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Gospel of Matthew - Chapter 9 - Fasting

by Paul George  
5/14/2008 / Bible Studies

Matthew 9:14-17

"Then John's disciples came to him, saying, 'Why do we and the Pharisees fast often, but your disciples don't fast?' Jesus said to them, 'Can the friends of the bridegroom mourn, as long as the bridegroom is with them? But the days will come when the bridegroom will be taken away from them, and then they will fast. No one puts a piece of unshrunk cloth on an old garment; for the patch would tear away from the garment, and a worse hole is made. Neither do people put new wine into old wineskins, or else the skins would burst, and the wine be spilled, and the skins ruined. No, they put new wine into fresh wineskins, and both are preserved'" (WEB).

This is the third incident of finding fault with the activity of Jesus and His disciples in this chapter; two by the scribes and Pharisees, the healing of the paralytic and eating with the tax collectors and sinners, the third by the disciples of John, involving fasting. The Pharisees and John's disciples fasted twice a week. The required fasts were the Day of Atonement, the day before Purim, a Jewish holiday observed on the fourteenth and fifteenth of the month Adar, a month before the Passover and commemorating the deliverance of the Jews by Esther and Mordecai from a massacre plot by Haman (Esther 3:7; 9:24-32), and the ninth of Ab, commemorating the fall of Jerusalem. The disciples of John came to Jesus and wanted to know why His disciples did not fast as often as they did.

In his gospel Mark tells us, "John's disciples and the Pharisees were fasting, and they came and asked him, 'Why do John's disciples and the disciples of the Pharisees fast, but your disciples don't fast'" (Mark 2:18 WEB)? In his gospel Luke tells us, "They said to him, 'Why do John's disciples often fast and pray, likewise also the disciples of the Pharisees, but yours eat and drink'" (Luke 5:33 WEB)?

We are told who asked Jesus the question about the fasting of the Pharisees, their disciples, and the disciples of John. The question is what can we learn from this incident.

The first thing we see in this incident we need to be careful who we develop relationships with; it is very easy to get involved with the disguised servants of Satan who will create division with the body of believers. A door that is opened for Satan's servants is the one when God's people differ in their doctrine in matters that have no negative effect of the doctrine of salvation. Satan's servants will use these differs to sow discord and alienate them one from another. What difference does it make if some of God's people fast twice a week, some once a week, and some only when they feel led by the Holy Spirit?

In the question asked about fasting we see a sign of boasting. We also see a practice of following the leader. The disciples of John were probably following his practices of fasting. However, there can be a danger in this practice of following the leader. The danger, in this case, in following the leader's practice of fasting can be merely an outward act that does not come from the leading of the Holy Spirit. The Pharisees fasted twice a week in order to show how righteous they supposed themselves to be yet John called them a brood of vipers. With John in prison that shows the loyalty of his disciples.
Note Jesus' response. He does it almost every time some charge is brought against Him or His disciples; He puts His adversary on the defense. He answers questions with a question. Jesus could have asked why John's disciples fast as often as they do. Instead Jesus asks them a question that has a deeper meaning than what appears on the surface. Why should His disciples fast? There is no need to fast. If they need something all they need to do is ask Jesus.

What did the disciples' of John hope to accomplish in coming to Jesus with the question why His disciples did not fast? If the Pharisees were the motivation of the question it is possible they could get Jesus to make adverse comments about the disciples of John or His disciples. If Jesus would have fallen into the Pharisees trap they would have a wedge to use in creating discord among Jesus' disciple and the relationship between His disciples and John's disciples.

Jesus did what we need to do when someone tries to create discord in the body of believers. Jesus did not reprimand John's disciples for following the practice of the Pharisees and justify the failure of His disciples to fast as often as John's disciples fasted. Instead Jesus explained why it was not necessary for His disciples to fast but also said there would come a time when it would be necessary for His disciples to fast.

If the disciples of John had paid attention to what John had taught them they would have immediately understood what Jesus was referring to when He used the term bridegroom. John used the term bridegroom when he called himself a friend of the bridegroom (John 3:29).

After explaining why His disciples did not fast Jesus uses an illustration of putting a piece of unshrunk cloth on an old garment to explain that grace is replacing the rule of the law. Jesus uses an illustration of not putting new wine into old wineskins to explain the teachings of the scribes and Pharisees and His teachings cannot be mixed. What Jesus is revealing and it probably went right over the heads of John's disciples and His disciples, the practices and traditions of Judaism can not be forced into Christianity.

One of the major problems in the first century was the doctrine of the Judaizers that was making its way into the churches as well as the teachings of the Gnostics. Today, we are encountering not only a form of Gnosticism in churches; we are also encountering New Age doctrines.

In verses sixteen and seventeen there is a lesson for every pastor and mature believer. Some of the teachings of Jesus have a deeper spiritual meaning than others. Most are contrary to the desires of the heart. All followers of Jesus must have time to grow. They do not need a bunch of Bible bangers beating them on the head.

We need to remember a baby crawls before it can walk; it walks before it can run. Before venturing out into the deep water we need to know how to swim. Jesus knew He must lead His disciples gradually out of the rule of the law and into the freedom of grace. If He did not do this the disciples would be tempted to return to their old beliefs after the death and resurrection of Jesus. In His teachings Jesus laid a strong foundation for the disciples.

This is what the youth of the church need today.

Retired pastor,Church of the Nazarene

Author of web site Exploring God's Word

www.thewordofgodonline.net

New American Standard Bible

King James Version

The World English Bible

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