Luke 5:33-34 And they said to him, Why do the disciples of John fast often, and make prayers, and likewise the disciples of the Pharisees… The outward religious life of Christ differed from that of John. One was social, the other ascetic. To the astonish. ment created by this difference among worldly people and Pharisees, Jesus voucheared no reply but "wisdom is justified of her children." Once, however, He did condescend to explain the difference between His life and the life of John. And the reply goes deep into the grounds of a religious life. I. THE REASONS FOR THE ASTONISHMENT WHICH CAUSED THE QUESTION, 1. The Divine life was social, whereas the popular conceptions of religious life are drawn naturally from those evidences which are most visible, fasting and prayers. 2. There is a tendency in disciples to copy and idolize the peculiarities of a master. Matthew tells us that it was John's disciples who put the question of the text. 3. The indifference of Christ to ascetic forms astonished, because there is a real influence in asceticism. The principle of Christianity is from within outwards. The ascetic principle reverses this. II. THE REASONS FOR WHICH JESUS DID NOT IMPOSE THE ASCETIC LIFE ON HIS DISCIPLES. 1. Because it is unnatural "Can the children of the bridechamber mourn?" &c. 2. Because of the results. The result of the forcing system is twofold:(1) The destruction of religion. The weak old wine-skins, the weak old cloth, are rent. (2) Hypocrisy. The piece agreeth not. No harmony between the form and the life. (F. W. Robertson, M. A.) Parallel Verses KJV: And they said unto him, Why do the disciples of John fast often, and make prayers, and likewise the disciples of the Pharisees; but thine eat and drink? |
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