Matthew 9: 14 – 17
To Fast Or Not To Fast, That Is The Question
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.”
If you haven’t understood by now, we here at Calvary Chapel like to eat. We love our Lord’s Sermon on the Mount when He says that we are Blessed when we hunger and thirst for Righteousness for we shall be filled. We kind of take that verse a little farther then intended and say ‘blessed who hunger and thirst for we shall be filled.’ I’m saying we like to eat. Hey, don’t forget we started our ministry in Feasterville, PA. So, we shall skip this passage about fasting and go on to the next chapter. I’m only kidding.
Fasting is an important thing, if done for the right reasons.
. Fasting is necessary to temper our desires.
Simultaneously, we will be spiritually empowered. Biblically fasting is not a dieting process, missing a meal or two because we were too rushed to eat, or a hunger strike to get someone to do something. Biblically accurate is a mental and vocal declaration of doing without food in order to achieve spiritual strength, answers and direction. It can and does often assist in the following:
. You want more of God in your life
In the book of Acts chapter 10 we read of a gentile seeking more of Adoni Yahweh in his life and look at what happened. 1 There was a certain man in Caesarea called Cornelius, a centurion of what was called the Italian Regiment, 2 a devout man and one who feared God with all his household, who gave alms generously to the people, and prayed to God always. 3 About the ninth hour of the day he saw clearly in a vision an angel of God coming in and saying to him, “Cornelius!” 4 And when he observed him, he was afraid, and said, “What is it, lord?” So he said to him, “Your prayers and your alms have come up for a memorial before God. 5 Now send men to Joppa, and send for Simon whose surname is Peter. 6 He is lodging with Simon, a tanner, whose house is by the sea. He will tell you what you must do.” 7 And when the angel who spoke to him had departed, Cornelius called two of his household servants and a devout soldier from among those who waited on him continually. 8 So when he had explained all these things to them, he sent them to Joppa. 9 The next day, as they went on their journey and drew near the city, Peter went up on the housetop to pray, about the sixth hour. 10 Then he became very hungry and wanted to eat; but while they made ready, he fell into a trance 11 and saw heaven opened and an object like a great sheet bound at the four corners, descending to him and let down to the earth. 12 In it were all kinds of four-footed animals of the earth, wild beasts, creeping things, and birds of the air. 13 And a voice came to him, “Rise, Peter; kill and eat.” 14 But Peter said, “Not so, Lord! For I have never eaten anything common or unclean.” 15 And a voice spoke to him again the second time, “What God has cleansed you must not call common.” 16 This was done three times. And the object was taken up into heaven again. 17 Now while Peter wondered within himself what this vision which he had seen meant, behold, the men who had been sent from Cornelius had made inquiry for Simon’s house, and stood before the gate. 18 And they called and asked whether Simon, whose surname was Peter, was lodging there. 19 While Peter thought about the vision, the Spirit said to him, “Behold, three men are seeking you. 20 Arise therefore, go down and go with them, doubting nothing; for I have sent them.” 21 Then Peter went down to the men who had been sent to him from Cornelius, and said, “Yes, I am he whom you seek. For what reason have you come?” 22 And they said, “Cornelius the centurion, a just man, one who fears God and has a good reputation among all the nation of the Jews, was divinely instructed by a holy angel to summon you to his house, and to hear words from you.” 23 Then he invited them in and lodged them. On the next day Peter went away with them, and some brethren from Joppa accompanied him. 24 And the following day they entered Caesarea. Now Cornelius was waiting for them, and had called together his relatives and close friends. 25 As Peter was coming in, Cornelius met him and fell down at his feet and worshiped him. 26 But Peter lifted him up, saying, “Stand up; I myself am also a man.” 27 And as he talked with him, he went in and found many who had come together. 28 Then he said to them, “You know how unlawful it is for a Jewish man to keep company with or go to one of another nation. But God has shown me that I should not call any man common or unclean. 29 Therefore I came without objection as soon as I was sent for. I ask, then, for what reason have you sent for me?” 30 So Cornelius said, “Four days ago I was fasting until this hour; and at the ninth hour I prayed in my house, and behold, a man stood before me in bright clothing, 31 and said, ‘Cornelius, your prayer has been heard, and your alms are remembered in the sight of God. 32 Send therefore to Joppa and call Simon here, whose surname is Peter. He is lodging in the house of Simon, a tanner, by the sea. When he comes, he will speak to you.’ 33 So I sent to you immediately, and you have done well to come. Now therefore, we are all present before God, to hear all the things commanded you by God.” 34 Then Peter opened his mouth and said: “In truth I perceive that God shows no partiality. 35 But in every nation whoever fears Him and works righteousness is accepted by Him. 36 The word which God sent to the children of Israel, preaching peace through Jesus Christ—He is Lord of all— 37 that word you know, which was proclaimed throughout all Judea, and began from Galilee after the baptism which John preached: 38 how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power, who went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with Him. 39 And we are witnesses of all things which He did both in the land of the Jews and in Jerusalem, whom they killed by hanging on a tree. 40 Him God raised up on the third day, and showed Him openly, 41 not to all the people, but to witnesses chosen before by God, even to us who ate and drank with Him after He arose from the dead. 42 And He commanded us to preach to the people, and to testify that it is He who was ordained by God to be Judge of the living and the dead. 43 To Him all the prophets witness that, through His name, whoever believes in Him will receive remission of sins.” 44 While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit fell upon all those who heard the word. 45 And those of the circumcision who believed were astonished, as many as came with Peter, because the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out on the Gentiles also. 46 For they heard them speak with tongues and magnify God. Then Peter answered, 47 “Can anyone forbid water, that these should not be baptized who have received the Holy Spirit just as we have?” 48 And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of the Lord. Then they asked him to stay a few days,”
. You want to gain understanding and wisdom
We come to understand in the book of Daniel chapter 9, “2 in the first year of his reign I, Daniel, understood by the books the number of the years specified by the word of the LORD through Jeremiah the prophet, that He would accomplish seventy years in the desolations of Jerusalem. 3 Then I set my face toward the Lord God to make request by prayer and supplications, with fasting, sackcloth, and ashes.
