Matthew 9:14 - 17

14 Then the disciples of John came to Him, saying, “Why do we and the Pharisees fast often, but Your disciples do not fast?”

15 And 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.

16 No one puts a piece of unshrunk cloth on an old garment; for the patch pulls away from the garment, and the tear is made worse.

17 Nor do they put new wine into old wineskins, or else the wineskins break, the wine is spilled, and the wineskins are ruined. But they put new wine into new wineskins, and both are preserved.”

The subject of fasting is brought up by the disciples of John the Baptist. Fasting has never been commanded as a regular practice for the followers of Christ.

There are times where fasting is appropriate when grieving or for times of important decision making.

John the Baptist had been executed by Herod at this time, his followers had grieved and were still grieving so they were often fasting in his honor and in their sorrow.

Making an important decision is a good time to utilize fasting.

Cornelius the Roman centurion was fasting before being told by the angel to send for Peter. (Acts 10:30)

Paul during his missionary journeys employed fasting and prayers when appointing elders in the congregations. (Acts 14:23)

Paul advises husbands and wives to only abstain from sexual activities while participating in prayer and fasting. (1 Corinthians 7:5)

Paul also said he participated in fasting along with the tribulations he faced in preaching the Gospel. (2 Corinthians 6:5), (2 Corinthians 11:27)

Christians are not commanded to fast, but there may be spiritual benefits to fasting for them.

Jesus represents himself as a bridegroom who is still present with his friends, during these times there would be no need to mourn. There would be time to mourn after he was taken from them.

Jesus continues the contrast of the situations which were facing the followers of John and the followers of Christ. To tell the followers of John they should not mourn, would be like putting new patches on the old garments, the advice would not fit the situation and cause more problems for the followers, they were mourning and fasting did fit the times.

In contrast the followers of Jesus had no reason to mourn, telling them to fast in mourning would cause as much problems as placing new wine in old dry leather containers, there is no need for mourning and fasting because Jesus was still with them.

We need to think of the teaching of Solomon.

(Ecclesiastes 3:1,4[To everything there is a season,

A time for every purpose under heaven: ]

[A time to weep,

And a time to laugh;

A time to mourn,

And a time to dance; ])