blood of the grape to wine that contain alcohol. Alcoholic content in wine automatically undermines the pure blood of the grape used to represent the PURE BLOOD of YAHSHUA MESSIAH, which is free from blemish or stain [no sin]. Arguments had been raised that Passover time fall within period grapes are not in vogue. Some argue that the “water” YAHSHUA converted to wine is only but alcoholic wine. What many people do not know is that Satan twisted everything YHWH commanded His people to observe. We must be careful, else, we fall prey to Satan’s deception! Let it be known to anyone arguing about use of wine that Yahshua in the Gospel Books – Matthew, Mark and Luke told us that fruit of the vine was commanded, not wine containing alcohol!
It was not an accident that our Master had the fruit of the vine present. He did not just use what was handy, rather there was purpose and design in choosing the fruit of the vine to represent His shed blood. Our Master realized that we could make the connection between the blood of the grape and the blood that He soon would be shedding. He used something that was commonly understood in His day and made the application to what we are to proclaim by His death.
THE BLOOD WAS SHED FOR REMISSION OF SINS
Matthew also said that the contents of the cup represented the blood that our Master would shed so that we can obtain the forgiveness of our sins. This aspect of the communion [spiritual union, unity, relationship, intimacy] of the blood is acknowledged by all, however it is not the sole aspect of our remembrance. What we need to point out is that the fruit of the vine was not the literal BLOOD of our MASTER. His blood, when the Master’s Supper was being instituted, had not been shed yet. It would, however, be the symbol of what His shed BLOOD would represent.
HAMASHIACH YAHSHUA was our Passover (1 Cor. 5:7) sacrificed for us. The symbol of blood and the Passover is well known. All the blood of the animals sacrificed under the Old Covenant was a picture [or shadow] of the shed blood of MESSIAH. Through the shedding of blood there is forgiveness of sins. Without the shedding of the blood of MESSIAH, we could not have any hope of obtaining the forgiveness of our sins, let alone having hope for the eternal inheritance that was promised [Heb. 9:15].
Often, when we think of the communion of the blood of MESSIAH, we only view the aspect of the forgiveness of our sins. This is part of what HIS BLOOD was shed for, yet it also was shed to ratify the New Covenant. So, shedding of the BLOOD achieved multiple objectives that include:
- forgiving of our past sins;
- ratification of the New Covenant as promised;
- eternal inheritance as promised;
- guaranteeing our salvation etc.
In the communion or unity of the cup and the fruit of the vine, we have this multiple symbol presented to our minds. YAHSHUA’s BLOOD was shed for forgiveness of our sins; it firmly establishes us into the Covenant (represented by the cup), now called the New Covenant; HIS BLOOD also was shed to cover our sins; and finally HIS BLOOD was shed to guarantee our freedom and salvation [redemption].
THE CUP OF BLESSING
When Shaul wrote to the Corinthians regarding the communion or unity, he stated the following:
1 Corinthians 10:16 The cup of blessing which we bless, is it not the communion of the blood of HAMASHIACH?
Shaul called the cup that we use in the communion or unity a “cup of blessing.” The cup of blessing has reference to the contents of the cup. What does this expression really have reference to? This expression could well be translated by “this cup, which contains a blessing.” It was called a cup of blessing because it contained a blessing – Not because it had been blessed. The next statement shows that this cup of blessing received the blessing, or thanksgiving. It was the cup of blessing over which our Master gave thanks. It is the cup of blessing that is the communion of the blood of Messiah. To learn what this blessing was, we need to go to the Old Covenant.
Isaiah 65:8 Thus says YHWH: “As the new wine is found in the cluster, And one says, ‘Do not destroy it, For a blessing is in it,’ So will I do for My servants’ sake, That I may not destroy them all.”
The word for “new wine” is the Hebrew word “tirosh.” This is one of the many Hebrew words for wine. Tirosh is used to refer to the fresh pressed juice of the grape. The definition from the Theological Wordbook of the Old Testament (TWOT) is significant.
“BDB defines tirosh as ‘must, fresh or new wine.’ The word is used thirty-eight times, twenty of these in conjunction with grain and/or oil as the fresh produce of the field. It is said to be ‘in the cluster’ (Isa. 65:8); the vats or presses overflow with it (Prov. 3:10; Joel 2:24). In Mic. 6:15 yayin ‘wine’ (q.v.) is said to be produced from tirosh. The word is never associated with drunkenness except perhaps in Hos. 4:11 where yayin is also mentioned. It is natural to suppose that this word for a product often associated with fruitfulness, productivity and blessing is to be distinguished from the yayin and shekar (q.v.) which definitely are intoxicating and are often mentioned together.” (Vol. II, p. 969)
This new wine, or fresh pressed juice of the grape, is the blessing that was contained in the cluster. The cluster refers to the cluster of grapes. The blessing was contained within this cluster of grapes. It was called “new wine.” This new wine was not intoxicating, but fresh pressed juice of the grape. In most of the occurrences of this word in the Old Testament, it is associated with the produce of the land. This would be something produced naturally from the produce, rather than something that had to be manufactured by the process of man.
