And no man puts new wine into old wineskins: else the new wine does burst the wineskins, and the wine is spilled, and the wineskins will be ruined: but new wine must be put into new wineskins.
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Augustine of Hippo
AD 430
De Con. Evan., ii, 27: But it may be thought that He added Pharisees, because they joined with the disciples of John in saying this to the Lord, whilst Matthew relates that the disciples of John alone said it: but the words which follow father show that those who said it spoke not of themselves, but of others. For it goes on, “And they came and say unto Him, Why do the disciples "For these words shew, that the guests who were there came to Jesus, and had said this same thing to the disciples, so that in the words which he uses, “they came,” he speaks not of those same persons, of whom he had said, “And the disciples of John and the Pharisees were fasting.” But as they were fasting, those persons who remembered it, come to Him. Matthew then says this, “And there came to Him the disciples of John, saying,” because the Apostles also were there, and all eagerly, as each could, objected these things.
Mark here calls them children of the nuptials, whom Matthew calls children of the bridegroo...
But in a mystical sense, it may thus be expressed; that the disciples of John and the Pharisees fast, because everyman who boasts of the works of the law without faith, who follows the traditions of men, and receives the preaching of Christ with his bodily ear, and not by the faith of the heart, keeps aloof from spiritual goods, and wastes away with a fasting soul. But he who is incorporated into the members of Christby a faithful love cannot fast, because he feasts upon His Body and Blood. It goes on, “No one seweth a piece of "rough, that is, “new, cloth on an old garment: else the new piece that fillet hit up taketh away from the old, and the rent is made worse.”.
Neither was it fitting to sew on anew piece; that is, a portion of doctrine which teaches a general fast from allthe joy of temporal delights; for if this be done, the teaching is rent, and agrees not with the old part. But by a new garment is intended good works, which are done externally, and by the new wine, is expresse...
As above, the Master was accused to the disciples for keeping company with sinners in their feasts, so now, on the other hand, the disciples are complained of to the Master for their omission of fasts, that so matter for dissension might arise amongst them. Wherefore it is said, “And the disciples of John and the Pharisees used to fast.”
The disciples of John, therefore, and of the Pharisees, being jealous of Christ, ask Him, whether He alone of all men with His disciples could, without abstinence and toil, conquer in the fight of the passions. It goes on; “And Jesus said unto them, Canthe children”.
Vict. Ant.e Cat. in Marc.: He then calls Himself a bridegroom, as if about to be betrothed to the Church. For the betrothal is giving an earnest, namely, that the grace of the Holy Spirit, by which the world believed.
Vict. Ant.e Cat. in Marc.: But intercourse with Him, He says, is far removed from all sorrow, when He adds, “As long as they have the bridegroom with them, they cannot fast.” He is said, from whom some good is far removed; but he who has it present with him rejoices, and is not sad. But that He might destroy their elation of heart, and show that He intended not His own disciples to be licentious, He adds, “But the days will come when the bridegroom shall betaken” as if He said, The time will come, when they w...
He has prescribed for his new disciples of the New Testament a new form of prayer. For this it was fitting that new wine be stored in new wine skins and that a new patch be sewed upon a new garment. What had prevailed in days gone by was either abolished, like circumcision, or completed, like the rest of the law, or fulfilled, like the prophecies, or brought to its perfection, like faith itself. Everything has been changed from carnal to spiritual by the new grace of God which, with the coming of the gospel, has wiped out the old era completely.
For the disciples of John being in an imperfect state, continued in Jewish customs.
He also calls Himself abridegroom, not only as betrothing to Himself virgin minds, but because the time of His first coming is not a time of sorrow, nor of sadness to believers, neither does it bring with it toil, but rest. For it is without any works of the law, giving rest by baptism, by which we easily obtain salvation without toil. Butthe sons of the nuptials or of the Bridegroom are the Apostles; because they, by the grace of God, are made worthy of every heavenly blessing, by the grace of God, and partakers of every joy.
We must also understand that every man whose works are good is the son of the Bridegroom; he has the Bridegroom with him, even Christ, and fasts not, that is, does no works of repentance, because he does not sin: but when the Bridegroom is taken away bythe man’s falling into sin, then he fasts and is penitent, that he may cure hissin.
Or else the disciples are likened to old garme...
