Tradition

Matthew 9:14-17

14 Then John’s disciples came and asked him, “How is it that we and the Pharisees fast, but your disciples do not fast?”

15 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.

16 “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.

17 Neither do men 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.”

John’s disciples questioned Jesus about fasting.

John’s disciples were criticizing, grumbling, and complaining. Why? Because Jesus’ disciples were not doing what John’s disciples thought they should. Jesus’ disciples were not fasting in prayer and asking God to deliver John from prison, nor were they fasting two times a week like all religionists were supposed to do. Simply stated, Jesus’ disciples were living loose lives. They were not following the rules and regulations of religion.

How often we criticize those who veer away from the traditions and rules that we practice and often find easy to keep. Most men are disciplined in some areas and undisciplined in others. It is easy to criticize a man’s weakness while overlooking our own.

Why is it that those who are criticized and murmured against the most are those who are so often serving the most? They are the very ones doing the most.

The illustration is clear. During the marriage festivities of a bridegroom, as long as the bridegroom is present, his attendants rejoice. It is a joyful, festive time. Jesus was teaching several lessons.

⇒ He is the Bridegroom (see Jn. 3:29). The children are the attendants or children of the bride-chamber.

⇒ His presence was an occasion of joy and rejoicing. His presence is what makes the difference in a life. If He is present, there is no reason to mourn. He brings joy and rejoicing to life (Ps. 16:11; Jn. 15:11; Ph. 4:4; 2 Co. 6:10).

⇒ His presence was going to be removed; then His disciples would mourn and fast. The absence of His presence would be cause for mourning and fasting.