Introduction
Jesus performed many miracles during His three-and-a-half-year ministry on this earth. Some of the miracles are well noted (feeding of the five thousand, healing of the demoniacs, etc...). Some are more obscure.
Most people recognize the miracle story of changing water into wine at the wedding in Cana of Galilee as the first miracle by which Jesus blessed us. There is some discussion as to whether this wine was alcoholic or fresh grape juice. Unfortunately, the majority of the professed Christian world believes that it is permissible to drink alcoholic beverages. Even more troubling is the fact that many in the professed Christian world consume alcoholic beverages themselves.
Christians profess to be followers of Christ. Jesus is our example in all things. Christians who drink or believe that it is permissible to drink have been seeking justification for the use of alcohol. If they can find justification in the actions or words of Jesus, they would feel that their own actions and beliefs are justified. Many Christians use the story of the miracle at Cana (John 2:1-11) as their justification. They say that Jesus made wine; therefore, it is OK to use alcohol. The other text used is the accusation found in Matthew 11:19 (also in Luke 7:34-35), where Jesus repeats an accusation made against Himself by others.
It is my belief that Jesus made no use of alcohol in His personal life or in His ministry. It is my intent to show from Scripture that this is the case.
Passages Used for Justification
- "The Son of man came eating and drinking, and they say, Behold a man gluttonous, and a winebibber, a friend of publicans and sinners. But wisdom is justified of her children" (Matthew 11:19 KJV).
- "On the third day a wedding took place at Cana in Galilee. Jesus’ mother was there, and Jesus and his disciples had also been invited to the wedding. When the wine was gone, Jesus’ mother said to him, ‘They have no more wine.’ ‘Woman, why do you involve me?’ Jesus replied. ‘My hour has not yet come.’ His mother said to the servants, ‘Do whatever he tells you.’ Nearby stood six stone water jars, the kind used by the Jews for ceremonial washing, each holding from twenty to thirty gallons. Jesus said to the servants, ‘Fill the jars with water’; so they filled them to the brim. Then he told them, ‘Now draw some out and take it to the master of the banquet.’ They did so, and the master of the banquet tasted the water that had been turned into wine. He did not realize where it had come from, though the servants who had drawn the water knew. Then he called the bridegroom aside and said, ‘Everyone brings out the choice wine first and then the cheaper wine after the guests have had too much to drink; but you have saved the best till now.’ What Jesus did here in Cana of Galilee was the first of the signs through which he revealed his glory; and his disciples believed in him" (John 2:1-1 KJV).
A look at the Greek words used for "wine":
| Word | Translation | Usage in NT |
| oinos - 3631 in Strongs | wine | 32 times |
| oinophlugia - 3632 in Strongs | excess of wine | 1 time |
| paroivos - 3943 in Strongs | given to wine | 2 times |
| gleukos - 1098 in Strongs | sweet wine | 2 times |
| (IMPLIED BY TEXT) | wine | 2 times |
The Greek word to be looked at is the Greek word, "oinos," which is used in the story in John 2. The following illustrates how deciphering the meaning of "oinos" to be alcoholic wine or fresh juice is only accomplished from the context, not the word itself.
| Meaning from Context | References | Total Number of References |
| Fresh Squeezed Juice | 3 in Matthew 9:17; 3 in Mark 2:22; 2 in Luke 5:37; Luke 5:38 | 9 |
| Fermented Wine | Mark 15:23 (could be vinegar); Ephesians 5:18 | 2 |
| Cannot tell from text | Luke 1:15; Luke 7:33; Luke 10:34; 2 in John 2:3; John 2:9; 2 in John 2:10; John 4:46; Romans 14:21; 1 Timothy 3:3; 1 Timothy 3:8; 1Timothy 5:23; Revelation 6:6; 2 in Revelation 18:13 | 16 |
| Metaphorical Wine | Revelation 14:8; Revelation 14:10; Revelation 16:19; Revelation 17:2; Revelation 18:3 | 5 |
A Bible Study
As the references above show, it is impossible to know whether the word "oinos" refers to alcoholic wine or fresh juice in many instances. However, the complete testimony of Scripture provides the ability to decipher whether or not Jesus made alcoholic wine or fresh juice at the wedding in Cana. We will first examine the method by which we will study the Bible.
"All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: that the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works."
2 Timothy 3:16-17 KJV
It is important to establish the fact that all of Scripture is inspired. We have to view Scripture (Old and New Testaments) as a beautiful harmonious whole!
God's Word—Pay Attention
"For I am the Lord, I do not change; therefore you are not consumed, O sons of Jacob" (Malachi 3:6).
"Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever" (Hebrews 13:8).
"I and My Father are one" (John 10:30).
"Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come. He shall glorify me: for he shall receive of mine, and shall shew it unto you" (John 16:13-14 KJV).
God Does Not Change. These verses show the steadiness of the Godhead. Jesus, the Father, and the Holy Spirit are the same in character, message, love, and proclamation. God does not change, so we have to pay attention to something that He inspired!
God's Word—Critical Element to Reading the Bible
- "And so we have the prophetic word confirmed, which you do well to heed as a light that shines in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts; knowing this first, that no prophecy of Scripture is of any private interpretation, for prophecy never came by the will of man, but holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit" (2 Peter 1:19-2).
- "Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path" (Psalm 119:105).
- "Which things also we speak, not in the words which man's wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual. But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned" (1 Corinthians 2:13-14 KJV).
Required to Understand the Bible. Scripture is a bright light to us today, particularly prophecy. We cannot interpret it just any old way to please our fancy. We must ask for the Holy Spirit to show us the meaning of what He has inspired, and compare Scripture with Scripture since the Holy Spirit has inspired all of it!
