From Old to New

Goodmorning,

As we turn our attention again to Matthew 9, I want to start by asking a question: Who here still has an old flip phone lying around at home? Maybe you kept one from years ago, or perhaps you still use one. Flip phones can feel like fun reminders of the past.

I had a flip phone in high school, and I still have it somewhere at home. It doesn’t work anymore, but whenever I see it, a few thoughts come to mind:

"Oh, I miss the old days."

"Life felt so much simpler back then."

Or, "Maybe I could go back to using a flip phone."

But as soon as I entertain the idea of switching back, I quickly realize: "Could I really? What would I lose?"

No emails. No photos. No apps. No calendars. No internet. No storage for videos. As nostalgic as the old flip phone might feel, it just can’t compete with the advancements of a modern smartphone. You can’t take the technology of a new iPhone and force it into the shell of an old flip phone—it simply doesn’t work.

Similarly, in Matthew 9, we see that the old traditions of men, much like that flip phone, served a purpose in their time. But they cannot handle the newness that Jesus Christ brings. His coming ushers in a new covenant—better, complete, and designed to move us forward, not backward.

If you were with us last week, we looked at Jesus calling Matthew, a tax collector, to follow Him. Society saw Matthew as the lowest of the low, yet Jesus called the sickest of sinners. Not the righteous, the self-sufficient, or the confident—but the sick, the needy, and the humble.

That calling took place at a feast in Matthew’s house. It was a big reception, as Luke notes. During that meal, the Pharisees asked Jesus’ disciples why He would dine with tax collectors and sinners. Their question came from a place of hatred and jealousy. Jesus simply answer with logic, from scripture, and by his own divine authority. Bottom line: Jesus came to save sick sinners. 

This morning, we don’t move far from that scene. While still at the feast, another question is posed to Jesus. But this time, it seems a little more genuine.

Let’s see how Jesus answers this question and, in doing so, reveals something greater: that His presence, His coming, His forgiveness changes everything. As I’ve titled today’s message, Jesus takes us “From Old to New.”

Now turn with me to Matthew 9:14-17 and if able, please stand with me in reverence and humility as we read God’s sufficient and unchanging Word.

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Pray

In Matthew 9:14-17, we see 1 question followed by 2 answers from Jesus that will enable you to understand in greater detail the new covenant life you possess in Christ. 

Point 1 - A New Question

Then the disciples of John came to Him, asking, “Why do we and the Pharisees fast, but Your disciples do not fast?” 

Matthew has just hosted a large reception for Jesus—a celebration following his call, forgiveness, and salvation. This wasn’t a small gathering; it drew a big crowd. Tax collectors and sinners were dining with Jesus, while a group of onlookers, including Pharisees and scribes, observed and questioned.

From last week’s text, we know the Pharisees questioned Jesus’ disciples about why He would associate with such people. Now, as we turn to this morning’s passage, we see another group: John the Baptist’s disciples. Mark’s parallel account even notes that the Pharisees’ disciples joined in the questioning.

Picture the scene: a crowded area filled with contrasting groups. On one side, you have humble, broken, repentant sinners who recognize their need for a Savior, who are actively feasting with Jesus. On the other, self-righteous religious leaders, convinced of their own perfection through works who are actively fasting. In the previous section, The Pharisees, seeking to stir division, approached Jesus’ disciples with a question. But John’s disciples, seeking clarity, seeming to be genuinely confused, came directly to Jesus, with this question in verse 14, “Why do we and the Pharisees fast, but Your disciples do not fast?”

A little background on fasting is helpful here. In the Old Testament, the only fast God commanded was the annual Day of Atonement (Yom Kippur). Beyond that, fasting was practiced in times of mourning, deep grief, or as an expression of humility to seek the Lord. This kind of fasting, marked by sorrowful repentance, was sincere and God-honoring.

By the time of Jesus, however, fasting had become a hollow ritual. The Pharisees fasted twice a week—on Mondays and Thursdays—not to seek God, but to display their religious piety. Jesus rebukes this self-righteousness in Luke 18:10-14, where a Pharisee boasts of fasting and tithing, contrasting him with a humble tax collector who pleads for mercy. Similarly, in Matthew 6:16, Jesus warns against fasting to be noticed by others, calling out hypocrites who disfigure their faces to appear devout.