Cornelius was fasting when an angel appeared unto him, prior to his conversion. Our Lord Jesus expects us to fast. However as we will now read, He taught that there is also a point not to fast.
As we have done in our other studies, we want to search to see if we can find some other Gospel that covers the same incident. If so, then we will also look at this vital information.
Mark 2: 18 – 22, “18 The disciples of John and of the Pharisees were fasting. Then they came and said to Him, “Why do the disciples of John and of the Pharisees fast, but Your disciples do not fast?” 19 And Jesus said to them, “Can the friends of the bridegroom fast while the bridegroom is with them? As long as they have the bridegroom with them they cannot fast. 20 But the days will come when the bridegroom will be taken away from them, and then they will fast in those days. 21 No one sews a piece of unshrunk cloth on an old garment; or else the new piece pulls away from the old, and the tear is made worse. 22 And no one puts new wine into old wineskins; or else the new wine bursts the wineskins, the wine is spilled, and the wineskins are ruined. But new wine must be put into new wineskins.”
Luke 5: 33 – 39, “33 Then they said to Him, “Why do the disciples of John fast often and make prayers, and likewise those of the Pharisees, but Yours eat and drink?” 34 And He said to them, “Can you make the friends of the bridegroom fast while the bridegroom is with them? 35 But the days will come when the bridegroom will be taken away from them; then they will fast in those days.” 36 Then He spoke a parable to them: “No one puts a piece from a new garment on an old one; otherwise the new makes a tear, and also the piece that was taken out of the new does not match the old. 37 And no one puts new wine into old wineskins; or else the new wine will burst the wineskins and be spilled, and the wineskins will be ruined. 38 But new wine must be put into new wineskins, and both are preserved. 39 And no one, having drunk old wine, immediately desires new; for he says, ‘The old is better.’”
Putting the three Gospels together becomes very enlightening. The Gospel of Luke just says ‘They’ came and spoke to our Lord Jesus about fasting. The ‘They’ we would guess as the Pharisees. When we read the Gospel of Matthew we see that the disciples of John were asking our Lord this question. Then, however, when we read the Gospel of Mark we come to find out that it was both the Pharisees and the disciples of John who asked our Lord about fasting. Now we have a clearer picture of what transpired. So, on with our story.
14 Then the disciples of John came to Him, saying, “Why do we and the Pharisees fast often, but Your disciples do not fast?”
The Pharisees fasted as a show twice a week on Mondays and Thursdays. Their purpose was one of mourning because the kingly rule had not yet come. If only their eyes were opened they would have seen the King right in their midst.
15 And Jesus said to them, “Can the friends of the bridegroom mourn as long as the bridegroom is with them?
Our Precious Lord points out that such fasting now is inappropriate. For He Is the Bridegroom. The King has arrived. The Rule of God is now at hand.
Fasting is reserved for times of mourning and unhappiness. But those who are invited to a wedding to enjoy His day with Him cannot fast for they would ruin the celebration. To fast under such situation would be an insult to the Bridegroom.
You see again our Lord was giving these religious advocates an indication that they should realize that He Is the Messiah. If they had known the Scripture then they would have be curious as to our Lord’s reference as the Bridegroom. For the prophet Isaiah said in chapter 62, “5 For as a young man marries a virgin, so shall your sons marry you; And as the bridegroom rejoices over the bride, so shall your God rejoice over you.” Our Lord Jesus Is here now to restore the people to God the Father.
But the days will come when the bridegroom will be taken away from them, and then they will fast.
He said that his followers would fast when the Bridegroom would no longer be with them
Picture your best friend is going to get married. You are going to be the best man at his wedding. You get a phone call that he is missing. The police indicate that he might have been abducted. What are you going to do. What can you do? If you are a believer in our Lord Jesus Christ you can fast and pray that the Lord would intercede and help the authorities find him alive. This is the picture that our Lord is painting to us all. Our Friend Is with His people. Why would we fast and mourn when we can enjoy His company. However, He Is pointing out which no one picked up that for some reason He Is going to be taken away. This is the area that all those around Him should have inquired about. But know they were all hooked up on traditions.
So, to shake up their thinking our Lord gives an illustration.
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.”
Our Lord Is declaring that it is now time for new clothing and wine. The old must not be supplemented but be replaced by new light and teachings of the Messiah.
Our Lord separated His truth into plain truth which it would be hard to refute His point. These religious men knew from common sense that both older garments and wine will not blend in with new garments or wine. The old traditions and rules will not blend in with new freedom of a personal relationship with God Almighty.
May we learn likewise to cast off all the old legal rules and traditions that anchor us from the enjoyment of having a personal relationship with our Great Master, our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
