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Explanation for:
Matthew
9
:
16
And nobody putteth a piece of raw cloth unto an old garment. For it taketh away the fullness thereof from the garment, and there is made a greater rent.
11
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{"arr":[{"author-name":"Jerome of Stridon","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c88dcd3432c6dd41375498_Jerome%20of%20Stridon.png","category":"Holy Fathers and Teachers","century":4,"exegesis-text":"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. The apostle admonishes them, saying, “O foolish Galatians, who hath bewitched you, that ye should not obey the truth?” (Gal. 3: 1). Therefore, the message of the gospel should be far more deeply integrated within the apostles than in the scribes and Pharisees, who were unable to uphold the sanctity of Christ's commands. It is one matter for the purity of a virgin soul, untouched by any original sin, and quite another for the corruption of a soul ensnared by many sins and desires."},{"author-name":"John Chrysostom","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c88ea76859f9f8e2ffd3ee_John%20Chrysostom.png","category":"Holy Fathers and Teachers","century":4,"exegesis-text":"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."},{"author-name":"Peter Chrysologus","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c896c8505740d15218d3ed_Peter%20Chrysologus.png","category":"Christian Authors","century":5,"exegesis-text":"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."},{"author-name":"Euthymios Zigabenos","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c96d263b8c22d9c467bdab_no-pic-theosis.png","category":"Christian Authors","century":11,"exegesis-text":"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."},{"author-name":"Theophylact of Bulgaria","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c8989296bafed9104677d7_Theophylact%20of%20Bulgaria.png","category":"Holy Fathers and Teachers","century":11,"exegesis-text":"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."},{"author-name":"Theophan the Recluse","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c8983a6e0f4c3aecaae3fc_Theophan%20the%20Recluse.png","category":"Holy Fathers and Teachers","century":19,"exegesis-text":"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."},{"author-name":"Ivanov A.V.","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c88db13197efab881aa332_Ivanov%20A.V..png","category":"Christian Authors","century":19,"exegesis-text":"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."},{"author-name":"Abbot Panteleimon about the Trinity","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c96d263b8c22d9c467bdab_no-pic-theosis.png","category":"Christian Authors","century":19,"exegesis-text":"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:"},{"author-name":"Michail (Lusin)","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c89550c567e172d15b3055_Michail%20(Lusin).png","category":"Christian Authors","century":19,"exegesis-text":"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."},{"author-name":"Gladkow B.I.","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c88bf0ceef8c96e09a6521_Gladkow%20B.I..png","category":"Christian Authors","century":19,"exegesis-text":"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. \\n\\nThe Apostle Paul criticized Peter for expecting Gentile believers to adhere to Jewish customs, while he himself, being a Jew, did not fully observe the law. Paul emphasized that justification cannot come through the deeds of the law; rather, salvation is through faith in Jesus Christ and following His commandments. He stated that if one believes the law can lead to justification, then, in that case, Christ's sacrifice was rendered meaningless (see Galatians 2:16-21). Chrysostom elaborated on this by noting that adhering to the law undermines the gospel, and if the entire law is to be observed, it compromises the doctrine of justification by faith. He questioned the logic of selective observance—if one is to follow any part of the law, they should follow it all, or risk being a transgressor, implicating Christ as the catalyst for such a transgression because He allows for the relaxation of the law's demands.\\n\\nReturning to Jesus' parable, we see how the Pharisees frequently admonished His disciples for not following their stringent legal requirements, such as harvesting grain on the Sabbath, neglecting fasts, and dining with unwashed hands. Each time, Jesus defended them. In this instance, when the Pharisees alongside John’s disciples confronted His followers for missing fasts, the Lord not only justified them but also articulated His teaching's incompatibility with rigid adherence to Jewish law. \\n\\nIn this parable, which may be subject to different interpretations, it can be understood—following the interpretations of Paul and Chrysostom—as a challenge to the Pharisees. Jesus argued that they sought to confine His disciples within the old garments of their rituals and traditions, while He called for them to embrace the new attire of grace and love. He pointed out that one cannot don a new garment without discarding the old and that attempting to patch the worn garment with new fabric will only lead to greater damage. Likewise, young wine cannot be placed into old wineskins, for they cannot accommodate it. Thus, He encouraged His disciples to embrace His teachings fully, shedding the old ways. \\n\\nThough they may not yet embody the full spirit of Jesus' revolutionary message, they have begun to appreciate its superiority over traditional teachings. In a similar way to how one who enjoys fine wine would not return to inferior offerings, His disciples, having tasted the goodness of His message, would not revert to the teachings of the Pharisees. The parable’s assertion that no one who has tasted fine wine desires inferior wine (Luke 5:39) may initially seem contradictory when discussing old garments and wine; however, understanding that valuable wine is contrasted with the inferior clarifies this. Thus, the message of the parable becomes evident: those who have been enriched by Christ's teachings will not seek to return to old ways."},{"author-name":"Paul Matwejewski","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c8969f5be0d592d5a10576_Paul%20Matwejewski.png","category":"Christian Authors","century":19,"exegesis-text":"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. Furthermore, no one accustomed to the old wine desires the new, for he proclaims, “The old wine is better.” The disciples are not yet fortified enough to bear heavy obligations, and thus require gentleness and manageable challenges. The new patch and new wine symbolize fasting, whereas the old garments and old skins reflect the disciples’ frailty.\\n\\nA strict ascetic lifestyle, like that followed by John’s disciples, would be as unsuitable for the Lord's disciples—who had not yet been strengthened or renewed in spirit—as placing a new patch on a tattered cloak, pouring new wine into old containers, or introducing inferior wine after superior. Matthew, a former tax collector, surrendered everything to follow Christ and was esteemed as one of the twelve apostles. Alongside his fellow disciples, he journeyed with the Lord through Galilee and Judea, absorbing divine teachings, witnessing numerous miracles, preaching the Gospel, and observing the suffering of the cross, the redemptive death of the Saviour, and His glorious ascension into heaven.\\n\\nAfter Christ's Ascension and the coming of the Holy Spirit upon the Apostles, St. Matthew preached in Palestine for eight years and then traveled through Syria, Media, Persia, and Parthia to share the Gospel. Before departing from Jerusalem, he authored his Gospel. The Holy Apostle Matthew concluded his righteous mission with martyrdom in Ethiopia, accused of sorcery, he was laid face down and covered with kindling, which was ignited. Witnesses saw that the flames did not affect him. The accusers then added more fuel and doused it with tar while placing twelve idols around the fire. The flames consumed the idols, yet the body of the holy apostle remained unscathed. When they attempted to respectfully remove St. Matthew from the flames, he prayed, entrusting his holy soul to God."}]}
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