Matthew 9:16 English Standard Version (ESV) No one puts a piece of unshrunk cloth on an old garment, for the patch tears away from the garment, and a worse tear is made.

Since Jesus first addresses their understanding of religious exercises, the second challenge is over their identity. Garments represent status, i.e. the priest desiring the best robes, to look good, to appear righteous where righteousness is seen as the whitest robes with not one spot of blood on them.

The old garment the old identity is in reference to becoming this new creation in Christ. This newness of life should take on a new appearance, one which shows a change in both character and worship. Since that old identity was closely associate with the OT law, what does this new identity look like?

For one thing it cannot be a patch of torn identity, one cannot keep the OT law and this new identity which is based on our being the bride and Jesus the bridegroom. Our identity is His identity, because we have become one flesh in betrothal.

Isaiah 1:5 English Standard Version (ESV) Why will you still be struck down? Why will you continue to rebel? The whole head is sick, and the whole heart faint.

The head needs to change to one that is not sick.

1 Corinthians 11:3a English Standard Version (ESV) But I want you to understand that the head of every man is Christ,

Ephesians 1:22 English Standard Version (ESV) And he put all things under his feet and gave him as head over all things to the church,

Colossians 2:10 English Standard Version (ESV) and you have been filled in him, who is the head of all rule and authority.

1 Corinthians 2:16b English Standard Version (ESV) But we have the mind of Christ.

We have the mind of Christ, He is our Lord, our bridegroom, in whom our identity is securely fixed.