In contrast, John’s disciples likely fasted with different motivations. John the Baptist, a humble prophet, lived a life devoted to preparing people for the kingdom of God. His message of repentance and judgment made fasting a fitting response, and his disciples fasted as an extension of their mission. Additionally, John’s imprisonment in Matthew 4 may have added another layer to their fasting—they mourned his absence and prayed for his release.

John’s entire ministry was about preparing people for Christ. Yet, even after Jesus began His ministry, some of John’s followers struggled to transfer their loyalty to Him. Despite John’s clear declaration, “He must increase, but I must decrease” (John 3:30), not all heeded his call. Acts 19 even records Paul encountering disciples of John who had not yet heard of Christ. In Matthew 9, with John in prison, his disciples remained deeply connected to him. Their fasting likely reflected not only their mourning over John’s imprisonment but also their continued adherence to old traditions, including those shaped by Pharisaic influence.

The one word that could encompass why both the Pharisees and John’s disciples fasted is mourning, which expresses deep sorrow. For the Pharisees, their fasting was a superficial display of humility meant to gain attention and admiration, not a genuine pursuit of God. In contrast, John’s disciples fasted out of authentic sorrow over sin, mourning their leader’s imprisonment, and longing for the Messiah—though ironically, they missed Him standing right before them.

So why weren’t Jesus’ disciples fasting? This question highlights a deeper contrast. The Pharisees' religion revolved around external rituals designed to draw attention to their piety. Even John’s disciples, closer to the truth, were still bound by these old patterns, asking, “Why is Your way so different? Why doesn’t Your ministry fit the system we know?”

Here is the point: Jesus came to bring something entirely new. He is bringing hsi followers from the old to the new. The old system, with its outward rituals and self-righteous traditions, cannot coexist with the new system, an inward, heart transforming relationship with Jesus Christ. His ministry focuses on humility, repentance, and forgiveness—not ceremony or routine. 

This contrast sets the stage for Jesus' profound declaration in Matthew 9:15, where He introduces the life-changing newness of His ministry. The question of why His disciples weren’t fasting allows opportunity to show the truth: Jesus isn’t just challenging outward rituals, but revealing that His arrival has ushered in a new way of relating to God, one that’s rooted in relationship and celebration, not mourning. He has showed the people there, the old way of doing things is no more, behold, he has brought something new.  Jesus Christ, the Son of God, the Messiah, changes everything! 

Application: 

Today, Have you come to realize today that following Christ requires something radically different than what the world expects? It’s not about adhering to tradition or religion; it’s about a personal, transformative relationship with Jesus Christ. It’s not about meeting conditions or fitting into man-made expectations; it’s about repentance, belief, and obedience to Christ and His Word.

However, this tendency to misjudge others based on external practices continues to creep into Christianity. Too often, we evaluate the seriousness of someone’s faith based on things the Bible never requires. “Does he do this? Does he avoid that? Then he must not be serious about his faith.” We must be cautious not to fall into the same trap as those who criticized Jesus. Let’s not impose our personal preferences or traditions onto others as a litmus test for genuine faith.

Following Christ is not about a list of do’s and don'ts—it’s about a heart that has been changed by the Gospel. Our obedience to Christ is shown through our love for Him, not through external acts that others may or may not understand.

However, let’s be clear: there is a biblical, God-given standard for how we are to live. We don’t engage in religious activities or practices thinking they will somehow please God, as the Pharisees did. But at the same time, we are called to live according to the standard God has set for His people, and this is where the Holy Spirit empowers us. It is not an excuse to live however we want, claiming to follow Christ while disregarding the holiness He calls us to. Obedience to Christ isn’t optional; it’s a response to His grace, enabled by the Spirit. Let’s remember that while our salvation is not earned by our works, our obedience flows from a transformed life that reflects His righteousness.

Titus 3:4-7, “4 But when the kindness and affection of God our Savior appeared, 5 He saved us, not by works which we did in righteousness, but according to His mercy, through the washing of regeneration and renewing by the Holy Spirit, 6 whom He poured out upon us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, 7 so that having been justified by His grace, we would become heirs according to the hope of eternal life.”

