Category: Parable of New Cloth on Old Garment

Old Cloth, Old Garment—New Wine, New Bottles #12

Monday, September 23, 2024

“No man putteth a piece of new cloth unto an old garment, for that which is put in to fill it up taketh from the garment, and the rent is made worse. Neither do men put new wine into old bottles: else the bottles break, and the wine runneth out, and the bottles perish: but they put new wine into new bottles, and both are preserved” (Matthew 9:16,17 KJV).

What is our Lord Jesus Christ teaching here?

If the Lord Jesus Christ were literally and physically walking this Earth today, the sanctimonious people in works-religion would still ask, “Why do You and Your disciples not participate in our ceremonies, rites, and rituals?” As during His earthly ministry, so these critics of Christ and detractors of His believers would still smugly cling to their religious traditions. We know this because even when we share the truths of God’s pure Word with them, they stubbornly hold fast to what they have heard all their lives—even if they recognize the plentiful deficiencies in what they do and realize the enormous gaps in what they believe.

To this very day, Christendom tends to lean toward Old Testament practices when they should believe the Dispensation of the Grace of God given to them through the Apostle Paul, Romans through Philemon (Ephesians 3:1,2). They have their sacrifices and prayers, priesthoods and “houses of God,” candles and altars, robes and tithes, holy days and feasts, water ceremonies and confessions, and so on. It is unthinkable to them to admit all of this is erroneous and useless, so they just keep on with it because it ensures their self-righteousness remains intact. Christ Jesus’ finished crosswork as sufficient payment for their sins (1 Corinthians 15:3,4) is “too offensive,” for it bears record of the fact God is not impressed with their good works. To “come to the Saviour by faith” insinuates they need to be saved from sin, and that would mean their religious goodness cannot save them. In accordance with today’s Scripture, their righteousness and God’s righteousness are incompatible.

Before it is eternally too late for them, may they, “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ… and… be saved” (Acts 16:31)!

Old Cloth, Old Garment—New Wine, New Bottles #11

Sunday, September 22, 2024

“No man putteth a piece of new cloth unto an old garment, for that which is put in to fill it up taketh from the garment, and the rent is made worse. Neither do men put new wine into old bottles: else the bottles break, and the wine runneth out, and the bottles perish: but they put new wine into new bottles, and both are preserved” (Matthew 9:16,17 KJV).

What is our Lord Jesus Christ teaching here?

Comparing today’s Scripture, Mark 2:21-22, and Luke 5:36-39, we notice a verse exclusive to Luke: “[36] And he spake also a parable unto them; No man putteth a piece of a new garment upon an old; if otherwise, then both the new maketh a rent, and the piece that was taken out of the new agreeth not with the old. [37] And no man putteth new wine into old bottles; else the new wine will burst the bottles, and be spilled, and the bottles shall perish. [38] But new wine must be put into new bottles; and both are preserved. [39] No man also having drunk old wine straightway desireth new: for he saith, The old is better.”

Verse 39 is a fact, not an approval. As Jesus Christ Himself knew, a drunkard prefers to stay with his intoxicating beverage instead of moving to a healthier habit. Likewise, apostate Israel is content with keeping their vain religious system (watered-down Old Covenant) as opposed to coming under the New Covenant. This continued even into Acts.

Romans chapters 9 and 10: “[9:31] But Israel, which followed after the law of righteousness, hath not attained to the law of righteousness. [9:32] Wherefore? Because they sought it not by faith, but as it were by the works of the law. For they stumbled at that stumblingstone; [9:33] As it is written, Behold, I lay in Sion a stumblingstone and rock of offence: and whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed. [10:1] Brethren, my heart’s desire and prayer to God for Israel is, that they might be saved. [10:2] For I bear them record that they have a zeal of God, but not according to knowledge. [10:3] For they being ignorant of God’s righteousness, and going about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God.”

We summarize and conclude this devotionals arc….

