Matthew 9:16

“Matthew, accordingly, goes on to say: “And it came to pass, as He sat at meat in the house, behold, many publicans and sinners came and sat down with Jesus and His disciples;” and so on, down to where we read, “But they put new wine into new bottles, and both are preserved.”” — editor's note: Matt. ix. 10–17.

““For no man,” saith He, “putteth a piece of new cloth unto an old garment.”” — editor's note: Matt. ix. 15. [The three accounts of the sayings in verses 15–17 vary greatly in form, and the authorities for the Greek text present a great number of various…

“…a new form of prayer; for in this particular also it was needful that new wine should be laid up in new skins, and a new breadth be sewn to a new garment.” — editor's note: Matt. ix. 16, 17; Mark ii. 21, 22; Luke v. 36, 37.

“How is it, again, that he tells us that “a piece of new cloth is not sewed on to an old garment,” or that “new wine is not trusted to old bottles,” when he is himself patched and clad in an old suit of names?” — editor's note: Matt. ix. 16, 17.

When He had replied to them respecting eating and converse with sinners, they next assault Him on the matter of food; “Then came to him the disciples of John, saying, Why do we and the Pharisees fast often, but thy…

O boastful enquiry and ostentation of fasting much to be blamed, nor can John’s disciples be excused for their taking part with the Pharisees who they knew had been condemned by John, and for bringing a false…

What they say come to this, Be it that you do this as Physician of souls, but why do your disciples neglect fasting and approach such tables? And to augment the weight of their charge by comparison, they put…

For John drank neither wine, nor strong drink, increasing his merit by abstinence, because he had no power over nature. But the Lord who has power to forgive sins, why should He shun sinners that eat, since He has…

Through Matthew mentions only the disciples of John as having made this enquiry, the words of Mark rather seem to imply that some other persons spoke of others, that is, the guests spoke concerning the disciples of…

Or; Luke relates that the Pharisees, but Matthew that the disciples of John, said thus, because the Pharisees had taken them with them to ask the question, as they afterwards did the Herodians. Observe how when…

Christ is the Bridegroom and the Church the Bride. Of this spiritual union the Apostles were born; they cannot mourn so long as they see the Bridegroom in the chamber with the Bride. But when the nuptials are past,…

He means thus; The present is a time of joy and rejoicing; sorrow is therefore not to be now brought forward; and fasting is naturally grievous, and to all those that are yet weak; for to those that seek to…

Hence some think that a fast ought to follow the forty days of Passion, although the day of Pentecost and the coming of the Holy Spirit immediately bring back our joy and festival. From this text accordingly,…

Here again He confirms what He has said by examples of common things; “No man putteth a patch of undressed cloth into an old garment; for it taketh away its wholeness from the garment, and the rent is made worse;”…

By the old garment He means His disciples, who had not yet been renewed in all things. The patch of undressed, that is, of new cloth, means the new grace, that is, the Gospel doctrine, of which fasting is a portion;…

As much as to say, An undressed patch, that is, a new one, ought not to be put into an old garment, because it often takes away from the garment its wholeness, that is, its perfection, and then the rent is made…

After two comparisons made, that of the wedding, and that of the undressed cloth, He adds a third concerning wine skins; “Neither do men put new wine into old skins.” By the old skins He means His disciples, who were…

Herein He also shews us the cause of those condescending words which He often addressed to them because of their weakness.

Otherwise; By the “old garment,” and “old skins,” we must understand the Scribes and Pharisees; and by the “piece of new cloth,” and “new wine,” the Gospel precepts, which the Jews were not able to bear; so “the rent…

This shews that the Apostles being hereafter to be replenished with newness of grace, ought not now to be bound to the old observances.

Otherwise; Everyone who rightly fasts, either humbles his soul in the groaning of prayer, and bodily chastisement, or suspends the motion of carnal desire by the joys of spiritual meditation. And the Lord here makes…

That Matthew writes here “mourn,” where Mark and Luke write “fast,” shews that the Lord spake of that kind of fasting which pertains to humbling one’s self in chastisement; as in the following comparisons He may be…

Figuratively, this His answer, that while the Bridegroom was present with them, His disciples needed not to fast, teaches us the joy of His presence, and the sacrament of the holy food, which none shall lack, while…

Or, when He has departed from us for our sins, then is a fast to be proclaimed, then is mourning to be put on.

By these examples He shews that neither our souls nor bodies, being so weakened by inveteracy of sin, are capable of the sacraments of the new grace.

The different comparisons all refer to the same thing, and yet are they different; the garment by which we are covered abroad signifies our good works, which we perform when we are abroad; the wine with which we are…

Matthew 9:16 and Mark 2:21 share the same wording (15 words).

Matthew 9:16 and Luke 5:36 share the same wording (9 words).

Cited together in On Prayer Chapter 1.

Cited together in On Prayer Chapter 1.

Cited together in Augustine of Hippo on Matthew 9:14–17 (Catena Aurea).

Cited together in On Prayer Chapter 1.

Cited together in On Prayer Chapter 1.

Cited together in Augustine of Hippo on Matthew 9:14–17 (2) (Catena Aurea).

Cited together in John Chrysostom on Matthew 9:14–17 (Catena Aurea).

Cited together in John Chrysostom on Matthew 9:14–17 (2) (Catena Aurea).

Cited together in On Prayer Chapter 1.

Cited together in On Prayer Chapter 1.

Cited together in On Prayer Chapter 1.

Cited together in Remigius of Auxerre on Matthew 9:14–17 (2) (Catena Aurea).

Cited together in The Five Books Against Marcion III.14.