Under the tradition of the Jews of the Masoretic period (500-1000 A.D.), they included a cup of unfermented grape juice in their Passover observation. This cup was filled often during their celebration of the Passover. One filling of this cup, and the offering of a blessing, was over what became known as the cup of blessing. Scholars have used the time of the Masoretic’s as the pattern for the observance of the Passover during the time of our Master. This, however, is not correct. The original institution of the Passover did not have a cup of the fruit of the vine as one of its emblems or symbols. When Shaul referred to the “cup of blessing” he was not referring to a tradition that would not come to past for a few hundred years, but to the blessing that was in the cup. That blessing was the fresh pressed juice of the grape.
The cup of blessing has two specific designations. First, to the fruit of the vine, which was known as a blessing from the produce of the land. Second, to the blessing that we, as Covenant-keepers, have from the shed blood of MESSIAH. When we partake of this cup of blessing, we then have fellowship (communion) with each other. This was known as the “communion of the Blood of Messiah.” We have table fellowship with one another when we share in this cup of blessing.
This cup of blessing also has reference to a covenant meal. In this meal, those who were in covenant would share in a common cup. This showed unity and renewal of the covenant pledge. Whenever we partake of this cup of blessing, we are publicly proclaiming that we are renewing our pledge to be faithful to the New Covenant.
FRUIT OF THE VINE AND WINE
We have waited till this point in our material to introduce the difference between the fruit of the vine and wine. In the past, most articles on the contents of the cup have been directed at the false doctrine of using something intoxicating [alcohol] in the cup. I do not feel that this is the most important aspect of this subject. The meaning and unity of the symbol should be what we remember from this material. When we partake of the Master’s Supper, we should be showing forth the death of our Master. We should be concerned that we are doing this just as the Master intended. This is the important message of partaking in the meal.
When the Master instituted the communion He used the phrase “fruit of the vine” instead of one of the words that could have been translated by “wine.” This should settle the issue. There are those who need more proof that the fruit of the vine is the only element that we must use in the cup of our Master. We shall now present this proof.
The phrase, fruit of the vine, comes from the following Greek words: tou gennhmato” th” ampelou. The word for “fruit” is “gennema” and means: “that which has been born or begotten; the offspring or progeny of men or animals: the fruits of the earth, the produce of agriculture.” The word for “vine” is “ampelos” and its definition is simply “a vine.” The word “vine” as it appears in the scriptures always has reference to the grape vine. In only one situation, that being the Old Covenant, it has reference to a gourd plant. The vine culture of the land of Yisrayah is well known, so when we use this word, it has reference to the grape vine – no other is under consideration.
The phrase has reference to the produce of the vine. Because YAHSHUA had reference to drinking, we naturally conclude that it was the juice produced by the vine. This is what we know as grape juice. This was a common drink during the time of our MASTER YAHSHUA, and throughout the history of YHWH’s people.
If the Master had used the word “oinos,” which is the normal word for wine, then there might be debate as to what was inside the cup. However, the Master did not use this word, but the phrase “fruit of the vine.” This should settle the question, yet there are those who will still argue the issue. Those people should picture that the Lamb and its Blood must not be blemish, nor stained. The BLOOD itself must be PURE as represented in the “Pure Blood of the Grape”. Anytime the Grape juice ferments, it acquires alcohol. The alcoholic content has enormous YEAST in it; and Yeast is forbidden and seen as “LEAVEN” which symbolical represents SIN. People should understand this clearly. At the Table of Passover Meal, we are expected to be filled with the Spirit, not alcohol.
NO ALCOHOL IS ALLOWED DURING PASSOVER FEAST
There are certain facts that we must recognize about the time that the Master instituted the communion or unity meal:
First, it was the time of the Passover. During this period, there could not be anything that had been fermented or leavened within the homes of Yisrayah people. For one week before this feast, there was an effort to remove anything leavened from their homes. Since wine is the result of fermentation, there could not be any alcoholic wine within their home. This alone would bring us to the conclusion that the fruit of the vine was not wine.
Leaven has been used as a symbol of evil, wickedness, and sin. The word for “leaven” in the Greek is “zume.” It occurs thirteen times in the New Covenant scriptures. It means: “1) leaven; 2) metaph. of inveterate mental and moral corruption, viewed in its tendency to infect others. Leaven is applied to that which, though small in quantity, yet by its influence thoroughly pervades a thing, either in a good sense as in the parable Mat. 13:33; or in a bad sense, of a pernicious influence, ‘a little leaven leaveneth the whole lump.'” (From Thayer’s, as found in Logos.)
