And he spoke also a similitude to them: That no man putteth a piece from a new garment upon an old garment: otherwise he both rendeth the new, and the piece taken from the new agreeth not with the old.
ελεγεν δε και παραβολην προς αυτους οτι ουδεις επιβλημα ιματιου καινου επιβαλλει επι ιματιον παλαιον ει δε μηγε και το καινον σχιζει και τω παλαιω ου συμφωνει το απο του καινου
6 Church Fathers comment on this verse · 7 commentaries
At this time, being frail and not yet invigorated by the Spirit, they resemble worn-out furs and tattered clothing. Consequently, they ought not to be overwhelmed with excessively challenging paths in life, much like one would not affix a new patch to a worn-out garment. Thus, one might regard the apostles as akin to old furs due to their continued frailty, while it is also fitting to draw a parallel with the Pharisees in this imagery.
The teachings of Christ cannot be embraced by those still bound by the law, nor can they find a place in the hearts of individuals who have not yet been transformed by the Holy Spirit. This is illustrated by His statement that ‘a torn patch cannot be put on a new garment, and old skins cannot hold new wine.’ The first covenant had become obsolete and was not without flaws. Consequently, those who cling to it and cherish the old commandments in their hearts are disconnected from the new reality offered in Christ, for ‘in him all things have become new.’ Their understanding is in ruins, leaving them without harmony or common ground with the ministers of the new covenant.
Therefore, the Almighty has proclaimed through one of His holy prophets, ‘a new heart and a new spirit will I put within them.’ Additionally, David prays, ‘Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me.’ We are also instructed to ‘put off the old man and put on the new man, renewed in the image of Him who created him.’ Paul advises us to ‘Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may know what is the good, acceptable, and perfect will of God.’ Thus, those who have not experienced the renewal of the spirit cannot genuinely affirm the good, acceptable, and perfect will of God. ‘And no man now pours wine into old skins.’ The hearts of the Jews represent old skins, rendering them incapable of holding new wine; the gospel’s life-giving commands uplift the human heart. However, Christ has bestowed upon us immense blessings, generously filling us with spiritual gifts and opening the door to every virtue.
Christ is rejected by those who adhere to the law, as well as by human hearts that have not experienced the renewing power of the Holy Spirit (Titus 3:5). The Lord teaches that one cannot mix old garments with new ones, nor can old wineskins contain new wine (Luke 5:36-38). The first covenant has become worn and is not faultless. Consequently, those who cling to it and harbor outdated commandments in their minds are excluded from the renewal found in Christ. In Him, everything is made new (2 Corinthians 5:17), and those with a decayed mindset cannot find peace or engage with the servants of the new covenant.
Rejoice in the presence of such a Bridegroom! He will adorn you with blessings, and sin will not tear your garment. Let us uphold the robe that the Lord provided for us when we emerged from the sacred waters of baptism. This garment can be easily sullied if our actions do not align with it, quickly corroded by the decay of our earthly desires and stained by the transgressions of the old self. Thus, we are instructed not to blend the new with the old; indeed, the apostle advises against wearing the old alongside the new, urging us instead to shed the old and embrace the new, so that we might be liberated from the old garment while still clothed. We are set free from the past in order to embrace greater gifts, yet we find ourselves exposed only when we are misled into removing our attire, not when we do so by choice.
no one should sew a new piece of cloth onto an old garment, for otherwise it will pull away from the new, and the new cloth will not match the old. This can be found clearly stated in the same passage. It is not that the new is being removed; rather, it actively detaches the old. When he refers to the new (καινόν), he means a garment that has just been created (νέον).
Embarrassed by this response, the religious leaders sought to retaliate against both the teacher and His followers by criticizing them for the perceived leniency of His teachings. They argued that by being so forgiving toward sinners, they themselves were no different in their abstinence or in their prayers. Fasting and prayer serve as primary means for cleansing oneself from sin and achieving holiness, yet these practices were deemed insufficient by them. To bolster their claims, the Pharisees enlisted the support of the disciples of John, who happened to be present, pointing to John’s esteemed position in the eyes of Jesus and their own example—the example of the very people whom Jesus humbles.
They posed a question to Him: Why do your disciples not fast and pray like we do, or as John's disciples do? The Lord provided a response that is entirely logical. First, it is crucial to recognize the different circumstances of these disciples compared to others, and second, to understand how this practice aligns with the broader principles of My teachings. Fasting signifies sorrow; when sorrow is felt, the desire for food diminishes, arising from the sadness over the loss of something precious. My disciples have no cause for mourning while I am present with them, akin to the friends of the bridegroom who celebrate as long as the bridegroom is among them. The disciples of John may and indeed ought to fast now, for their bridegroom is absent (imprisoned). The Pharisees, who sought to remain neutral toward both John and Jesus, always have a reason to fast, yet their fasting lacks the value before God that they desire it to possess. When the proper time arrives for My disciples, the situation will change. However, even then, during the period of trial for My disciples, such practices, as external institutions, should align with other external observances and the new internal principles. To simply adopt the fasting practices of John’s disciples, meaning to adjust only one aspect of living, would be like patching an old garment, only to enlarge the tear. Conversely, merely adhering to the Pharisees' old traditions, thus pouring new wine into old wineskins, would result in losing both the wine and the skins. Everything has its season and measure. Consequently, the Pharisees' attempts to impose their own regulations on Jesus were rejected, providing the Lord's disciples with a clearer understanding of their interactions with both the Pharisees and the disciples of John, some of whom among them were former followers. The scribes and Pharisees came to realize that Jesus had no intention of conforming to their views and regulations; He desired to operate with complete autonomy.
The message conveyed in the initial passages by the first two Gospel writers has a unique emphasis here: while it states that placing a new patch on an old garment will ruin only the old garment, this account indicates that both the old and new garments will be damaged. This aligns perfectly with the subsequent message where it is mentioned that the wine will be spilled and the containers will be spoiled. Nevertheless, the overall meaning of the passage remains consistent.
Passages read together with this verse.
Greek text, 36 words with lemma, transliteration and Strong’s number. Tap to expand.
THEOSIS