In this parable, Jesus uses the analogy of sewing a new piece of cloth onto an old garment to convey a deeper message about spiritual change and transformation. In the parable, Christ says: “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.” Here, He explains that patching an old garment with a piece of new, unshrunk cloth would result in a problem. As the new cloth shrinks with time and use, it would tear away from the old fabric, making the tear even worse. Jesus further illustrates His point with another analogy, saying: “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.” This conveys the idea that new wine, which is still fermenting and expanding, should not be placed in old, rigid wineskins, as they would burst. Instead, new wine should be stored in new wineskins, which have the flexibility to accommodate the fermenting process.
Just as new cloth and new wine require new containers or vessels to accommodate their unique characteristics, Jesus was calling for a new approach to the faith, emphasizing the need for a receptive heart to receive His teachings and the message of the Kingdom of God. This parable highlights the importance of being open to the message of Jesus Christ, rather than trying to fit His teachings into old, rigid structures of the Old Testament law.
Parable of the New Cloth on Old Garment Meaning
The Parable of the New Cloth on an Old Garment can be found in Matthew 9:16-17, Mark 2:21-22, and Luke 5:33-39:
Matthew 9:16-17
“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.”
Mark 2:21-22
“No man also seweth a piece of new cloth on an old garment: else the new piece that filled it up taketh away from the old, and the rent is made worse. 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.”
Luke 5:33-39
“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. 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. 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. No man also having drunk old wine straightway desireth new: for he saith, The old is better.”
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