On the surface this parable describes someone who has an old garment with aholeor ”rent” in it, who attempts to “patch” it up by using a piece of new cloth or a piece of a new garment, When the piece of the new garment is sewed onto the old garment, the result is that the “patch” just won’t work!The piece of new garment looksdifferentthan the old garment and because the piece of new garment isstrongerthan the old garment, as it is sewed onto the old garment ittears awaypart of the

old garmentand theholegetsbigger!

Comments:

1. This parable assumes that the person with the

“old garment” doesnotwant toget ridof his

old garment, but he isashamedof theholesin theold garmentwhich expose his “nakedness” and wants to hide his nakedness by ”patching” up his old garment with pieces of a ”new garment“.

2. The person in the parable either feels comfortable in hisold garmentand feels that a ”new garment” willnotbe as ”comfortable” to him and soresistsgetting anew garment,orhe feels that he istoo poorandcannot buyanew garment.

3. Theonly solutionto the person’s problem with his ”old garment” is toget rid of itandgeta ”newgarment“. Any”patching” done to the ”old garment” will only be temporary because thenew garmentpatch will tear away at the old garment and make abiggerhole. This process will ultimately end in the person being ”naked” as theholegets bigger and bigger and requires larger and larger pieces ofnew garment.

(continued next page)

4. This parable brings out the ”ultimate result” thateveryonewill eventually be found either ”naked” or ”clothed” innew garments!

Thus, it is very important that we discover what Spiritual ”Nakedness” represents and what being Spiritually”Clothed” in a “new garment” represents.

5. In order to understand this parableSpirituallywe will have to discover theSpiritual meaningof thereal objectsin the parable as well as some of the ”actions” in the parable.

6. Some of the “objects” that we need to discover theSpiritual meaningof are: garment, old garment,

new garment, “holes” in the garment, nakedness.

7. Some of the “questions” we need to find

Bibleanswers for are:

1. Why would anyone ”resist” buying a

new garment ?

2. What is involved inbuyinga “new garment” and

where would you buy it?

3. What is thecostof the “new garment”?

4. Why would anyone feelcomfortablein an

“old garment”?

Now we need to discover theSpiritual meaningof thereal objectsin the parable so that we can discover it’sSpiritual meaning.

Conclusions:

Thus, the Bible says that Spiritually a ”garment” represents the ”life” orcharacterof a person. An ”old garment“, which isfilthyand has holes in it represents asinful life. A ”new garment” which iscleanand white and doesnothave holes in it represents theholy lifeofJesus.

Now we need to discover the Spiritual meaning of ”nakedness“.

Naked

Genesis 3:9-11

9 And the Lord God called unto Adam,

and said unto him, Where art thou?

10 And he said, I heard thy voice in theNakednessis

garden, and I was afraid, because I was associated with

naked; and I hid myself. disobedience or

11 And he said, Who told thee that thousin.

wastnaked? Hast thou eaten of the tree,

whereofI commanded theethat thou

shouldestnoteat?

Revelation 3:18

18 I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried

in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; andNakednessis

white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, associated with

and that theshameof thynakednessdo notshame.

appear; and anoint thine eyes with eye-salve,

that thou mayest see.

Ezekiel 16:52

52 Thou also, which hast judged thy sister,Shameis

bear thine ownshamefor thysinsthat thou associated with

hast committed more abominable than they.sin.

Revelation 16:15

15 Behold, I come as a thief. Blessed is heShameis

that watcheth, and keepeth his garments, lest associated with

he walknaked, and they see hisshame.nakedness.

Conclusion:

TheBibleassociates ”Nakedness” withSinandShame!

Comments:

Since ”nakedness” representssin, then a person whose ”nakedness” is covered by a garment, represents a person whosesinsare covered by a “garment”.

Similarly, a person having agarmentwithholesin it revealing ”nakedness“, represents a person whose

“sins” arenotcoveredbut arerevealed.

A person having agarmentwith ”patches” over the holes, to covernakedness, represents a person who is trying to coversinin a way that willnot work!

