TRV
Mark 2:21
Bible Versions
No man also seweth a piece of new cloth on an old garment: else the new piece that filled it up taketh away from the old, and the rent is made worse.
No one sews a piece of unshrunk cloth on an old coat; if he does, the new patch tears away from the old cloth and leaves a worse hole.
No one sews a patch of unshrunk cloth on an old garment. If he does, the new piece will pull away from the old, and a worse tear will result.
No man seweth a piece of undressed cloth on an old garment: else that which should fill it up taketh from it, the new from the old, and a worse rent is made.
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Matthew 9:16
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. -
1 Corinthians 10:13
There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God [is] faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear [it]. -
Isaiah 57:16
For I will not contend for ever, neither will I be always wroth: for the spirit should fail before me, and the souls [which] I have made. -
Psalms 103:13
Like as a father pitieth [his] children, [so] the LORD pitieth them that fear him. -
Psalms 103:15
[As for] man, his days [are] as grass: as a flower of the field, so he flourisheth.
Mark 2:21 (KJV) presents one of Jesus' concise parables, illustrating the incompatibility of His new ministry and teachings with the rigid, worn-out religious systems of His day. This verse is part of a larger discourse where Jesus explains why His disciples do not fast, contrasting His approach with that of John the Baptist's disciples and the Pharisees.
Context
This verse immediately follows a question posed to Jesus about why His disciples do not fast while others do (Mark 2:18). Jesus responds with two analogies: the new cloth on an old garment and the new wine in old wineskins. Both parables underscore the same essential truth: His ministry represents a radical new paradigm that cannot simply be patched onto or contained within the existing, decaying religious structures and traditions of Judaism, particularly as practiced by the Pharisees. It highlights a fundamental break from the old covenant system's rigid interpretations and rituals towards a new, dynamic reality centered on grace and relationship.
Key Themes
Linguistic Insights
The KJV phrase "new cloth" translates from the Greek rhakos agnaphos, meaning "unshrunk" or "unfulled cloth." This detail is crucial. When this raw, unprocessed cloth is sewn onto an old, already shrunken garment, the new piece will shrink when washed. As it shrinks, it pulls away from the old, brittle fabric, creating a tear (Greek schisma) that is "made worse" (cheiron) than the original flaw. This vividly illustrates the destructive consequences of trying to blend incompatible spiritual realities.
Related Scriptures
This parable is found in parallel accounts in the other Synoptic Gospels, emphasizing its importance: Matthew 9:16 and Luke 5:36. It is immediately followed by the related parable of new wine in old wineskins (Mark 2:22), which reinforces the same principle of incompatibility and the need for new vessels for new spiritual realities.
Practical Application
For believers today, Mark 2:21 serves as a powerful reminder that genuine Christian faith is not about merely adding Jesus to an existing, unchanged life or religious system. It calls for a fundamental transformation. We cannot simply patch new Christian doctrines onto old habits, attitudes, or worldly philosophies without destructive results. Embracing Christ means being willing to let go of old patterns and embrace the radical newness He brings, allowing Him to make us new creations (2 Corinthians 5:17). This parable challenges us to discern when an old structure or way of thinking is truly incompatible with the fresh work of the Holy Spirit and to be open to God's transformative power, rather than clinging to what is old and broken.