Connect Matthew 9:15 to other scriptures about fasting and spiritual discipline. Setting the Scene: Matthew 9:15 “Jesus answered, ‘Can the wedding guests mourn while the bridegroom is with them? But the time will come when the bridegroom will be taken from them; then they will fast.’” Why the Wedding Image Matters • A wedding feast is a time of joy, not deprivation. • Jesus—“the bridegroom”—is physically present, so fasting would be out of step with the celebration. • His departure (cross, resurrection, ascension) ushers in a new season when fasting becomes appropriate again for His disciples. Echoes in the Synoptic Parallels • Mark 2:19-20; Luke 5:34-35 repeat the same imagery, reinforcing a literal expectation: after Jesus is “taken,” His followers “will fast.” • This sets a pattern—Christ’s physical absence equals a call to intensified spiritual discipline. Old Testament Foundations for Fasting • Leviticus 16:29-31 — The Day of Atonement: “You shall afflict yourselves.” A commanded, national fast for repentance. • Joel 2:12-13 — “Return to Me with all your heart, with fasting…rend your hearts and not your garments.” Fasting linked to wholehearted repentance. • Isaiah 58:6 — “The fast that I choose…to loose the bonds of wickedness.” God demands fasting that produces righteousness and justice. • Daniel 9:3 — “I turned my face to the Lord God, seeking Him by prayer and supplications, with fasting…” Personal, humble pursuit of God. • Esther 4:16 — “Fast for me…do not eat or drink for three days.” Corporate fasting for deliverance. These passages ground fasting in real historical events, showing it as a literal, God-ordained practice. Jesus’ Broader Teaching on Fasting • Matthew 4:2 — Jesus fasted forty days and nights, modeling total dependence on the Father. • Matthew 6:16-18 — “When you fast…your Father who sees in secret will reward you.” Fasting is assumed, not optional, and must be sincere. • Matthew 9:15 (our anchor) then clarifies timing: fasting after His departure expresses longing for His return and deeper fellowship now. Fasting in the Early Church • Acts 13:2-3 — “While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said…” Fasting precedes missionary commissioning. • Acts 14:23 — “Paul and Barnabas appointed elders…with prayer and fasting.” Leadership decisions bathed in fasting. • 2 Corinthians 6:5; 11:27 — Paul lists “fastings” among his hardships—regular, literal self-denial for gospel ministry. Fasting Within a Wider Discipline • 1 Corinthians 9:27 — “I discipline my body and make it my slave.” Physical restraint strengthens spiritual resolve. • Romans 12:1 — “Present your bodies as a living sacrifice.” Fasting becomes a tangible offering. • Galatians 5:16-17 — “Walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh.” Fasting trains the will to side with the Spirit. • 1 Peter 4:7 — “Be sober-minded and alert for the sake of your prayers.” Fasting sharpens spiritual sobriety and prayer. Key Truths to Carry Forward • Scripture presents fasting as a literal, God-approved practice from Moses to the early church. • Jesus’ presence on earth suspended fasting; His ascension re-activated it as a marker of devotion and expectancy. • Fasting partners with prayer, repentance, guidance, and empowerment. • It is never mere ritual; it aims at heart transformation, obedience, and intimacy with Christ until the “wedding supper of the Lamb” (Revelation 19:7-9). |
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