Let’s see if we can discover from theBiblewhat the ”patches” represent.

Patches(Pieces of Cloth)

Mark 2:21

21 No man seweth apieceof new cloth on an old garment:…

Luke 5:36

36 And he spake also a parable unto them; No man putteth apieceof a new garment upon an old;…

Conclusions and Comments:

Thus, the Bible says that the ”patch” is made from a ”piece” ofnewcloth or a piece ofnewgarment. Previously we learned that thenewcloth or

newgarment representsrighteousness. Thus the ”piece” ofnew clothor piece ofnew garmentused for the ”patch” represents ”righteousness” or ”doing right“.

Now we are beginning to “get the picture”. An

oldgarment with ”patches” ofnewgarment over theholes, represents thelifeor character of a person who is asinner(old garment) who tries to “patch up” hissinful lifewith a “littlerighteousness” (piece ofnewgarment). The result is asinnerwho is trying to

look good, but whoremainsasinner!

Since the ”patch” willnotwork but tears an evenbigger holein the garment, which reveals even more “nakedness” orsinfulness, thesinnerattempts to

“workevenmore righteousness” to cover his nowgreater sin.

Eventually, the “hole” in the garment becomes so large that in effect there isno garmentleftand the person is leftcompletely naked!

Thus, a person hasonlytwo choices:

1. To becomecompletely”naked“.

2. To becomecompletely”covered”

with a new garment.

Similarly, the ”sinner” hasonlytwo choices:

1. To becomecompletely sinful(naked)

2. To becomecompletely righteous

(covered with new garment)

Now the question ishowdoes the ”sinner” become ”completely righteous” if hecan’t do ita ”littleat a time” (“patches”)?

Theansweris that the ”sinner” must become ”completely righteous”all at once!Howcan this

be done? When a “completelynaked” person puts on anew garment, they are immediately

“completelycovered” by the ”new garment“.

Similarly, when a “completelysinful” person puts on theRobe of Christs Righteousness(new garment) they are immediately “completelycovered” by

His Righteous life(new garment)!Their ”nakedness” orsinfulnessisno longer visible!

Isaiah 61:10

10 “…My soul shall be joyful in my God for He hathclothed mewith thegarmentofsalvation, He hathcovered mewith therobeofrighteousness….”

As far as thejudgmentis concerned, the person “covered” by theRobeofChrists Righteousnessis asperfectly sinlessasChrist is!

Job 29:14

14 “I put onrighteousness, and itclothed me; myjudgmentwas as arobe.”

But, there is a problem that this parable brings out. The “new garment” cannot beput overthe “old garment”.It is necessary toget rid oftheold garmentbeforeyou canput onthe ”new garment”!This illustrates the principle that we cannot continue tohold onto our

old sinful life(old garment) and expectJesusto give us anew life!(new garment). WemustallowJesustochange usand to ”take awayourfilthy garment” orsinfulness.

Zechariah 3:4

4 “…Take away thefilthy garmentsfrom him. And unto him he said, Behold, I have caused thineiniquityto pass from thee, and I willcloth theewithchange of raiment.”

Revelation 19:8

8 “And to her was granted that she should be arrayed infine linen,cleanand white: for thefine linenis therighteousness of saints.”

If we arewillingtogive up sinand weask Jesusto come into ourheart,He will change usso that we actually begin tobe like Jesusin ourdaily lives!Even our ”desires” will change.Paulexplains it this way:

II Corinthians 5:17

17 Therefore if any man bein Christ, he is anewcreature: old things are passed away; behold,all thingsare becomenew.

Romans 6:3,4

3 “Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death?

4 Thereforeweareburiedwithhimby baptism unto death: that like as Christ wasraised upfrom thedeadby the glory of the Father, even sowe alsoshouldwalkinnewness of life.”

Thus,Jesusworks amiraclein our lives to ”bury” our

old life ofsin(old garment) andcreatesin us

new abilities(new garment) just as if we wereresurrectedfrom thedead!

