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V e r s e b y V e r s e
Wine
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This Rock
Volume 5, Number 3
 March 1994 
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THE Bible condemns drunkenness, but it does
not forbid drinking wine in moderation. In fact, it says wine, being
created by God, is a good thing. We know that Jesus himself drank
wine (he was accused of being a drunkard) and by implication approved
of drinking it.
"Then [Isaac] said, `Bring it to me, that
I may eat of my son's game and bless you.' So he brought it to him,
and he ate; and he brought him wine, and he drank" (Gen. 27:25).
"And before the Lord your God, in the place
which he will choose, to make his name dwell there, you shall eat
the tithe of your grain, of your wine, and of your oil, and the firstlings
of your herd and flock, that you may learn to fear the Lord your God
always. And if the way is too long for you, so that you are not able
to bring the tithe . . . then you shall turn it into money, and bind
up the money in your hand, and go to the place which the Lord your
God chooses, and spend the money for whatever you desire, oxen, or
sheep, or wine, or strong drink, whatever your appetite craves, and
you shall eat there before the Lord your God and rejoice, you and
your household" (Deut. 14:23-26).
"Wine is a mocker, strong drink a brawler,
and whoever is led astray by it is not wise" (Prov. 20:1).
"Go, eat your bread with enjoyment, and drink
your wine with a merry heart, for God has already approved what you
do" (Eccl. 9:7).
"On this mountain the Lord of hosts will provide
for all peoples a feast of rich foods and choice wines, juicy, rich
foods and pure, choice wines" (Is. 25:6).
"Woe to those who rise early in the morning,
that they may run after strong drink, who tarry late into the evening
till wine inflames them! . . . Woe to those who are heroes at drinking
wine" (Is. 5:11, 22).
"John the Baptist has come eating no bread
and drinking no wine, and you say, `He has a demon.' The Son of Man
has come eating and drinking, and you say, `Behold, a glutton and
a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners!'" (Luke
7:33-34)
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"When the wine ran out, the mother of Jesus
said to him, `They have no wine.' And Jesus said to her, `Woman, how
does your concern affect me? My hour has not yet come.' His mother
said to the servants, `Do whatever he tells you.' Now there were six
stone water jars standing there for Jewish ceremonial washings, each
holding twenty to thirty gallons. Jesus told them, `Fill the jars
with water.' So they filled them to the brim. Then he told them, `Draw
some out now and take it to the headwaiter.' So they took it. When
the headwaiter tasted the water that had become wine, without knowing
where it came from (although the servers who had drawn the water knew),
the headwaiter called the bridegroom and said to him, `Everyone serves
good wine first; and when the people have drunk freely, an inferior
one, but you have kept the good wine until now' quot; (John 2:2-9).
"And do not get drunk with wine, for that
is debauchery, but be filled with the Spirit" (Eph. 5:18).
"No longer drink only water, but use a little
wine for the sake of your stomach and your frequent ailments"
(1 Tim. 5:23).
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