Old Cloth, Old Garment—New Wine, New Bottles #10

Saturday, September 21, 2024

“No man putteth a piece of new cloth unto an old garment, for that which is put in to fill it up taketh from the garment, and the rent is made worse. Neither do men put new wine into old bottles: else the bottles break, and the wine runneth out, and the bottles perish: but they put new wine into new bottles, and both are preserved” (Matthew 9:16,17 KJV).

What is our Lord Jesus Christ teaching here?

Being a “publican” or tax collector, Matthew/Levi was financially able to host a large banquet at his house in Jesus’ honor (Matthew 9:9,10; Mark 2:14,15; Luke 5:27-29). Apparently, a great many people attending this feast were Matthew’s friends and/or acquaintances, for the Bible says “publicans and sinners” were present. These were the very societal outcasts, the souls, Christ had come to save. They were the same spiritually-sick people the Great Physician purposed to deliver from their satanic blindness and ignorance: “I am not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance” (Matthew 9:13; Mark 2:17; Luke 5:31).

The adjective “righteous” in the above three verses designates those who do not regard themselves as sinners. They are thus the self-righteous, those who saw no need for any personal Saviour. In contradistinction to such smugness, the “sinners” who recognized their pitiful and lost estate were continually attracted to the Lord Jesus Christ in large numbers—which only sparked more moans and grumbles from the Jewish “religious” community. “Then drew near unto him all the publicans and sinners for to hear him. And the Pharisees and scribes murmured, saying, This man receiveth sinners, and eateth with them” (Luke 15:1,2).

It is at this point (Luke chapter 15) that Christ issued three parables—The Parable of the Lost Sheep (verses 3-7), The Parable of the Lost Coin (verses 8-10), and The Parable of the Lost/Prodigal Son (verses 11-32). Respectively, these apply to Christ’s earthly ministry, the early Acts period, and Daniel’s 70th Week (yet future). In each case, it is a believing remnant in Israel—never the entire nation. That Little Flock will become the new nation Israel, that which is given the New Covenant and filled with the indwelling Holy Spirit….

Old Cloth, Old Garment—New Wine, New Bottles #9

Friday, September 20, 2024

“No man putteth a piece of new cloth unto an old garment, for that which is put in to fill it up taketh from the garment, and the rent is made worse. Neither do men put new wine into old bottles: else the bottles break, and the wine runneth out, and the bottles perish: but they put new wine into new bottles, and both are preserved” (Matthew 9:16,17 KJV).

What is our Lord Jesus Christ teaching here?

John the Baptist expected the Pharisees and Sadducees (works-religionists in Judaism) to offer the lame excuse that they needed no repentance (change in mind) or water baptism because of their Jewish heritage. They would say something like, “Abraham is our father, and this alone automatically gives us a right standing before God. We have no sins to confess!” (We infer this based on John’s own words in Matthew 3:9 and Luke 3:8, plus the Apostle John’s comments in 1 John 1:6,8,10.)

While God the Father designed John the Baptist’s ministry to introduce Israel to His Son, Messiah Jesus, some of John’s disciples (followers) never actually transferred to Jesus like those in John 3:26. They joined the unbelieving Pharisees and Sadducees by opposing Him instead of coming to Him by faith (see Matthew 9:14 and Mark 2:18). In Matthew 21:33-46, Mark 12:1-12, and Luke 20:9-20; apostate Israel plots to kill the King so as to take His kingdom (nation Israel) from Him!

The New Covenant cannot be given to lost Israel, for they will not come by faith to the God-Man who can inaugurate that New Covenant via His shed blood. Likewise, if they are not partakers of the New Covenant, they are prohibited from entering His literal, physical, visible, earthly, Davidic kingdom. “Therefore say I unto you, The kingdom of God shall be taken from you [unbelieving Israel], and given to a nation bringing forth the fruits thereof” (Matthew 21:43). This “nation” is believing Israel, the Messianic Church, the “little flock” of Luke 12:31,32: “But rather seek ye the kingdom of God; and all these things shall be added unto you. Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom.”

Again, like today’s Scripture declares, Old Covenant self-righteousness cannot mix with New Covenant righteousness….