John 3:5

“…Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except amanbe

bornofwaterand of theSpirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.”

John the Baptistexplains what it means to be

“bornofwaterand of theSpirit“:

Matthew 3:11

11 “I indeedbaptizeyou withwaterunto repentance; but he that cometh after me is mightier than I…He shallbaptizeyou with theHolyGhost…”

So it is theHoly Spiritthat brings”Power”into our lives toovercome sin!

Paultalks about this”Miracle”thatGod performsthrough the means of theHoly Spirit

to help usovercomesinin ourdaily lives.

Continued on next page

Romans 7:12 Wherefore thelawis holy, and thecommandmentholy, and just, and good.

Romans 7:23 But I seeanother lawin my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to thelaw of sinwhich is in my members.

Romans 8:8 So then they that arein the fleshcannot please God.

Romans 8:9 Butyearenotin the flesh,butin the Spirit, if so be that theSpiritof Goddwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ , he is none of his.

Romans 8:2 For thelawofthe Spiritof lifein Christ Jesushath made mefreefrom thelaw of sinand death (in my members).

Romans 6:18 Being then madefreefrom (thelaw of)sin(and death in your members), ye became the servants of righteousness.

Romans 6:13 Neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin: butyield yourselves unto God, as those that arealivefrom thedead, andyour membersasinstruments of righteousnessunto God.

Romans 6:14 Forsinshallnothavedominion over you: for ye arenotunder thelaw, (of sinand death in your members) but undergrace.*

*Grace#5485– Thedivine influenceupon theheart,

and itsreflectionin thelife.

Galations 5:16 This I say then, Walk in theSpirit, and ye shallnot fulfilthe lust of theflesh.

Galations 5:19-21 Now theworksof thefleshare manifest, whichare these; Adultery, fornication, uncleaness, lasciviousness, idolatry,…envyings, murders,…andsuch like; of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, thatthey which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.

Galations 5:18 But if ye beled oftheSpirit, ye arenotunder thelaw(of sinand death in your members)!!

This is the ”Good News” or ”Gospel” that we canNowhave

not only thedesiretoobey Godbut canalsohave the”Power”toObey Him!

Note: Words in ( ) have been added to make it clearer.

Gal. 5:16 Gal. 5:16 Paraphrase

This I say then, With the help of the Holy

walk in the Spirit, Spirit, you will not be a

and ye shall not slave of Satan’s, required

fulfil the lust of to do evil.

the flesh.

Gal. 5:17 Gal. 5:17 Paraphrase

For the flesh lusteth Normally, you are not able

against the Spirit, and the to do the things that you

Spirit against the flesh: want to do. This is because

and these are contrary the Satan has power over you

one to the other: so that ye and he is at war with God,

cannot do the things that and so causes you to serve

ye would. him instead of God.

Gal. 5:18 Gal. 5:18 Paraphrase

But if ye be led of the But, with the help of the Holy Spirit

Spirit, ye are not under a change takes place. You are freed

the law. (of sin and death from Satan’s power and are

in your members). allowed to choose to serve God

instead of Satan. No longer are you

under the law of sin and death, a

slave to Satan. You have been freed

through the law of the Holy Spirit

which gives you new life in Christ

Jesus!You have been made free so

that now you can obey God and

become His servant, instead of

Satan’s.

Rom. 8:2For thelawof theSpiritof life in Christ Jesus hath

made mefreefrom thelawofsin and death.(in my members).

Rom 6:14Forsinshallnothavedominion over you: for ye arenotunder thelaw, (of sinand death) but undergrace.

Rom. 6:18Being then madefreefrom (thelawof)sin(and death in your members), yebecamethe servants ofrighteousness.

Summary:

Thus, in order toobtainthenew garmentwe have to bewillingtogetrid oftheold garment. Or in other

words, to obtain the covering ”righteousness” ofChrist’s HolyLife, we must bewillingtogive upsinning!If weare willingandask Jesustocome intoourlife, then He will give us theHoly Spiritwhich will bringNew Powerinto ourlifewhich willenableandempowerus togive up sinning! ThenHewillcover uswithHis RobeofRighteousness!