Testimony of Scripture on the Use of Alcoholic Drinks
- God's Word: "Wine is a mocker, strong drink is a brawler, and whoever is led astray by it is not wise" (Proverbs 20:1). The foolish man will be led astray by alcoholic drinks!
- God's Word: "Who hath woe? Who hath sorrow? Who hath contentions? Who hath babbling? Who hath wounds without cause? Who hath redness of eyes? They that tarry long at the wine; They that go to seek mixed wine. Look not thou upon the wine when it is red, When it giveth his colour in the cup, When it moveth itself aright. At the last it biteth like a serpent, And stingeth like an adder. Thine eyes shall behold strange women, And thine heart shall utter perverse things. Yea, thou shalt be as he that lieth down in the midst of the sea, Or as he that lieth upon the top of a mast. They have stricken me, shalt thou say, and I was not sick; They have beaten me, and I felt it not: When shall I awake? I will seek it yet again" (Proverbs 23:29-35 KJV)? The Holy Spirit has advised us not to even look at wine (I think this is because of the temptation to use it). If you do use it, look at the consequences.
- God's Word: "It is not for kings, O Lemuel, it is not for kings to drink wine, nor princes intoxicating drink; lest they drink and forget the law, and pervert the justice of all the afflicted" (Proverbs 31:4-5). Kings and princes should not use intoxicating drinks lest they lose their moral compass. Which of us has not seen someone who was intoxicated forgetting the law?
- God's Word: "Give strong drink to him who is perishing, and wine to those who are bitter of heart. Let him drink and forget his poverty, and remember his misery no more" (Proverbs 31:6-7). If anyone should use alcohol, it should be those who are perishing. Are we perishing? Or have we been saved by the blood of the Lamb?
- God's Word: "Woe to those who rise early in the morning, that they may follow intoxicating drink; who continue until night, till wine inflames them" (Isaiah 5:11)! Do not go after intoxicating drink to get drunk!
- God's Word: "But they also have erred through wine, and through intoxicating drink, they are swallowed up by wine, they are out of the way through intoxicating drink; they err in vision, they stumble in judgment" (Isaiah 28:7). Scripture says that alcohol causes us to err in many ways!
- God's Word: "And do not be drunk with wine, in which is dissipation; but be filled with the Spirit, speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord, giving thanks always for all things to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, submitting to one another in the fear of God" (Ephesians 5:18-21). Note that Paul, speaking under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, makes a contrast between being filled with the Holy Spirit and being drunk with wine.
Our Relationship to God & Alcohol
- "And has made us kings and priests to His God and Father, to Him be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen" (Revelation 1:6).
- "And have made us kings and priests to our God; and we shall reign on the earth" (Revelation 5:10).
- "But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light: which in time past were not a people, but are now the people of God: which had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy" (1 Peter 2:9-10 KJV).
Kings and Princes Should Not Use Alcohol. We relate to God has royal priests, as kings, queens, princes, and princesses! What a privilege for mankind which has given itself to sin. Remember it is not permitted for kings and princes to use alcohol (Proverbs 31:4-5).
Pure or Defiled?
"Do you not know that you are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you? If anyone defiles the temple of God, God will destroy him. For the temple of God is holy, which temple you are" (1 Corinthians 3:16-17).
"Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own? For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in you body and in your spirit, which are God's" (1 Corinthians 6:19-20).
Keep Your Body Pure. God is serious about His temple not being defiled, and He says that we are His temple. Let us glorify God in our temples!
Our Temple Duty
"Then the Lord spoke to Aaron, saying: 'Do not drink wine or intoxicating drink, you, nor your sons with you, when you go into the tabernacle of meeting, lest you die. It shall be a statute forever throughout your generations, that you may distinguish between holy and unholy, and between unclean and clean, and that you may teach the children of Israel all the statutes which the Lord has spoken to them by the hand of Moses'" (Leviticus 10:8-11).
Mind and Body. No alcohol was to go into the tabernacle (which was the predecessor for the temple). The priests were not allowed to use alcohol because it defiled their judgment. Are we, as God's priests and His temple, permitted to partake of anything alcoholic? Certainly not!
Call to Action
We have seen several insights in this Bible study. Scripture is inspired by God and must be viewed as a harmonious whole. The Holy Spirit is the agent through which the Bible was inspired, and the Holy Spirit will only convey the words of Jesus, who is one with the Father. The Holy Spirit will grant us discernment when we ask Him. We must compare Scripture with Scripture since all of it is inspired by the same source. God does not change. We have noted severe denunciations against those who use alcohol. We have recognized that we are a royal priesthood, kings and princes with God, and that it is not permitted for those individuals to use alcohol because it impairs judgment.
Would Jesus make a drink that He is evidently against? Would He create a beverage that clouds the mind and reasoning of a person, leading them to sin? Consider the words of Jesus: "But whoso shall offend one of these little ones which believe in me, it were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and that he were drowned in the depth of the sea" (Matthew 18:6 KJV). Jesus could not have made an alcoholic drink at the wedding in Cana (John 2), for He would have violated His own principles and commands (that is called sin). If He had, He would have had to apply the words of Matthew 18:6 to Himself.
The debate over whether Jesus made alcohol is significant, but it pales in comparison to the fact that Christians are prohibited from consuming alcohol. "Therefore let us not sleep, as others do, but let us watch and be sober" (1 Thessalonians 5:6).
What a marvelous Savior we have! My prayer is that we become more like Him every day. May God bless you in your walk with Jesus.
Unless noted otherwise, scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