Old Cloth, Old Garment—New Wine, New Bottles #8

Thursday, September 19, 2024

“No man putteth a piece of new cloth unto an old garment, for that which is put in to fill it up taketh from the garment, and the rent is made worse. Neither do men put new wine into old bottles: else the bottles break, and the wine runneth out, and the bottles perish: but they put new wine into new bottles, and both are preserved” (Matthew 9:16,17 KJV).

What is our Lord Jesus Christ teaching here?

Again, re-read today’s Scripture and its companion passages of Mark 2:21-22 and Luke 5:36-39. The Lord told this “parable” or illustration in light of the Pharisees, their disciples, and John the Baptist’s disciples being obsessed with Old Testament legalistic practices (particularly fasting, their primary controversy with Jesus’ disciples). Such Old Covenant rituals are incompatible with New Covenant righteousness—the righteousness lost Israel cannot possess unless they have the New Covenant, the foundation of the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew chapters 5–7). As long as Israel is fanatical about religious works instead of Messiah, the nation is unable to be what the LORD God purposed it to be.

Old cloth patches should be paired with old garments, and new wine ought to be placed in new bottles. Why would Christ mention, of all things, garments and wine in these metaphors? To answer this, we must be proficient in the Word of God, recalling what has already been stated in other verses. Let us now think about the wine. In Judges 9:13, wine “cheereth God and man.” Over in John 2:1-11, at the wedding feast in Cana, they were without water (a type of the Word of God and the Spirit of God). Subsequent to filling the waterpots (symbolizing Israel) with water, the Lord Jesus miraculously turns the water into wine (grape juice). That wine or juice pictures the joy of the Holy Spirit (as in Galatians 5:22 and 1 Thessalonians 1:6). God cannot take an old bottle or wineskin, apostate Israel, and place the Holy Spirit (and His joy) within it. He can, however, take Israel’s believing remnant, justify these believing Jews, and give them the indwelling Holy Spirit (Ezekiel 36:25-28; cf. Matthew 7:7-12; Luke 11:9-13).

The Old Covenant thus gives way to the New Covenant….

Old Cloth, Old Garment—New Wine, New Bottles #7

Wednesday, September 18, 2024

“No man putteth a piece of new cloth unto an old garment, for that which is put in to fill it up taketh from the garment, and the rent is made worse. Neither do men put new wine into old bottles: else the bottles break, and the wine runneth out, and the bottles perish: but they put new wine into new bottles, and both are preserved” (Matthew 9:16,17 KJV).

What is our Lord Jesus Christ teaching here?

If you must, dear friend, re-read today’s Scripture and its analogous passages of Mark 2:21-22 and Luke 5:36-39. The Lord spoke all these words, this “parable” or illustration, in conjunction with the Pharisees, their disciples, and John the Baptist’s disciples trapped in Old Testament legalistic practices (especially fasting, their main point of contention with Jesus’ disciples). Such Old Covenant rituals cannot be combined with New Covenant righteousness, which righteousness lost Israel lacks apart from the New Covenant that lies at the heart of the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew chapters 5–7). As long as Israel is fixated on religious works instead of Messiah, the nation cannot be what JEHOVAH God designed it to be.

Old cloth patches should be paired with old garments, and new wine ought to be placed in new bottles. Why would Christ mention, of all things, garments and wine in these metaphors? To answer this, we must be skilled in the Word of God, recalling what has already been stated in other verses. Consider the garments first. “I will greatly rejoice in the LORD, my soul shall be joyful in my God; for he hath clothed me with the garments of salvation, he hath covered me with the robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decketh himself with ornaments, and as a bride adorneth herself with her jewels” (Isaiah 61:10). As with Adam and Eve (Genesis 3:21), physical clothes or garments are pictures or symbols of a “[spiritual] robe of righteousness.” Isaiah the Prophet foresees Israel’s New Covenant and kingdom restoration/salvation in the ages to come. A new cloth cannot be applied to an old garment, any more than righteousness can be applied to apostate or unbelieving Israel.

Let us now see how wine relates to this situation….

