18 Now John's disciples and the Pharisees were fasting. Some people came and asked Jesus, "How is it that John's disciples and the disciples of the Pharisees are fasting, but yours are not?"
19 Jesus answered, "How can the guests of the bridegroom fast while he is with them? They cannot, so long as they have him with them. 20 But the time will come when the bridegroom will be taken from them, and on that day they will fast."
21 "No one sews a patch of unshrunk cloth on an old garment. If he does, the new piece will pull away from the old, making the tear worse. 22 And no one pours new wine into old wineskins. If he does, the wine will burst the skins, and both the wine and the wineskins will be ruined. No, he pours new wine into new wineskins."
Jesus’ rebuttal to the people’s query reminds me of Paul’s words to the Corinthians:
17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come! 2 Cor 5:17 (NIV)
Jesus came ushering in a new covenant – one filled with mercy and grace. The Prophet Jeremiah prophesized regarding this covenant for which our Lord came from heaven to establish:
31 "The time is coming," declares the LORD, "when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah." Jer 31:31 (NIV)
Paul states in Romans believers figuratively die to live this new life that our Lord ushers in:
3 Or don't you know that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? 4 We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life. Romans 6:3-4 (NIV)
“God delights in His covenant and so we are sure He will not turn back from it. It is the joy of His holy heart. He delights to do His people good. To pass over transgression, iniquity, and sin is the recreation of Jehovah. Did you ever hear God singing? It is extraordinary that the Divine One would solace Himself with song, yet a prophet has thus revealed the Lord to us: ‘The Lord thy God in the midst of thee is mighty; he will save, he will rejoice over thee with joy; he will rest in his love, he will joy over thee with singing.’ (Zephaniah 3:17). The covenant is the heart of God written out in the blood of Jesus.” Charles Spurgeon, Grace, God’s Unmerited Favor
Certainly, in our verses for today, Jesus was not negating the practice of fasting – the Old Testament Law required it of the Jews yet only on the annual Day of Atonement as an act of repentance. Jesus Himself fasted forty days. Fasting is both an outward sign of humility as well as regret for sin and an inner discipline that keeps the spirit alert and focused. Also, in the Sermon on the Mount Jesus gets specific regarding what our actions are to look like “when” and not “if” we fast to ensure our motives pure:
16 "When you fast, do not look somber as the hypocrites do, for they disfigure their faces to show men they are fasting. I tell you the truth, they have received their reward in full. 17 But when you fast, put oil on your head and wash your face, 18 so that it will not be obvious to men that you are fasting, but only to your Father, who is unseen; and your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you." Matt 6:16-18 (NIV)
The Pharisees however, as an act of piety, took fasting to a whole different level promoting voluntary fasts twice a week. The Baptist, Scripture states, came neither eating nor drinking yet was being accused of being a demon. John came with two goals – to lead people to repentance and to prepare them for Christ’s coming – our consecration preceding God’s mighty works – things too hard for man to do. We find Jesus’ words in Matthew:
18 "For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they say, 'He has a demon.' 19 The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they say, 'Here is a glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and "sinners."' But wisdom is proved right by her actions." Matt 11:18-19 (NIV)
Next Jesus states how out of place and inappropriate it would be for His disciples to fast while He was still walking amongst them. They would have many opportunities to fast once He, the Bridegroom, was taken from their presence. There was no need for this expression of sorrow while He was in their midst – in His presence is fullness of joy. King David writes:
11 You have made known to me the path of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence, with eternal pleasures at your right hand. Psalms 16:11 (NIV)
The new covenant Jesus came to usher in could not be placed in the old vessels of clay hence Jesus’ parabolic words to His hearers. The rigid religiosity of the Pharisees was as the old wineskins – their hardened hearts preventing them from accepting the new life Christ freely offered. There is a certain fleshly comfort in sameness which tugged at their hearts as well. We must beware - hardened cynical hearts prone to worshipping the tradition of men are not fertile ground for the seed of God’s Word to be planted. Broken and contrite hearts, on the other hand, our Lord never despises:
17 The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise. Psalms 51:17 (NIV)