Logic would conclude that the Master would not have chosen something that represented sin and corruption to be a symbol of His blood. Our Master lived a pure and sinless life. Whatever represented His blood would have to be PURE and free from any corruption. The “pure blood of the grape” or “fruit of the vine” commanded by YAHSHUA MESSIAH fills this need.
FURTHER ARGUMENTS ABOUT FRESH FRUIT
There is always the objection to the use of the fruit of the vine that says that they could not keep fresh grape juice during this time. This is not true! There were many different ways to preserve fruits fresh during the time of our Master. Often, they would boil the juice of the grape down to a tick syrup called sapa or defrutum (Latin words that mean “must or new wine boiled thick.”) This could be kept for long periods of time without spoiling. All they had to do was add water or goats milk, and the thick syrup would become thin and drinkable. Throughout the Old Testament history, this was a common practice among the nations. It was a product of quality and desired among many. When Yaaqob [Jacob] sent gifts to Egypt, one of these was honey (or the boiled down juice of the grape.). In Gen. 43:11, the word for honey has reference to grape honey. Gesenius defines this on page 188-89:
“debash” (2) {honey of grapes}, i.e., must or new wine boiled down to a third or half (Gr. epsami, Lat. sapa, defrutum, Ital. musto coto;) which is now commonly carried into Egypt out of Palestine, especially out of the district of Hebron (comp. Russel’s Natural History of Aleppo, p. 20); Gen. 43:11; Eze. 27:17.
Another source that supports grape honey is from Unger’s Bible Dictionary, p. 1158, 1970 edition:
In Palestine the finest grapes, even today, are dried as raisins, and the juice of the remainder, after having been trodden and pressed, is boiled down to a syrup, which, under the name of dibs (Heb. debash), is much used by all classes, wherever vineyards are found, as a condiment with their food.
From the writings of Cato we can learn that fresh must or grape juice was highly prized, and kept fresh throughout the year. He wrote a book on agriculture of his time. He wrote about the time of MESSAIAH. Also, Pliny wrote about similar subjects and he lived about the end of the first century. Both writers mention how to preserve the fresh grape must, and to use it to make various medicines. Josepheus mentioned that the palace of Masada had stores of fruits and other produce that had been laid up during the time of Herod. These fruits were found fresh when the Roman’s took possession of Masada almost a hundred years later. These and other accounts show that fresh grape juice could be kept fresh.
NEW WINE, OLD WINE, AND FERMENTATION
Our MASTER used an illustration on the preservation of wine (grape juice) to teach principles of the kingdom of heaven.
Matthew 9:17 “Nor do they 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.”
This text teaches that to preserve new wine (must, or grape juice) you must store it in a new wine skin. The reason for this was because once the seal had been broken from the wine skin, the air would get into the skin, and the germ of fermentation [alcohol] would be present. If new wine were put into the new skins, then sealed, the wine would be kept from the fermentation process. If the new wine were put into the old skins, the fermentation germ would be present, and the wine would begin to ferment [corrupt], and the skin would burst from the pressure created by the expanding gasses released from the fermenting grape juice.
CONCLUSION
The symbol of the BLOOD of our MASTER is the “fruit of the vine” or “pure BLOOD of the grape”. As we have seen, this has reference to the juice of the grape. This juice was not fermented or corrupted, but was “pure” and free from the influence of the fermentation germ. This juice was known as the ” pure blood of the grape,” therefore a fit symbol for the blood of our MASTER. When we observe the communion of the BLOOD of our MASTER, we are proclaiming that it took the BLOOD of YAHSHUA to ratify the Covenant by which we have fellowship with our FATHER YHWH. Also, by the shedding of the BLOOD of YAHSHUA, we can obtain the forgiveness of our sins, and be ready to receive eternal inheritance.
The next time you observe the Passover Meal commanded by our MASTER YAHSHUA MESSIAH, remember what He has done for you. Show forth His suffering, death, and honour Him who died for us. Renew your determination to follow HIM faithfully. If you love Him, keep His commandments. If you keep His commandments, fortify yourself in HIS LOVE, and the LOVE of the FATHER, Who promised us eternal life. Remember, He died for you and I so as to reconcile us with the FATHER so that we shall escape eternal death. HIS BLOOD must not be corrupted as we partake in the table of the Covenant Meal. Keep His Passover Meal as He commanded with the Leavened Bread [symbolising His body]; and Pure Blood of the Grape or Fruit of the Vine [symbolising His BLOOD]. In the end, our obedience and faith in Him would guarantee us BLESSING and ETERNAL INHERITANCE in the Kingdom.
Shalom
Assembly of the Living Yahweh
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