Patches

In the Book of Matthew, 9:16, we read, “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, and the rent is made worse.”

The word “new” is from a Greek word meaning “unfilled, undressed, or shrinkable.” To patch an old garment with a piece of new or shrinkable clothes would not be prudent. Should the garment get wet, the new piece would shrink and pull away from the material in the garment, causing damage.

The last state of the garment would be worse than the first. There is no affinity between the old garment and the new cloth. It was imperative that old garments be patched with old cloth or that new garments be patched with new cloth.

Metaphorically, our Lord is speaking about the old garment being the old dispensation of the Mosaic Law. The old garment of ritualism, ceremonies and ordinances has come to an end. The new dispensation of the Law of Grace is the new garment.

The salvation plan of the Old Testament and the New Testament are incompatible, and if used without proper discernment, they would cause harm. If man uses natural mind without the discernment of the scriptures by the Holy Spirit to lead in church service teachings, it would be disastrous. The requirements of the law, without requirements of Grace, would provide no flexibility in operation.

Galatians 4:1-5 says, “Now I say, that the heir, as long as he is a child, differeth nothing from a servant, though he be lord of all; but is under tutors and governors until the time appointed of the father. Even so we, when we were children, were in bondage, under the elements of the world; But when the fullness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law. To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoptions of sons.”

Ephesians 2:8-9 reads, “For by grace are you saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.”

Old Testament salvation is through works. New Testament salvation is through Grace, which is the finished work of Jesus on the Cross.