Then John’s disciples came and asked him, “How is it that we and the Pharisees fast often, but your disciples do not fast?”
Jesus answered, “How can the guests of the bridegroom mourn while he is with them? The time will come when the bridegroom will be taken from them; then they will fast. No one sews a patch of unshrunk cloth on an old garment, for the patch will pull away from the garment, making the tear worse. Neither do people pour new wine into old wineskins. If they do, the skins will burst; the wine will run out and the wineskins will be ruined. No, they pour new wine into new wineskins, and both are preserved.”

I hear of quite a few people who fast. Some I believe do it out of obedience to God, some for health reasons, and some for righteousness “brownie points”. Fasting is a process to draw close to God, to let go of the distractions of this world, and at times to strongly petition God about an injustice. Jesus fasted to draw close to God before he was tempted forty days.

Jesus makes an interesting point here: fasting just to fast to obey some legalistic righteousness standard is pointless. So this question, posed by John’s disciples, in and of itself, has a fatal flaw. It is asking why don’t you fast as we do (why don’t you perform the ritual)? Jesus’ answer back to them is essentially guiding them back to a better question. That question is: What are the reasons we should fast in sincerity? Or what is an appropriate fast?

He goes on to answer this indirectly through a couple of analogies. First, during a wedding feast, when the bridegroom comes and is present, no one fasts. Instead they feast! Why? Because they celebrate with the bridegroom for his new bride and marriage. Jesus is the head (or bridegroom) of the church and the church is his bride. So his disciples did not fast, but celebrated this coming of new life through Jesus.

Second, if fasting was to mainly draw closer to God, and Jesus was and is God, then why fast when he is physically present? He is close already!

The last two analogies are related, a sort of double emphasis. The new patch is not appropriate for an old cloth and the new wine will burst an old wineskin. He is bringing a “new” way to God through a righteousness by faith and grace to the Jews. While it was not really completely “new”, as Abram was declared righteous by faith, the Jews had in large part settled for legalistic righteousness. Obeying the rules without a heart of obedience. Duty driven faith. And this was not real.

Jesus wanted them to see that he is the way to God and will bring redemption. He is the new covenant. He offers new life. And so this truth will not mix well with the legalistic righteousness (righteousness by outward appearance and duty) of the Pharisees.

John’s disciples really had a choice: Follow Jesus or the Pharisees. They cannot follow both at the same time.

Who do I follow and what type of righteousness am I seeking and shining out?

Thank you, Lord, for this passage, pertaining to why we fast or celebrate and also referring to your gift of new life through your mission to save us by dying on the cross. Help me to seek the righteousness you give and not a man-made legalistic righteousness. And when you prompt me to fast, may I do it with a sincere heart, not for show, but out of reverence for you.