Knowing The Word in Luke 5:33-39, A Question about Fasting

Apparently the disciples of Jesus are too cheerful for the Pharisees! They prefer the more austere disciples of John. The only requirement in the law for fasting was on the Day of Atonement. Jesus explains that his presence brings joy like that of a wedding party. Jesus explains in parable form the changes he is bringing on behalf of God. Jesus makes the point that he is not simply patching up Judaism. What he is doing will not be palatable to some. They will not want the new as they are content with the old. Jesus points to how the Old and New Covenants will not work together.

33 And they said to him, “The disciples of John fast often and offer prayers, and so do the disciples of the Pharisees, but yours eat and drink.” 34 And Jesus said to them, “Can you make wedding guests fast while the bridegroom is with them? 35 The days will come when the bridegroom is taken away from them, and then they will fast in those days.” 36 He also told them a parable: “No one tears a piece from a new garment and puts it on an old garment. If he does, he will tear the new, and the piece from the new will not match the old. 37 And no one puts new wine into old wineskins. If he does, the new wine will burst the skins and it will be spilled, and the skins will be destroyed.

38 But new wine must be put into fresh wineskins. 39 And no one after drinking old wine desires new, for he says, ‘The old is good.’”

Prayer:

Jesus, receive my heart,

and bring me to thy love.

Kindle fire within me,

that I may win to thy love,

and see thy face in bliss

which shall never cease,

in heaven with never an ending.

Richard Rolle, 1295-1349