Old Cloth, Old Garment—New Wine, New Bottles #6

Tuesday, September 17, 2024

“No man putteth a piece of new cloth unto an old garment, for that which is put in to fill it up taketh from the garment, and the rent is made worse. Neither do men put new wine into old bottles: else the bottles break, and the wine runneth out, and the bottles perish: but they put new wine into new bottles, and both are preserved” (Matthew 9:16,17 KJV).

What is our Lord Jesus Christ teaching here?

Considering the larger context of today’s Scripture, we discover how chapters 8 and 9 of Matthew radiate from chapters 5–7 (the Sermon on the Mount). Whereas the Sermon on the Mount is Christ’s Kingdom Constitution (God’s work with and through Israel in the ages to come), and chapters 8 and 9 contain 10 specific miracles to validate how the Lord Jesus can bring that kingdom restoration of Israel to pass, there are interspersed various references as to how Israel languishes in unbelief (a national refusal to leave behind her religious efforts or self-righteousness [the Old Covenant] and move on to kingdom righteousness [the New Covenant]). For example, see Israel’s unbelief in Matthew 8:10,12,20,33,34 and Matthew 9:3,4,11,13,14,24,33,34.

Go back to today’s Scripture and the two verses immediately preceding it: “Then came to him the disciples of John, saying, Why do we and the Pharisees fast oft, but thy disciples fast not? And Jesus said unto them, Can the children of the bridechamber mourn, as long as the bridegroom is with them? but the days will come, when the bridegroom shall be taken from them, and then shall they fast. No man putteth a piece of new cloth unto an old garment, for that which is put in to fill it up taketh from the garment, and the rent is made worse. Neither do men put new wine into old bottles: else the bottles break, and the wine runneth out, and the bottles perish: but they put new wine into new bottles, and both are preserved” (Matthew 9:14-17; cf. Mark 2:18-22; Luke 5:33-39).

The Pharisees, their disciples, and John’s disciples were trapped in Old Testament legalistic practices, but the Lord Jesus taught how Old Covenant rituals cannot be combined with New Covenant righteousness….

Old Cloth, Old Garment—New Wine, New Bottles #5

Monday, September 16, 2024

“No man putteth a piece of new cloth unto an old garment, for that which is put in to fill it up taketh from the garment, and the rent is made worse. Neither do men put new wine into old bottles: else the bottles break, and the wine runneth out, and the bottles perish: but they put new wine into new bottles, and both are preserved” (Matthew 9:16,17 KJV).

What is our Lord Jesus Christ teaching here?

Today’s Scripture is in the context of the Lord and His disciples eating at Matthew’s (Levi’s) house, where many “publicans [tax collectors] and sinners [societal outcasts]” (presumably friends of Matthew/Levi) have assembled for a great feast (Matthew 9:10, Mark 2:15; Luke 5:29). The “scribes” (Hebrew Bible copyists and Mosaic-Law teachers) and “Pharisees” (conceited, self-righteous works-religionists and traditionalists in Judaism) “murmur” (complain) how Jesus and His disciples “eat with publicans and sinners,” a charge Christ eagerly answers (Matthew 9:11-13; Mark 2:16,17; Luke 5:30-32): “I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance!”

During this large banquet, John the Baptist’s disciples also whined to Jesus. “Why do we and the Pharisees fast oft, but thy disciples fast not?” (Matthew 9:14). Mark 2:18 adds, “And the disciples of John and of the Pharisees used to fast.” Luke 5:33 reports, “Why do the disciples of John fast often, and make prayers, and likewise the disciples of the Pharisees; but thine eat and drink?” The Lord’s disciples should be fasting not eating (or so these detractors argue)!

Matthew 9:15 reads: “And Jesus said unto them, Can the children of the bridechamber mourn, as long as the bridegroom is with them? but the days will come, when the bridegroom shall be taken from them, and then shall they fast.” See also Mark 2:19,20 and Luke 5:34,35. The Lord Jesus Christ is not dead yet, so His disciples have no reason to fast or be sad; they should be eating. At this point, He contends how it is improper to pair new (unshrunk) patches with old garments and new wine with old bottles (today’s Scripture; Mark 2:21,22; Luke 5:36-38). Luke 5:36 declares this is a “parable” (illustration or analogy). Christ’s critics need to move from Old Covenant ritualism to New Covenant righteousness….