This leads us to the next point. Instead of sorrow, Jesus calls His followers to rejoice in His presence, for the bridegroom has come, and with Him, a new era of grace and celebration has begun.

Point 2 - A New Focus, vs. 15

And Jesus said to them, “Can the attendants of the bridegroom mourn as long as the bridegroom is with them? But the days will come when the bridegroom is taken away from them, and then they will fast. 

Contrary to the Pharisees and John’s disciples, Jesus’ disciples were focused on Him. The Pharisees focused on themselves—their outward appearance and piety. John’s disciples focused on mourning and fear for John’s life. But Jesus’ disciples were centered on Him—His forgiveness, salvation, and presence.

As He often does, Jesus uses a simple yet profound illustration: a wedding. In ancient Israel, weddings lasted seven days, filled with dancing, singing, fellowship, and feasting. It was a time of joy and celebration, all centered on the bride and groom. Fasting at such a moment would have been selfish and inappropriate. Only after the bride and groom departed would life return to normal. Think about your own wedding—did anyone abstain from eating, look gloomy, or mourn? Of course not. And if they had, you would’ve told them to leave before they ruined the celebration.

Jesus’ choice of illustration is not random. It carries a deeper claim, especially for those familiar with the Old Testament. In Hosea 2:19-20, God describes Himself as Israel’s Bridegroom:

“I will betroth you to Me forever… in righteousness and in justice, in lovingkindness and in compassion. I will betroth you to Me in faithfulness, and you will know Yahweh.”

By calling Himself the Bridegroom, Jesus is declaring that He is Yahweh—the God of Israel—standing among His people. The long-awaited Messiah has come, and this is a time of rejoicing.

Not only that, but John’s disciples would have thought twice about Jesus referencing himself as the bridegroom. He told his disciples in John 3:29, “He who has the bride is the bridegroom; but the friend of the bridegroom, who stands and hears him, rejoices greatly because of the bridegroom’s voice. So this joy of mine has been made full.” The bridegroom was right in front of them, why were they still fasting and not rejoicing? They didn’t have the right focus. Their focus wasn’t on Christ, but something else.

Jesus’ point is clear: You mourn at a funeral not a wedding. The groomsmen do not mourn while the bridegroom is with them. Their role is to celebrate, support, and enjoy the moment alongside him. Likewise, Jesus’ disciples, in His presence, were to rejoice. The Messiah had come! Salvation was here! This simple illustration drives home the contrast between the old traditions of men and the new life in Christ.

But notice Jesus doesn’t dismiss fasting altogether. Look again at verse 15: “But the days will come when the bridegroom is taken away from them, and then they will fast.”

Here, Jesus alludes to His death. This “taking away” refers to His crucifixion, as we see fulfilled  starting in Matthew 26:50, “Then they came and laid hands on Jesus and seized Him.” He was then tried When Jesus was taken by the Roman soldiers, tried before Jewish and Gentile courts, condemned to death and crucified. When the Bridegroom is taken away, the time for mourning and fasting will come. But for now, while He is with them, there is no room for sorrow—only joy.

Jesus Christ’s birth and ministry ushered in the New Covenant. There is now a new way to commune with God once again. The focus shifted from old religious traditions that never worked, to new life in Christ. And what He says next solidifies this truth: humanity is moving from the old to the new. Christ indeed changes everything.

Application: 

Today, The question you must ask yourself is this: What is my focus? Like the Pharisees, are you consumed with outward appearances and religious routines, trying to earn favor with God? Like John’s disciples, are you trapped in fear and mourning, focused on the struggles of life rather than the Savior? Or are you like Jesus’ disciples, centered on Christ—His presence, forgiveness, and salvation?

But there’s another question we must ask: What are we supposed to do now? Are we celebrating or are we fasting? The answer is both. 

In one sense, Jesus has come. Jesus has died for our sins, been raised from the dead, ascended into heaven, and now reigns at the right hand of God the Father. Salvation is here! We have forgiveness, adoption into God’s family, the indwelling Holy Spirit, and the promise of eternal life. So, we celebrate. We share the good news, we joyfully serve our LORD. We rejoice for creating in us a new heart. 

