“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.”
Matthew 9:16 — Greek Interlinear
Church Fathers on Matthew 9:16
When He had replied to them respecting eating and converse with sinners, they next assault Him on the matter of food; 'Then came to him the disciples of John, saying, Why do we and the Pharisees fast often, but thy disciples fast not?'
O boastful enquiry and ostentation of fasting much to be blamed, nor can John’s disciples be excused for their taking part with the Pharisees who they knew had been condemned by John, and for bringing a false accusation against Him whom they knew their master had preached.
What they say come to this, Be it that you do this as Physician of souls, but why do your disciples neglect fasting and approach such tables? And to aug ment the weight of their charge by comparison, they put themselves first, and then the Pharisees. They fasted as they learnt out of the Law, as the Pharisee spoke, 'I fast twice in the week;' [Luke 18:12] the others learnt it of John.