How does Luke 5:35 connect with Matthew 9:15 on fasting and mourning? The Shared Picture: Jesus as the Bridegroom • Luke 5:35—“But the days will come when the Bridegroom will be taken from them; then they will fast.” • Matthew 9:15—“Jesus answered, ‘Can the wedding guests mourn while the Bridegroom is with them? The days will come when the Bridegroom will be taken from them, and then they will fast.’” Both verses hinge on one vivid image: Jesus is the Bridegroom, His disciples are the wedding attendants. Weddings are marked by joy, feasting, and music—not sackcloth and fasting. Two Key Verbs: Mourning and Fasting • Matthew emphasizes “mourn.” • Luke emphasizes “fast.” The difference highlights two facets of the same heart-response once Jesus is physically absent: ––Sorrow over the Bridegroom’s departure (mourning). ––A bodily expression of that longing (fasting). Isaiah 58:3-7 links fasting to heartfelt contrition; Matthew 5:4 connects mourning to divine comfort. Together, the verbs paint a complete picture of inward grief expressed outwardly. Why No Fasting While Jesus Was Present? • Weddings are celebratory; the Bridegroom’s presence demands joy (John 3:29). • Jesus’ earthly ministry was a foretaste of the messianic banquet (Isaiah 25:6; Luke 14:15). • To fast during that time would contradict the prophetic symbolism of fulfilled messianic promise. Ecclesiastes 3:1, 4—there is “a time to weep and a time to laugh.” What Changes When the Bridegroom Is “Taken”? • “Taken” (Greek apairō) points to Jesus’ violent removal by the cross (Isaiah 53:8). • Post-ascension, the Church lives in an in-between era: engaged to Christ yet awaiting the wedding feast (Revelation 19:7-9). • Fasting and mourning now become appropriate acts of yearning (Romans 8:23), sharpening hunger for His return. Early Church Application • Acts 13:2-3; 14:23—believers fasted when seeking guidance and appointing leaders. • 2 Corinthians 11:27—Paul lists fasting among his hardships, implying regular practice. Fasting is no legalistic holdover; it is a post-ascension rhythm anchoring believers in dependence and expectancy. Practical Takeaways for Today • Fast with purpose: repentance (Joel 2:12-13), guidance, or intensified prayer for Christ’s kingdom to advance (Matthew 6:10). • Let fasting carry the tone of bridal longing, not empty ritual (Matthew 6:16-18). • Remember the future wedding feast; fasting is temporary. Joy will be permanent when the Bridegroom returns (John 16:20-22). Summary Luke 5:35 and Matthew 9:15 together teach that joyous celebration marked Jesus’ earthly presence, while His physical absence invites both mourning and fasting. These practices cultivate holy longing for the day the Bridegroom comes again, when fasting will give way forever to feasting. |
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