In Matthew 9:16–17 Jesus teaches that the old garment of Judaism cannot be patched up with unshrunk cloth, just as the new wine of the gospel cannot be preserved in old wineskins. The Jewish stress on righteousness through obedience to the law (including the practice of fasting) does not fit into the gospel of the coming of God’s kingdom. The prescribed fasts of the time were only symbols of sorrow over sin. Those fasts (the old garment
) do not fit in the gospel period of fulfillment that Jesus is bringing in (the new wine
). Matthew 9:15 spoke about fasting while mourning, which had before been perfectly acceptable. Now that the time of fulfillment has come, such fasting has no more ceremonial meaning, for it does not point forward to something any longer. The disciples of John implied that fasting was a duty, which Jesus denies, for the time of redemption is now here, and fasting belongs to the old covenant.
The bursting wineskin also symbolizes how form ought to reflect content: that Jesus’ preaching brings forth a new power, and therefore needs a new covenantal form. This means that people should not try to box the work of Christ into Jewish-Pharisaical forms. Fasting under the New Covenant acquires a wholly new meaning and form (see Matthew 6:16–18;);(Matthew 17:21 NKJV: However, this kind does not go out except by prayer and fasting.).
In Matthew 9:16–17 Jesus teaches that the old garment of Judaism cannot be patched by means of an unshrunk cloth, just as the new wine of the gospel cannot be preserved in old wineskins.1 Jesus uses these images to highlight that the prescribed fasts of the time were mere shadows intended to signify sorrow over sin. Ceremonial fasts, here indicated as an old garment,
have no place in the gospel period of fulfillment that Jesus has now inaugurated, which is here indicated as new wine.
The preceding verse, Matthew 9:15, had spoken about fasting while mourning, which had been perfectly acceptable. Now, however, the time of fulfillment has come and fasting has no more ceremonial significance for it does not point forward to something any longer. The disciples of John were implying that fasting was a duty, which Jesus denies, for the time of redemption has now arrived and fasting is something that belongs to the old covenant.
Jesus here couples two images to highlight that the old and new covenants are very much distinct. The two images in Matthew 9:16 and Matthew 9:17 therefore need to be viewed as intrinsically connected. The new work of Christ simply does not fit into the old covenantal scheme. The second half of this coupled image also teaches that form ought to reflect content: that the preaching of Jesus brings forth a new power, and therefore requires a new covenantal form. Those who desire to unite the old and the new covenants only end up destroying both. In practice, what is meant here is that people ought not to try and artificially box the work of Christ into Jewish-Pharisaical forms.2
The heart of Jesus’ message here is that the Jewish emphasis on righteousness by means of obedience to the law (which included the practice of fasting) cannot be reconciled to the gospel of the coming of God’s kingdom. The new message of the gospel requires a different form of expression. As an answer to the question of John’s disciples regarding the practice of fasting (see Matthew 9:14), this implies that fasting, when conducted under the New Covenant, acquires a wholly new meaning and form (see Matthew 6:16–18 and Matthew 17:21 NKJV: However, this kind does not go out except by prayer and fasting. ).3
16 No one puts a piece of unshrunk cloth on an old garment, for the patch tears away from the garment, and a worse tear is made.