Rachel Workman: 14 One day the disciples of John the
Baptist came to Jesus and asked him, “Why don’t your disciples fast like we do
and the Pharisees do?”
15 Jesus replied, “Do wedding guests mourn while celebrating with the groom? Of course not. But someday the groom will be taken away from them, and then they will fast.
16 “Besides, who would patch old clothing with new cloth? For the new patch would shrink and rip away from the old cloth, leaving an even bigger tear than before.
17 “And no one puts new wine into old wineskins. For the old skins would burst from the pressure, spilling the wine and ruining the skins. New wine is stored in new wineskins so that both are preserved.”
Old ways of worship, such as ritual worship like the Pharisees were doing, were no longer required because of Jesus. Jesus did not come to "patch up" those old forms of worship and keep them going, but instead he was keeping Christianity separate from traditions of Judaism and other religions at the time.
15 Jesus replied, “Do wedding guests mourn while celebrating with the groom? Of course not. But someday the groom will be taken away from them, and then they will fast.
16 “Besides, who would patch old clothing with new cloth? For the new patch would shrink and rip away from the old cloth, leaving an even bigger tear than before.
17 “And no one puts new wine into old wineskins. For the old skins would burst from the pressure, spilling the wine and ruining the skins. New wine is stored in new wineskins so that both are preserved.”
Old ways of worship, such as ritual worship like the Pharisees were doing, were no longer required because of Jesus. Jesus did not come to "patch up" those old forms of worship and keep them going, but instead he was keeping Christianity separate from traditions of Judaism and other religions at the time.
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John
Burnett: 14 Then the disciples of John *came to
Him, asking, “Why do we and the Pharisees fast, but Your disciples do not
fast?” 15 And Jesus said to them, “The [a]attendants of the bridegroom
cannot mourn as long as the bridegroom is with them, can they? But the days
will come when the bridegroom is taken away from them, and then they will fast.
16 But no one puts [b]a patch of unshrunk cloth on
an old garment; for [c]the patch pulls away from
the garment, and a worse tear results. 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.” Christ is the
bridegroom and His church is the bride. He was crucified, buried, rose
from the dead and appeared to the disciples and 500 others and now has gone to
prepare a place for His bride. I know the disciples mourned the loss of
their teacher and savior and probably fasted after He left them. If we
choose to fast, not only should we focus on what He did for us on the cross,
but also what He has been doing for us for the past 2000+ years. Preparing
a place beyond our wildest imaginations where we will spend eternity with Him.
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Allen Michaels: 14 Then John’s disciples came and asked him, “How is it
that we and the Pharisees fast often, but your disciples do not fast?”
15 Jesus answered, “How can the guests of the bridegroom
mourn while he is with them? The time will come when the bridegroom will be
taken from them; then they will fast.
16 “No one sews a patch of unshrunk cloth on an old
garment, for the patch will pull away from the garment, making the tear worse. 17 Neither
do people pour new wine into old wineskins. If they do, the skins will burst;
the wine will run out and the wineskins will be ruined. No, they pour new wine
into new wineskins, and both are preserved.”
Which comes first, fasting or
feasting? The disciples of John the Baptist were upset with Jesus’
disciples because they did not fast. Fasting was one of the three most
important religious duties, along with prayer and almsgiving. Jesus gave
a simple explanation. There’s a time for fasting and a time for feasting
(or celebrating). To walk as a disciple with Jesus is to experience a whole new
joy of relationship akin to the joy of the wedding party in celebrating with
the groom and bride their wedding bliss. But there also comes a time when the Lord's
disciples must bear the cross of affliction and purification. For the
disciple there is both a time for rejoicing in the Lord's presence and
celebrating his goodness and a time for seeking the Lord with humility and
fasting and for mourning over sin. Do you take joy in the Lord’s presence
with you and do you express sorrow and contrition for your sins?
"Lord, fill me with your
Holy Spirit that I may grow in the knowledge of your great love and
truth. Help me to seek you earnestly in prayer and fasting that I may
turn away from sin and willfulness and conform my life more fully to your will.
May I always find joy in knowing, loving, and serving you.”
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