Christ replies to the question of why His disciples do not fast like the Pharisees with illustrations that emphasize the need for beliefs and actions to be correct and appropriate to God's way of life. In His second illustration, Jesus draws from the common knowledge that no one would waste a piece of new cloth to repair an old garment. If new cloth is used to patch an old garment and becomes wet, it shrinks as it dries, straining the old fabric and worsening the tear. Jesus shows that His new doctrines do not align with the old rites of the Pharisees, which involved frequent fasting. Combining His teachings with their old ways would distort the truth. The old human way of life must be completely replaced with the new godly way, as they are incompatible due to the righteousness and spiritual strength of God's new way against the weakness and wickedness of the old.

In the gospel accounts, Jesus frequently encountered the Pharisees and other religious authorities who questioned Him on every point, seeking fault. One such exchange resulted in the Parable of the Cloth and the Wineskins, found in all three synoptic gospels, with Luke's version being the fullest. In this parable, Jesus illustrates that no one puts a piece of new cloth on an old garment, for the patch will tear away from the old, making the tear worse. This signifies that the old ways are incompatible with the new teachings He brings. The new cloth represents the fresh and dynamic nature of His message, which cannot be merely patched onto the old, rigid traditions without causing disruption. Attempting to combine the two will result in damage, as the old cannot contain or adapt to the new without breaking apart.