Matthew 9:16Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

The Saviour reaffirms His statements through broad evidences. The essence of His message is that the disciples were not yet grounded and needed additional compassion; they had not yet been transformed in spirit, and in their current state, heavy obligations should not be imposed upon them. By expressing this, He provided His followers with a guiding principle: that as they welcomed all people into their fold, they ought to approach them with profound kindness.

He remarked that the disciples were still lacking in strength and required patience, advising that the burden of the commandments should not be imposed upon them. In doing so, He was instructing them that, when they share their teachings with the world, they should also exhibit forbearance. Thus, fasting serves as a fresh patch and new wine, while the old garments and furs represent the frailty of the disciples.

What He states can be understood as follows: Until an individual experiences a rebirth and, having cast off the old self, is clothed in the new through My sufferings, such a person cannot withstand the more rigorous demands of fasting and abstinence. This is because excessive renunciation may lead to a loss of the faith they appear to possess. He illustrated this with two examples: the contrast between old and new bellows, and likewise, the difference in garments. The piece of new cloth and the new wine symbolize the commandments of the gospel which the Jews struggle to accept, fearing that their division would deepen further. This is precisely the intention of the Galatians, who sought to combine the gospel with the law's commandments and pour new wine into old wineskins.

To illustrate that He did not place the burden of fasting on His followers, recognizing their ongoing fragility, He employs a parable, stating, "No one, desiring to repair an old torn garment, puts a patch of new cloth on the old." He further clarifies this point: the integrity of the new cloth, being strong and unyielding, will only exacerbate the rip in the old garment, resulting in a larger tear. In the same manner, I too, wishing to nurture the weakness of my disciples, refrain from imposing the harsh demands of fasting upon them, understanding that they may falter further under such weight; rather, I choose to meet them in their frailty until they are revitalized by the Holy Spirit.

No one sews unbleached fabric onto old garments nor does anyone place new wine into worn-out wineskins. What message does the Redeemer convey through this analogy? Through this analogy, the Lord illustrates that rigid actions devoid of the essence of true vitality do not contribute positively to the moral order but rather lead to chaos and destruction. To the repentant, grace is bestowed, cultivating within them a resolve to honor the Lord, even at the cost of their comfort. For those with such resolve, every endeavor is commendable. However, for those lacking this commitment, engaging in strict disciplines, such as fasting, may lead to struggle and eventual abandonment, resulting in a even more troubled existence thereafter.

The Lord remarks that the attire of the old covenant has been exhausted by Jewish teachings, frayed by emotions, torn by internal disputes, and worn down by shameful acts. He refers to a patch of undyed fabric as the covering of the gospel. It is important to observe that this patch does not belong to the tear; rather, it signifies the outset of the cloth. The material of the royal garment was crafted from 'the wool of Christ,' the wool bestowed by the Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world (John 1:29). This royal robe was fashioned, and it was imbued with a blood-red hue, reflecting the glory of suffering.

To illustrate the frailty of His disciples at that moment, He remarked: "And NO ONE SHALL PUT A PATCH OF UNSHRUNK CLOTH ON AN OLD GARMENT; FOR THE NEW PIECE WILL PULL AWAY FROM THE OLD, AND A WORSE TEAR WILL RESULT." My disciples have not yet experienced spiritual renewal, so they should not have difficult laws placed upon them; they need compassion and lighter burdens. By making this statement, He also taught His disciples to be gentle in their teaching to the world, avoiding the imposition of heavy regulations from the outset. He did not compel His disciples to fast, as St. John Chrysostom noted, 'not for the sake of pleasing the flesh, but under His unique guidance,’ with a specific and wise purpose, as illustrated by the following two examples from everyday life:

When Jesus stated that it was not the appropriate time for His disciples to fast, He illustrated that no one would sew a patch from new fabric onto old clothing, nor would anyone pour fresh wine into old wineskins. In addressing the issue of why His followers were not fasting, Jesus touched upon the broader question concerning the alignment of His teachings with the strict observance of the Jewish laws and the traditions of the elders—collectively referred to as the law. This overarching issue was later eloquently articulated by the Apostle Paul in his epistle to the Galatians. To fully appreciate the meaning behind Jesus’ parable regarding old garments, it is helpful to refer to Paul’s words as well as the insights of John Chrysostom.

A new cloth patch cannot be sewn onto an old garment, which symbolizes the introduction of a fresh Christian doctrine onto the crumbling practices of the Old Testament. Attempting to combine these would result in a tear, prompting Christ to exclude the old teachings from His message. The new vessels represent the followers of Christ, who carry and proclaim the Christian faith. The followers of John and the Pharisees, entrenched in the belief that external rituals were essential for salvation, were not suited to disseminate Christ's teachings. Instead, Jesus selected new disciples, untainted by the old traditions of Pharisaic beliefs, including Matthew, the former tax collector, who became one of His messengers.

If a piece of clothing has seen considerable use and is frayed, it is wiser to mend it with a patch from the same worn fabric rather than use a new, stiff one. The new patch is likely to pull away, resulting in a larger tear. In this context, the rigid patch represents fasting, while the worn garment symbolizes the frailty or shortcomings of the disciples. This expression suggests that the disciples have not yet been strengthened and continue to require gentleness; they have not yet experienced a spiritual renewal, and it is not appropriate to lay heavy burdens upon them.

Jesus did not insist that His disciples fast, as St. John Chrysostom observes, “not for the sake of appeasing the flesh, but under His divine guidance.” He illustrates this through two parables rooted in everyday life. No one sews a patch of unbleached cloth onto an old garment, nor does anyone place new clothing over worn-out garments; the new will not blend with the old, and the latter will only worsen. Similarly, nobody pours fresh wine into old wineskins; if one does, the new wine will burst the old and both will be ruined, whereas new wine should be placed into new wineskins for preservation.