New Cloth on Old Garment

New Cloth on Old Garment

Matthew 9:16; Mark 2:21; Luke 5:36

Setting the Scene
Open the Gospels and you find Jesus approached with a question about fasting. John’s disciples fast. The Pharisees fast. Why do Jesus’ disciples feast? The Lord answers with three pictures: a wedding feast, a patch on an old garment, and wine in wineskins. Our focus today is the second picture—new cloth on an old garment—a few words that carry a full theology of change, covenant, and discipleship.

What Jesus Actually Says
Matthew records: “No one puts a piece of unshrunk cloth on an old garment; for the patch pulls away from the garment, and the tear is made worse” (Matthew 9:16). Mark adds the term agnaphos—unshrunk, fresh-woven cloth (Mark 2:21). Luke sharpens the point: no one tears a piece from a new garment to patch an old one (Luke 5:36). The image is homely and practical. A new, unshrunk patch stitched onto a weathered, already-shrunk cloak will contract at the first wash, rip the seam, and enlarge the hole. The old cloth cannot carry the tension the new introduces.

What the Image Teaches about the Kingdom
Jesus brings the long-promised reign of God. He fulfills the prophets and inaugurates the new covenant written on hearts (Jeremiah 31:31–34; Hebrews 8:6–13). Patching His way onto the old system only tears both. The law prepared and pointed; Christ embodies and completes. The kingdom life He gives comes with its own fabric—new birth, new power, new practices, new community. The gospel is entire cloth.

Why Patchwork Religion Fails
People try to add a little Jesus to an unchanged life. Attach a Sunday habit to a weekday heart. Keep the old trust, the old loves, the old metric of righteousness, and stitch Christ on top. The Lord says that approach enlarges the tear. A patched soul keeps splitting at the seams because grace creates pressure old fabric cannot hold. New mercy stretches us. New commands direct us. New hope pulls us toward eternity. Only a new self can wear that robe.

What the New Garment Looks Like
Scripture describes the change plainly. God makes a “new creation” (2 Corinthians 5:17). We “put off the old man” and “put on the new” (Ephesians 4:22–24). Baptism unites us with Christ in death and raises us to “walk in newness of life” (Romans 6:3–4). The handwriting of ordinances is taken out of the way and nailed to the cross (Colossians 2:13–14). Jesus outfits His people with righteousness and equips them by the Spirit to live the life He commands (Romans 8:1–4).

How This Speaks to Our Practices
The Lord’s picture helps congregations discern wisely. The gospel message never changes; methods often do. Traditions can serve truth when they help hearts hear and obey Scripture. Traditions become dangerous when they claim the authority that belongs only to the Lord (Mark 7:6–9). The kingdom advances wherever disciples wear the garment Christ provides—humility, holiness, and honest obedience to His word.

A Word about Fasting and Forms
In the immediate context Jesus also speaks of a bridegroom. The groom’s friends feast while He is with them; days of fasting would come later (Mark 2:19–20). The point is timing, purpose, and fit. Spiritual disciplines have their season and goal. When Jesus is present, joy fills the room. When doors close and trials come, disciples fast and pray. Disciplines belong to the new garment when they arise from love, align with His will, and train hearts for faithful service.

Personal Application: Let Christ Tailor You
The Lord offers more than repair. He clothes us with Himself (Galatians 3:27). That means honest repentance rather than surface adjustments; immersion into Christ rather than a stitched-on label; renewed mind and renewed habits rather than occasional patches. Ask: Where am I trying to keep my old garment while borrowing a square of Christ? Identify the seam that keeps tearing—resentment, secret sin, divided loyalty, pride—and bring it to the One who gives a new heart.

Hope for the Willing
Jesus never shames the sinner who comes to Him. He invites all who labor to receive rest (Matthew 11:28–30). He gives robes washed white in His blood (Revelation 7:14). He equips the church to adorn the doctrine of God our Savior with integrity, dignity, and good works (Titus 2:10). He does the deeper work when we yield the whole garment.