Yet, on the other hand, We still struggle with sin, our own and the world’s. Evil persists, persecution continues, and death still reigns over humanity. The fullness of Christ’s reign will not be realized until He returns in glory. So, we also fast. We mourn over sin, pray for strength in suffering, and long for the day when all things will be made new. 

Your life should reflect both the joy of Christ’s salvation and the longing for His return. Celebrate, rejoice, and praise God for the assurance of what Christ has done, and let that joy fuel your worship and obedience by offering acceptable worship. But fast with humility, recognizing the brokenness in your life and the world, and let that drive you to greater dependence on Him. Focus on Christ who is seated at the right hand of God, and joyfully hope for the day he returns. 

Where is your focus? Let it be on Christ, who changes everything. Rejoice in His salvation now and patiently hope for His glory to be revealed in full.

Colossians 3:1-4, “Therefore, if you have been raised up with Christ, keep seeking the things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. 2 [a]Set your mind on the things above, not on the things that are on earth. 3 For you died and your life has been hidden with Christ in God. 4 When Christ, who is our life, is manifested, then you also will be manifested with Him in glory.”

Point 3 - A New Way, vs. 16-17

“But no one puts a patch of unshrunk cloth on an old garment; for the patch pulls away from the garment, and a worse tear results. Nor do people put new wine into old wineskins; otherwise the wineskins burst, and the wine pours out and the wineskins are ruined; but they put new wine into fresh wineskins, and both are preserved.”

The question from John’s disciples wasn’t merely about fasting. In the context, Jesus was eating and drinking with His disciples, tax collectors, and sinners. Fasting—a religious and pious practice—was likely the first thing that came to mind. It’s also possible that their question arose because it was a Monday or Thursday, traditional fast days for the Jews. However, beneath the surface, their question revealed a deeper concern: How do You fit into our religion?

If their question was genuine, they may have been wondering when Jesus would begin fasting and aligning Himself with their practices. In essence, they wanted to understand how Jesus related to their Old Testament traditions. Luke’s parallel account makes this even clearer (Luke 5:33): “The disciples of John often fast and offer prayers; the disciples of the Pharisees also do likewise, but Yours eat and drink.”

Simply put, they were asking, How can we follow You when we are fasting, and You are feasting? How do we mesh together? Where is the middle ground?

With this deeper motivation behind their question, Jesus uses two illustrations to explain a profound truth: There is no middle ground. The new way I bring cannot mesh with the old. It is entirely new, superior, and sufficient.

Jesus begins with the example of patching an old garment (v. 16): “But no one puts a patch of unshrunk cloth on an old garment; for the patch pulls away from the garment, and a worse tear results.”

In ancient Israel, the most common fabrics were wool and linen, and these materials would shrink when washed. If a garment had been washed repeatedly, it would eventually stop shrinking, leaving the fabric stretched and worn. If such a garment tore, no one would use unshrunk cloth to patch it. Why? Because when the patched garment was washed again, the new cloth would shrink, pulling away from the old fabric and causing an even worse tear.

Jesus’ audience would have understood this point immediately. It was a solution that simply wouldn’t work. The message was clear: The new way Jesus brings cannot be patched onto the old.

The gospel of forgiveness and cleansing cannot mix with the man made traditions of legalism and self-righteousness. Jesus wasn’t abolishing the Old Testament law but fulfilling it. What He opposed were the Pharisaic traditions that had distorted God’s Word, turning it into a system of external rituals. The new way Jesus brought was internal, transforming hearts by grace, not external, dependent on rituals.

Jesus further clarifies His point with another vivid picture in verse 17: “Nor do people put new wine into old wineskins; otherwise the wineskins burst, and the wine pours out, and the wineskins are ruined. But they put new wine into fresh wineskins, and both are preserved.”

In those days, wine was stored in animal skins that had been specially prepared for this purpose. Fresh wineskins were pliable and could expand as the wine fermented. Over time, however, the wineskins would dry out, becoming brittle and inflexible. If someone poured new wine into old wineskins, the gases from fermentation would cause them to crack and burst, ruining both the wine and the skin. This is what Jesus is saying will happen to those who try to mesh the old and new. Jesus says if you try that, “the wineskins burst, and the wine pours out, and the wineskins are ruined.”

