Mat 9:16 | MHM | STEP | v. 16 : Jesus continued, No one puts a piece of new cloth on an old garment, for the patch will pull away from the garment, and the tear is made worse (Matthew 9:16 ). He used this example to show that his disciples were not ready for strict fasting yet. Just as new cloth does not fit well on old clothes, some religious duties are too hard for new believers. Jesus knows what his followers can handle and does not want to discourage them by asking too much too soon.

‏ Matthew 9:16

v. 16: Jesus continued, No one puts a piece of new cloth on an old garment, for the patch will pull away from the garment, and the tear is made worse (Matthew 9:16 ^a). He used this example to show that his disciples were not ready for strict fasting yet. Just as new cloth does not fit well on old clothes, some religious duties are too hard for new believers. Jesus knows what his followers can handle and does not want to discourage them by asking too much too soon.