Matthew 9:16 NIV

The Pulpit Commentary - Matthew 9:14-17

Human disfigurings of the Church's order and discipline. Observe— I. THE FORESHADOWING FOUND HERE OF THAT LONG HISTORY OF HUMAN INTERFERENCES WITH THE UNWRITTEN BUT SIMPLE MANIFEST ORDER OF THE CHURCH 'S LIFE AND PRACTICE AS GUIDED EVEN BY REASON . II. THE FORESHADOWING HEREIN OF HUMAN RENDINGS OF THE UNITY OF THE CHURCH IN MATTERS NOT OF DOCTRINE NOR , JUSTLY SPEAKING :, OF ... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Matthew 9:14-17

Consistency in diversity. Three classes of persons made up what might be called the religious community of Palestine, viz. the Pharisees, the disciples of John, and the disciples of our Lord. The ground of the question here was why one of these should neglect what the others preached as a religious duty. The answer here teaches— I. THAT THERE IS A MORAL FITNESS IN RELATION TO CIRCUMSTANCES . 1 . Fasting might be proper to the disciple of John. 2 . Fasting... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Matthew 9:16

No man ; and no man (Revised Version); οὐδεὶς δέ . "And" is slightly adversative. They will indeed fast then, yet fasting does not belong to the essence of my teaching. To insist on fasting would only be right if my teaching came merely into mechanical connexion with the religion of the day. But this is not the case. The verses thus read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Matthew 9:16

New truth in new settings. "They put new wine into new bottles, and both are preserved." Oriental bottles are skins of sheep or goats. Old bottles would crack and leak, under pressure of the fermentation of new wine; new skins would expand under such pressure. The old wine-skin of Judaism had become stiffened with age, and even worse stiffened by the efforts of the rabbis to keep it in good condition. Christianity could not keep within its narrow limitations. This is the first reference of... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Matthew 9:16-17

The new and the old. This pair of homely parables illustrates the incompatibility of the old with the new from two points of view—first from that of the old, which is spoilt in the effort to patch it with the new; second from that of the new, which is lost through the attempt to confine it in the limitations of the old. I. THE OLD IS SPOILT WHEN IT IS PATCHED WITH THE NEW . The shrinking of the patch of undressed cloth tears the old garment, and so makes the rent... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Matthew 9:14-17

Then came the disciples of John ... - This narrative is found also in Mark 2:18-22; Luke 5:33-39. The reference here is to John the Baptist. It is probable that they had understood that John was the forerunner of the Messiah; and if such was the case, they could not account for the fact that there was such a difference between them and the disciples of Jesus. The Pharisees fasted often - regularly twice a week besides the great national days of fasting, Luke 18:12. See the notes at Matthew... read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Matthew 9:16-17

Matthew 9:16-17 . No man putteth a piece of new cloth, &c. Our Lord, having assigned one reason why he did not enjoin his disciples to fast, namely, because it was not a proper time for it, now proceeds to give another. They were not ripe, or prepared for it, nor could have borne such severe injunctions. As if he had said, Nor do I now think it fit to lay such rigorous commands upon them, but rather to accommodate their trials to their strength; even as when a man is repairing clothes,... read more

Donald C. Fleming

Bridgeway Bible Commentary - Matthew 9:14-17

33. Why Jesus’ disciples did not fast (Matthew 9:14-17; Mark 2:18-22; Luke 5:33-39)Both John the Baptist’s disciples and the Pharisees were slow to realize that Jesus’ coming had brought in a new era. Their traditional ceremonies and fastings were now of no use. The coming of Jesus may be compared to the coming of a bridegroom to his wedding feast. In a time of such joy no one thinks of fasting, and therefore Jesus’ disciples did not fast while he was with them. But Jesus would be taken away... read more

E.W. Bullinger

E.W. Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes - Matthew 9:16

No man = No one. new cloth = new flannel: i.e. undressed or unfulled. In this condition it is less supple and will tear away. unto = on or upon. Greek. epi . that which is put in, &c. = the insertion: i.e. the patch put on. taketh = teareth away. the rent is made worse = a worse rent takes place. read more

James Burton Coffman

Coffman Commentaries on the Bible - 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.The illustration in this place is simply that of trying to patch an old garment with a piece of new, that is, unshrunken, cloth which, if attempted, would prove unavailing as soon as the garment was washed. The shrinkage of the new piece would tear itself out and the rent be made worse. The application is that Jesus did not come to apply... read more

The Pulpit Commentary - Matthew 9:14-17

The Pulpit Commentary - Matthew 9:14-17

The Pulpit Commentary - Matthew 9:16

The Pulpit Commentary - Matthew 9:16

The Pulpit Commentary - Matthew 9:16-17

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Matthew 9:14-17

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Matthew 9:16-17

Bridgeway Bible Commentary - Matthew 9:14-17

E.W. Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes - Matthew 9:16

Coffman Commentaries on the Bible - Matthew 9:16

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