Luke 5:38 (KJV) reads, "But new wine must be put into new bottles; and both are preserved." This verse is part of a larger passage in which Jesus uses the analogy of new wine and old wine to teach a spiritual lesson to the Pharisees and his disciples.

In this passage, Jesus is challenged by the Pharisees about why his disciples do not fast like the disciples of John the Baptist and the Pharisees themselves. Jesus responds with the analogy of new wine and old wine. He explains that it would be inappropriate for his disciples to fast while he, the bridegroom, is still with them. He uses the analogy to explain that his message and teachings are something new, and they cannot be contained within the old system of religious laws and practices.

The context of this verse is important for understanding its meaning. In the Old Testament, wine is often used symbolically to represent joy, blessing, and abundance. In the New Testament, wine is also used symbolically to represent the teachings and message of Jesus, as well as the Holy Spirit. In this passage, Jesus is using the imagery of wine to convey the idea that his message and teachings are something new and cannot be confined within the traditional practices and beliefs of the Pharisees.

The phrase "new wine must be put into new bottles" is a metaphor for the need for a new approach or mindset to receive and understand the new teachings that Jesus brings. In the physical sense, putting new wine in old wine skins would cause them to burst, as the fermentation process of new wine would stretch the old, inflexible skins beyond their capacity. Likewise, trying to fit the radical, transformative message of Jesus into the rigid, legalistic framework of the Pharisees would not work.

The "new bottles" here can also be understood as new vessels or new wineskins, which represent the hearts and minds of those who are open and receptive to the new message of Jesus. By contrast, the "old bottles" or old wine skins represent the rigid and inflexible mindset of the Pharisees, who are resistant to change and unable to accept the new teachings of Jesus.

The second part of the verse, "and both are preserved," emphasizes the importance of preserving the new wine and the new bottles. This preservation suggests the need to protect and value the new message and new vessels. In a spiritual sense, both the new wine and the new vessels are preserved in a state of spiritual growth and transformation.

The themes of this verse include the contrast between the old and the new, the need for openness and flexibility in receiving the message of Jesus, and the idea of preservation and value of the new teachings and the hearts that receive them. It also emphasizes the idea of spiritual transformation and growth as essential in receiving the teachings of Jesus.

In conclusion, Luke 5:38 (KJV) is a rich and symbolic verse that communicates the need for openness, flexibility, and spiritual transformation in receiving the message of Jesus. It conveys the idea that his teachings are something new and transformative, and they cannot be confined within the rigid and inflexible framework of traditional religious practices. The verse challenges the reader to be open to the new message of Jesus and to allow for spiritual growth and transformation in receiving it.