Old Cloth, Old Garment—New Wine, New Bottles #4

Sunday, September 15, 2024

“No man putteth a piece of new cloth unto an old garment, for that which is put in to fill it up taketh from the garment, and the rent is made worse. Neither do men put new wine into old bottles: else the bottles break, and the wine runneth out, and the bottles perish: but they put new wine into new bottles, and both are preserved” (Matthew 9:16,17 KJV).

What is our Lord Jesus Christ teaching here?

Read the verses prior to today’s Scripture: “And it came to pass, as Jesus sat at meat in the house, behold, many publicans and sinners came and sat down with him and his disciples…. Then came to him the disciples of John, saying, Why do we and the Pharisees fast oft, but thy disciples fast not? And Jesus said unto them, Can the children of the bridechamber mourn, as long as the bridegroom is with them? but the days will come, when the bridegroom shall be taken from them, and then shall they fast” (Matthew 9:10,14,15).

The parallel, Mark 2:15,18,19: “And it came to pass, that, as Jesus sat at meat in his house, many publicans and sinners sat also together with Jesus and his disciples: for there were many, and they followed him…. And the disciples of John and of the Pharisees used to fast: and they come and say unto him, Why do the disciples of John and of the Pharisees fast, but thy disciples fast not? And Jesus said unto them, Can the children of the bridechamber fast, while the bridegroom is with them? as long as they have the bridegroom with them, they cannot fast.”

Also, see Luke 5:29,33-35: “And Levi made him a great feast in his own house: and there was a great company of publicans and of others that sat down with them…. And they said unto him, Why do the disciples of John fast often, and make prayers, and likewise the disciples of the Pharisees; but thine eat and drink? And he said unto them, Can ye make the children of the bridechamber fast, while the bridegroom is with them? But the days will come, when the bridegroom shall be taken away from them, and then shall they fast in those days.”

Let us tie it all together….

Old Cloth, Old Garment—New Wine, New Bottles #3

Saturday, September 14, 2024

“No man putteth a piece of new cloth unto an old garment, for that which is put in to fill it up taketh from the garment, and the rent is made worse. Neither do men put new wine into old bottles: else the bottles break, and the wine runneth out, and the bottles perish: but they put new wine into new bottles, and both are preserved” (Matthew 9:16,17 KJV).

What is our Lord Jesus Christ teaching here?

After issuing comments about using an old or shrunken woolen patch to repair a torn woolen garment (Matthew 9:16; cf. Mark 2:21; Luke 5:36), Christ then spoke on the subject of placing new wine in new bottles instead of old bottles. “Neither do men put new wine into old bottles: else the bottles break, and the wine runneth out, and the bottles perish: but they put new wine into new bottles, and both are preserved” (Matthew 9:17). “And no man putteth new wine into old bottles: else the new wine doth burst the bottles, and the wine is spilled, and the bottles will be marred: but new wine must be put into new bottles” (Mark 2:22). “And no man putteth new wine into old bottles; else the new wine will burst the bottles, and be spilled, and the bottles shall perish. But new wine must be put into new bottles; and both are preserved” (Luke 5:37,38).

“Bottles” here are animal skins (especially the durable hides of goats) stretched and sewed together to form vessels with narrow necks and wide bases. Jews used them for storing or carrying liquids. In this case, they held “new wine,” or newly-pressed grape juice. “Old bottles” had traces of yeast organisms, so storing new wine would initiate fermentation. Gas bubbles are formed during the fermentation process, causing expansion of the bottle. Old wineskins would break open because they had hardened, whereas new wineskins would be elastic. It thus made more sense to place new wine in new bottles, keeping the juice fresh and sweet for an extended time. Again, like with the new and old fabrics, they were not to “mix and match” new wine with old bottles….