While we are ”overcoming sin” in ourlife, and are

not perfect, as far as Heaven is concerned ”we areperfect“, because we arejudgedbyChrist’s PerfectSinless Lifeandnot ours!

Job 29:14

14 I put onrighteousness, and it clothed me:

my judgmentwas as arobeand a diadem.

Psalms 35:24

24Judge me, O Lord, according tothy righteousness;..

Isaiah 61:10

10 I will greatly rejoice in the Lord, my soul shall be joyful in my God; forhehathclothed mewith the garments of salvation,hehathcovered mewith the

robeofrighteousness,….

Revelation 3:5

5 He thatovercometh, the same shallbe clothedin white raiment; and I willnot blot outhis name out of thebook of life, but I will confess his name before my Father, and before his angels.

I John 5:55Whois he thatovercomeththeworld,

buthe thatbelieveththatJesusis the Son of God?
62

Thus, this parable makes itvery clearthatsinfulness(old garment or nakedness) isnotacceptable to God!

It also makes itvery clearthat wecannot“take away”our sinfulnessby ”our works” or ”our righteousness”!

OnlyChrist’s Righteousnessis acceptable to God!

Isaiah 64:6

6 Butweareallas an unclean thing, andall ourrighteousnessesareas filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away.

Romans 3:10

10 As it is written, There isnonerighteous, nonot one:

Isaiah 59:6

6 Their webs shallnot become garments,neithershall they cover themselves withtheir works: their works areworks of iniquity, and the act of violence is in their hands.

Thus, ”righteousness” comes through ”faith” inJesus, to do somethingfor usthatwe can’t do for ourselves!

Righteousness By Faith

Jude 24,25:“Now unto Him that is able to

1. keep youfrom falling

(Newpowerfrom Christ to keep us from

sinning.)

This is ”imparted”righteousness.

2. and to present youfaultlessbefore the

presence of His glory with exceeeding

joy.”

(Christ’sabsolutely perfect sinless life,credited

toyour account.)

This is ”imputed”righteousness.

Romans 4:5-7

5 But to him thatworketh not, butbelievethon him that justifieth the ungodly, hisfaithis counted forrighteousness. Even as David also describeth the blessedness of the man, unto whomGod imputeth righteousnesswithoutworks, Saying, Blessed are they whose iniquities are forgiven, and whosesins are covered.

But if ”works” don’t ”save us” what part does “commandment keeping” play in the plan of Salvation?

The parable reveals the answer to us.

Just as the parable required that the “old garment” be removed before the “new garment” was “put on”, soJesusrequires a ”willingness” on our part to ”give upsin”beforehe will give usHis righteousness(new garment). Then, He empowers us through the Holy Spirit to ”do righteousness” or “keep His Commandments” so that we “become like Him”. ”Commandment keeping” becomes thetestof our ”faith” and ”love” for Him.

John 14:12,15,21

12 Verily, verily, I say unto you,hethatbelievethonme, theworksthatI doshallhe do also;

15 If yeloveme,keepmycommandments.

21 He that hath my commandments, andkeepeththem,heit is thatloveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him.

Revelation 14:12

12 Here is the patience of the saints: here are they thatkeepthecommandmentsof God, and the faith of Jesus.

Thus, those that have afaithrelationship withJesusare doing their best to ”keep” His Commandmentsnotto be ”saved“, but because theylove Himand want topleaseHimand He hasasked themto “keep His Commandments” and hasgiventhem HisHoly Spirittoempowerthem todo it!

Comments:

Now, we need to go back and look at some of the “questions” we had when we first began to look at this parable.

Question1. Why would anyone “resist”buyinga

“new garment”?

Answer: The “new garment” represents

“righteousness” and requires a

“willingness” togive up sinbefore we can

obtain it. Most people arenot willingto

give up sin!

