In these verses we find Jesus still at the feast
that Levi had hosted. Jesus had clearly indicated the reason for His participation.
He said He came to call the sinners to repentance. Hence it would not be
incongruent to find Him among sinners, for it is for them that He came – to give
His life as a ransom for many. The feast of course was viewed by the Pharisees and
the scribes, or teachers of the Law, unfavorably. Matthew 9:14 narrating the
same incident, said that the disciples of John came to ask Jesus a question. The
Pharisees and scribes must have instigated this question to discredit Jesus. So
the question, “The disciples of John
often fast and offer prayers, the disciples of the Pharisees
also do the same, but Yours eat and drink.”
We must remember that John
the Baptist lived an ascetic lifestyle. He constantly called the people to
repent and mourn for their sin. He was the final prophet cast in the mold of
the Old Testament prophets. His purpose, as we know, was to prepare the way for
the New Covenant and the Messiah. His style of ministry was very Old Testament
and naturally his disciples would adopt the same. What they saw happening in
Levi’s party did not seem to jive with what they were taught, plus the fact that
fasting was regularly practiced by people of the Old Testament. While it is a
good practice to fast, there will be those that would abuse the practice.
There is this misgiving
that fasting can make one more holy. Advocate of such idea often do not realize
that they are teaching holiness achieved through self-effort, and a righteousness
attained through works. So by Jesus’ time, the Pharisees had insisted that
people who were godly fast twice a week. Fasting to them meant mourning. It was
done with a woeful look so as to gain God’s sympathy and attention. They taught
that true religion must be solemn, gloomy and joyless. Most Pharisees tried to
look as forlorn as possible when engaging in a fast. They dressed shabbily and
whitened their faces to bring about an emaciated look. They supposed that to be
spiritual meant being uncomfortable.
Jesus answered them with a
question, “Can you make the guests of the bridegroom fast while he is with
them?” The implication is this, His presence with them justified a feast. Being
in the presence of Jesus generates joyous celebration. Fasting has its place, but
no one fast when they are in a wedding celebration. Being with Jesus is a perpetual
celebration. However, there would be a proper time for fasting. It happened at
the cross. Even then, sorrow finally gave way to the joy of Christ’s
Resurrection and Ascension.
Immediately Jesus answered
them by telling two parables - the parables of using a piece of new cloth to
patch up a tear in an old garment, and putting new wine in old wineskin. Both
the parables indicate that the message and moment that Jesus brought, result in
liberation, free from sin to live for God and to serve Him freely. The Pharisees
who insist on living the old legalistic way, will find it hard to accept Jesus’
new liberating way. They mistakenly insisted that their old wine was better and
refused to partake of the new liberating wine that Jesus came to give. It
reveals how stubborn we humans can be. When we are dogmatically steeped in our old
ways, we become suspicious of anything new, even when it is truly of God.
What should we do? Hold fast to the truth, be open to what God
can do. But do not just take in everything undiscerningly. We must examine every
claim that purports to come from God. Check it with the Word of God. Hold all things
with a gentle grasp. Remember that God can do exceedingly, abundantly above all
that we can ever ask, think or imagine.
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