Exhaustive Sermon Outline

• Title: New Cloth on Old Garment (Mt 9:16; Mk 2:21; Lk 5:36)

  • Aim: Show that the gospel creates an entirely new life, not a superficial repair

• I. Context of the Saying

  • Question about fasting (Mt 9:14; Mk 2:18; Lk 5:33)

  • Three images: bridegroom, new cloth, new wine

• II. The Picture Explained

  • “Unshrunk cloth” (agnaphos) and “old garment” (Mk 2:21)

  • The patch shrinks, pulls, and enlarges the tear (Mt 9:16)

  • Luke’s detail: no one tears from a new garment to patch an old (Lk 5:36)

• III. Kingdom Meaning

  • Jesus inaugurates the new covenant (Jer 31:31–34; Heb 8:6–13)

  • The law as tutor, Christ as fulfillment (Gal 3:24–27; Mt 5:17)

  • Grace requires new fabric: new birth, Spirit-wrought change (Jn 3:3–5; Rom 8:1–4)

• IV. Patchwork Religion and Its Failure

  • Adding Jesus to an unchanged heart enlarges the tear (2 Cor 5:17)

  • Old reliance on self-righteousness vs. receiving righteousness from God (Rom 10:1–4; Phil 3:7–9)

  • Surface fixes vs. repentance and obedience (Acts 2:37–41)

• V. The New Garment Christ Provides

  • Baptized into Christ; put on Christ (Rom 6:3–4; Gal 3:27)

  • Put off/put on ethics (Eph 4:22–24; Col 3:5–14)

  • The record of debt removed (Col 2:13–14)

• VI. Congregational Wisdom

  • Honor the Lord’s commands over human tradition (Mk 7:6–9; Col 3:17)

  • Keep the unchanging message; steward fitting methods (1 Cor 9:19–23)

  • Disciplines that fit the season and the Savior (Mk 2:19–20)

• VII. Personal Questions for Self-Examination

  • Where am I stitching a patch instead of surrendering the garment?

  • What “old fabric” must be put off today? (Eph 4:25–32)

  • Will I let Christ clothe me with new life?

• VIII. Invitation and Hope

  • Come to Christ; receive rest and a new yoke (Mt 11:28–30)

  • Be buried and raised with Him (Acts 22:16; Rom 6:3–4)

  • Walk in the Spirit; display the fruit that matches the new cloth (Gal 5:16–25)

Call to Action

Bring the whole garment to Jesus. Turn from patchwork religion. Confess His name, repent, and be baptized into Christ to put Him on. If you are His and the seams keep tearing, return and let Him renew your mind and ways. Ask the Lord for a heart fully yielded to His new covenant life—today.

Scripture Reference List

• Matthew 9:14–17; Mark 2:18–22; Luke 5:33–39 — Context of fasting; three linked images

• Matthew 9:16; Mark 2:21; Luke 5:36 — New cloth on old garment; central text

• Jeremiah 31:31–34; Hebrews 8:6–13 — Promise and reality of the new covenant

• Galatians 3:24–27 — Law as tutor; baptized into Christ

• Matthew 5:17 — Christ fulfills the Law and the Prophets

• John 3:3–5 — New birth of water and Spirit

• Romans 6:3–4 — Baptism and newness of life

• 2 Corinthians 5:17 — New creation in Christ

• Colossians 2:13–14 — Record of debt removed at the cross

• Ephesians 4:22–24; Colossians 3:5–14 — Put off the old; put on the new

• Mark 7:6–9 — Traditions vs. God’s command; guard authority

• Colossians 3:17 — Do all in the name of the Lord

• 1 Corinthians 9:19–23 — Flexibility in methods for the gospel

• Matthew 11:28–30 — Christ’s invitation and rest

• Acts 2:37–41; Acts 22:16 — Repentance and baptism into Christ

• Galatians 5:16–25 — Walk by the Spirit; bear His fruit

Prepared by David Hersey of the church of Christ at Granby, MO