Question 2.What is involved inbuyinga

“new garment” and where do you buy it?

Answer:Since the “new garment” belongs to

”Jesus” we must ask Him to come into our

lifeand take away our sins (old garment)

and bewillingto let Himchange usso

that we can be like Him.

Revelation 3:18

18 I counsel thee tobuyofme…white raiment, that thou mayestbe clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear…

Question 3.What is thecostof the “new garment”?

Answer:The “new garment”costthelifeof Jesus, to

“dieforsin” and will require us to be

willing to “dietosin” or be “willing” to

stopsinning.

Question 4.Why would anyone feel “comfortable” in

an “old garment”?

Answer:The “old garment” represents a sinful life

and most people would rather “enjoy the

pleasures ofsinfor aseason”

than to give up sin and belikeJesus and

withJesusforever!

Hebrews 11:24,25

24 By faith Moses, when he was come to

years, refused to be called the son of

Pharaoh’s daughter;

25 Choosing rather to suffer affliction with

the people of God, than to enjoy the

pleasuresofsinfor aseason;

Doctrinal Truth:(Taught byJesusin the Parable of

“The Garment With The Holes In It”)

1. A “garment” represents a personslife.

2. An “old garment” represents asinfullife.

3. A “new garment” represents arighteouslife.

4. Nakedness representssin.

5. A “garment” with an “opening or hole” in it, revealing nakedness, represents a person who is “openly sinning”.

6. A “garment” with a “patch” over the hole, represents a person who is sinning but who tries tohidetheirsinsand toappear”righteous“.

7. A person who is totally ”naked” represents a person who istotallyunder the control of Satan and has given over their life to him tosinor “work wickedness”.

8. A person who has on a totally ”new garment” represents a person who istotallyunder the control of Christ and has given over their life to Him toobeyor “work righteousness”.

9. The “new garment” represents theRighteous Lifeor ”Righteousness” ofChrist.

10. A personcannot“become righteous” a ”littleat a

time”!A person attempting to do this is attempting to ”work” their way to heaven which is impossible.

11. A person must become ”completely righteous”

all at once!A person attempting this has asked for Christ to come intotheir lifeand byfaithdepends upon theRighteousnessofChristto become

“their righteousness”.

12. In the judgement, a person “covered” by the ”RobeofChrist’s Righteousness“, is considered as”perfectly sinless” asChrist is!

13. Wecannotcontinue to ”hold on” to our ”old sinfullife” andexpectChrist to give us a “new life”. We must allow Him to “change us” and to “take away” our filthy garment ofsinfulness.

14. When we ask for Christ to come into our life and

forgive our sins, amiracleoccurs. Christ “takes away” our “filthy garment” or sinful life. We are “buried” with Him throughbaptismand then we are “raised from the dead” with Him to begin anew life.

15. As we begin ournew lifewith Christ, He sends theHoly Spirittofree usfrom the control thatSatanhas had over us under the ”lawofsinanddeath” in our members. The ”lawofthe Spirit” makes usfreefrom the ”lawofsinanddeath” in our members and we are then able to serve God with our members as “instruments of righteousness”.

Sin no longerhas ”dominion over us” because we are undergraceor the “Divine influence upon ourheart” and this isreflectedinour life”!

Righteousness, we must bewillingtogive upthe “old garment” of sinfulness or to put it another way, we must be ”willing” togive up sin!

17. If we are ”willing” togive up sin, then Christ places His Robe of Righteousness upon us andempowers usthrough theHoly Spiritto

“do righteousness” or ”keep” HisCommandmentsinstead ofbreaking them!

18. Those who have established a ”faith” relationship with Christ will be doing their best to “keep” His Commandments,notto be ”saved“, butbecausetheylove Himand want toplease Himand He hasaskedthemto ”keep” His Commandments and hasgiventhem theHoly Spirittoempowerthem todo it!These are those who obtain ”Righteousness” byFaith!

The Parable of:

The

“Pearls Cast Before Swine”

( There are Pastors who will not Teach Truth )