Charles Spurgeon Commentary Matthew 9:16

"And no man putteth a piece of undressed cloth upon an old garment; for that which should fill it up taketh from the garment, and a worse rent is made." — Matthew 9:16 (ASV)

Jesus came not to repair Israel’s worn garment, but to bring new robes. Even if a mere mending had been aimed at, it could not have been accomplished through His disciples copying old ways. New cloth that has not been shrunk is not fit to be used as a patch to mend an old garment, fully shrunk by many washings. His disciples must act consistently and not join untimely fasting to their enjoyment of His company.

They were not the kind of persons to repair the old religion of Judaism, which had become worn out. They were new men, unshrunk by the spirit of tradition, and to try to enclose them within the garment of legal ritualistic religion would not tend to unity, but the reverse. Genuine believers had better not attempt fellowship with ceremonialists. They will soon find themselves out of place. Jesus did not come to patch up our old outward religious practices, but to make a new robe of righteousness for us.

All attempts to add the Gospel to legalism will only make the tear worse. It may be added that rash attempts to unite the various Churches by comprehending all their errors within the confines of supposed truth will only increase the present lamentable divisions and postpone real unity to a distant future.

And the rent is made worse.

There must be a fitness about things; do not impose fasting upon a joyful heart, or the singing of joyful hymns upon a sad spirit.

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,—

When it shrinks.