Those who do not leave everything behind to follow Jesus. Their end will be ruin. Their end is still eternal punishment from Almighty God.

But notice the positive side at the end of verse 17, and here is the point, “But they put new wine into fresh wineskins, and both are preserved.” The gospel—the new wine—can only be poured into hearts made new by the regenerating work of the Holy Spirit. The old, brittle wineskins of legalism, self-righteousness, and human effort cannot contain the transforming power of the gospel. The only suitable vessel is a new heart, one that has repented of sin and trusted in Christ alone for salvation. Those are the new wineskins. Those are who are promised eternal life.

To ensure there’s no misunderstanding with either of these illustrations, the patch, or the wineskins, Jesus wasn’t doing away with God’s law or replacing it with grace. He declared that He came not to destroy the law but to fulfill it in Matthew 5:17-19. God’s law and God’s grace have always been compatible. The “old garments” and the “old wineskins” that Jesus referred to were not the teachings of the Old Testament but the rabbinical traditions that had overshadowed, superseded, and often contradicted God’s Word. For example, as we read today, the Pharisees had added extra fast days that were never commanded by God for self-righteousness. 

There is a beautiful passage that further illuminates Jesus' illustration. What exactly happens when someone follows the new way of Christ, and you will notice, there is no patching, or reusing: Zechariah 3:1-4, “Then he showed me Joshua the high priest standing before the angel of Yahweh, and Satan standing at his right hand to accuse him. 2 And Yahweh said to Satan, “Yahweh rebuke you, Satan! Indeed, Yahweh who has chosen Jerusalem rebuke you! Is this not a brand delivered from the fire?” 3 Now Joshua was clothed with filthy garments and standing before the angel. 4 And he answered and spoke to those who were standing before him, saying, “Remove the filthy garments from him.” Again he said to him, “See, I have made your iniquity pass away from you and will clothe you with festal robes.”

Application: 

Today, do you understand your new life in Christ? A true believer forsakes legalism and ritualism, but lives in obedience through the Spirit. He fasts only as an expression of genuine spiritual concern and does not attempt to mix his new life in Christ with old patterns of self-righteousness. These two ways are incompatible. As Paul says in Galatians 3:3, “Are you so foolish? Having begun by the Spirit, are you now being perfected by the flesh?”

The righteousness of a forgiven heart cannot be supplemented or enhanced by external religious works. What is begun by the Spirit cannot be completed in the flesh. True freedom in Christ has no place for the bondage of legalism.

The new covenant Jesus brings is complete, sufficient, and unmatched. It cannot be patched onto old traditions or poured into old vessels. The question is, are you clinging to old, empty rituals, or have you embraced the new life that Christ freely gives?

This passage demands that we examine ourselves. Are you trying to fit Jesus into your old ways of thinking, living, and doing? Are you patching Him onto your life as just one piece among many? Or are you surrendering entirely to the new life He gives?

Let me be clear: the old and the new cannot coexist. Jesus didn’t come to tweak your habits or improve your old life—He came to make you new. The gospel cannot mix with self-righteousness, works-based religion, or the traditions of men. If you try, it will tear you apart. So where are you holding on to the old? Are you trusting in routines, checklists, or external acts to justify yourself? Are you still clinging to sin, hoping you can follow Christ while keeping just a little of the old life?

You cannot have both. Christ calls for complete surrender. His new way demands your everything—your heart, your desires, your habits, your allegiance. This will not happen overnight, but it is the process called sanctification.

We are becoming more like Christ, not going backwards, and not even standing still. As a believer, the Spirit always is working in you to move closer to Christ. Anything less than that, and we degrade the Holy Spirit’s divine work in us. 

So here’s the question: Are you living a patched-up life, or a brand-new one? Have you truly let go of your sin, your pride, and your reliance on anything other than Christ? If not, repent today. Don’t try to hold onto the old garments of self-righteousness or cling to the brittle container of old traditions. Those things will break under the weight of the gospel. Christ came to be our focus, our center, and to make us new. In this life its progressive, happens over a lifetime, but one day we will be glorified in perfection. 

