The 'Cloth' in Matthew 9:16 VS the 'Garment' in Luke 5:36

 

The 'Cloth' in Matthew 9:16 VS the 'Garment' in Luke 5:36

 

Matthew 9:16 "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."

Luke 5:36 "He also told them a parable: 'No one tears a piece from a new garment and puts it on an old garment. If he does, he will tear the new, and the piece from the new will not match the old.'"

 

Comparison Point	"Cloth" in Matthew 9:16	"Garment" in Luke 5:36
Explanation	Unshrunk cloth, Symbolizing  Christ from incarnation to before crucifixion	New garment, symbolizing Christ after the process of crucifixion
Example	New cloth that is unprocessed and unfinished	A complete, finished garment
Application	Cannot be used to patch holes in old garments, as it will cause a bigger tear	Can be worn directly as our righteousness
Relevant Scripture	"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." (Matthew 9:16)	"No one tears a piece from a new garment and puts it on an old garment. If he does, he will tear the new, and the piece from the new will not match the old." (Luke 5:36)

 

This comparison illustrates the symbolism of Christ at different stages:

1. The "unshrunk cloth" in Matthew represents Christ's state from incarnation to before crucifixion.
2. The "new garment" in Luke represents Christ after His death and resurrection, becoming the righteousness we can directly put on.

This parable teaches us that we cannot merely imitate Christ's earthly life to patch up our old life (old garment), but we need to put on the resurrected Christ as our completely new righteousness (new garment) to be justified and accepted before God.

 

*Please refer to the 2024 Summer Live Training - Experiencing, Enjoying, and Expressing Christ (1) Message One: Christ as the Great Light, the One with Authority, the Physician, the Bridegroom, the Unfulled Cloth, and the New Wine