2 Corinthians 3:18, “But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as from the Lord, the Spirit.”

Conclusion

As we step back and consider the weight of Matthew 9:14-17, the new question, the new focus, and the new way, We see that Jesus didn’t come to patch up the old system or fit into traditions shaped by men. He came to fulfill the law, inaugurate a new covenant, and make all things new. The bridegroom has come, and His presence calls for repentance, faith, and joyful obedience, not mourning and adherence to empty rituals. This is the heart of the gospel—it’s not about improving what’s broken but about replacing the old with the new.

For the believer: 

If you are a believer, this means examining whether you are still clinging to old patterns, traditions, or self-reliance in your walk with Christ. Are you holding onto spiritual habits that no longer reflect the joy and freedom of being united to the Bridegroom? 

How do you know if you are? It can be different for everyone, however, holding on to traditions can look like over-relying on rituals for spiritual growth—attending church services or Bible studies out of routine rather than a desire to draw closer to Christ. It may involve prioritizing religious rules over loving others, being more concerned about dress codes, worship styles, or ministry methods than about demonstrating the love of Christ. While Scripture does call us to maintain standards in areas like modesty, reverence, and holiness, these should always flow from a heart submitted to God’s Word, not from personal preferences or cultural norms elevated to the level of divine command. When our focus shifts to external conformity rather than internal transformation, we risk creating barriers to true worship and fellowship. It can also mean equating faith with family or cultural traditions, assuming salvation is secure because of a Christian upbringing rather than personal trust in Christ. 

Beloved, Jesus calls you to embrace the fullness of life in Him, to live in the new covenant He has secured, and to rejoice in the daily reality of His presence. Stop trying to mix the old with the new. Instead, rest in Christ’s finished work, walk in the joy of His presence, and let His Holy Spirit fuel your obedience.

Stop looking back. Stop returning to the old ways of thinking and acting. Live as one who is truly free in Christ. Let your life be marked by faith, joy, and obedience—fruit that comes from the Spirit’s work in your heart.

Jesus is enough. His gospel is sufficient. Let go of the old, and live fully in the new. There is no middle ground. As a believer one way to live is free in Christ as he is the center, the other way is to put yourself in the center and live a man-centered life keeping you bound in sin. Which way will you choose?

For non believers:

If you have never placed your faith in Christ, Jesus’ message is an invitation to stop striving to patch up your life alone. You cannot fix the brokenness of sin with good intentions, religious rituals, or self-improvement. The old life cannot contain the newness of Christ. Your take-home is this: Repent and believe in Jesus, who offers you a completely new heart, a new life, and an eternal hope. Let go of the old, and come to the One who makes all things new. Jesus Christ died on the cross, was burried, and after 3 days he rose again. This truth leds to new life, the other way leads to death, which way will you choose?

Whether you are a believer needing to reform back to the new way, or an unbeliever needing salvation, the call is the same: Let Jesus transform you entirely. He is not an addition to your life—He is your life. As 2 Corinthians 5:17 says, “Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come.”

I leave you with: Hebrews 8:6-13

6 But now He has obtained a more excellent ministry, by as much as He is also the mediator of a better covenant, which has been enacted on better promises. 7 For if that first covenant had been faultless, there would have been no occasion sought for a second. 8 For finding fault with them, He says,

“Behold, days are coming, says the [f]Lord, [g]When I will complete a new covenant With the house of Israel and with the house of Judah; Not like the covenant which I made with their fathers In the day when I took them by the hand To lead them out of the land of Egypt; For they did not continue in My covenant, And I did not care for them, says the [h]Lord.

For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel After those days, says the [i]Lord: [j]I will put My laws into their minds, And upon their hearts I will write them. And I will be their God, And they shall be My people.

And they shall not teach everyone his fellow citizen, And everyone his brother, saying, ‘Know the Lord,’ For all will know Me, From [k]the least to the greatest of them.

For I will be merciful to their iniquities, And I will remember their sins no more.”

13 [l]When He said, “A new covenant,” He has made the first obsolete. But whatever is becoming obsolete and growing old is [m]ready to disappear.