The Wedding Feast: The Joy of the New Covenant Living | Luke 5:33–39

Luke 5:33–39 ESV

And they said to him, “The disciples of John fast often and offer prayers, and so do the disciples of the Pharisees, but yours eat and drink.” And Jesus said to them, “Can you make wedding guests fast while the bridegroom is with them? The days will come when the bridegroom is taken away from them, and then they will fast in those days.” He also told them a parable: “No one tears a piece from a new garment and puts it on an old garment. If he does, he will tear the new, and the piece from the new will not match the old. And no one puts new wine into old wineskins. If he does, the new wine will burst the skins and it will be spilled, and the skins will be destroyed. But new wine must be put into fresh wineskins. And no one after drinking old wine desires new, for he says, ‘The old is good.’ ”

In Luke 5:34–35, Jesus uses a powerful picture to describe who He is and what His ministry is all about. He calls Himself the bridegroom, painting a scene that everyone in His day would instantly understand. Back in first-century Israel, weddings weren’t just a one-day party—they were a week-long celebration filled with food, music, laughter, and community. The bridegroom was the star of the show, alongside the bride, and they were treated like royalty during this joyful time. The special guests, called the “children of the bridechamber,” joined in the fun, eating, dancing, and soaking up the happiness. As scholar Darrell Bock points out, fasting—something tied to sadness or serious prayer—made no sense at a wedding. It would be like showing up to a party and refusing to eat cake! Jesus is saying His time with His disciples is like a wedding feast, a moment of pure joy because God’s kingdom has arrived with Him.

Not only this, but this bridegroom image carries a deeper meaning, too. Jesus is connecting Himself to Old Testament passages where God calls Himself Israel’s husband (like in Isaiah 54:5–6 or Hosea 2:19–20). By saying He’s the bridegroom, Jesus is making a bold claim: He’s not just a teacher or prophet—He’s God Himself, bringing the promise of a renewed relationship with His people.

As His disciples, we are the “children of the bridechamber,” and we get to share in this happiness, so it’s no wonder the were not fasting.

Why would they mourn when Jesus, the source of God’s joy, is right there with them?

But Jesus also hints at a sadder day to come, when “the bridegroom is taken away” (v. 35), pointing to His crucifixion. As Joel Green notes, this shows that His time on earth is a unique, joyful moment—a taste of God’s kingdom—before the cross changes everything. So, for now, it’s a time to celebrate, but later, there’ll be a time for fasting and reflection though for a short time. For three days there is mourning, but then joy comes again.

As Christians, there is not place for mourning, we aren't called to be glum. We're a part of the marriage feast of Christ! We should CELEBRATE!

The New Garment & New Wineskins: The Incompatibility of the Old and New

But Jesus expands the example by giving the example of new garments and new wineskins.

When Kristy and I were first married I had this plaid shirt. I loved it. It was comfortable and light. It was before moisture-wicking technology, so finding a good, sturdy, breathable shirt was hard and so I wore that shirt. A lot. In fact, I wore it so much that Kristy came to hate that shirt. She would complain about how much I wore it. Until one day, I noticed as I was getting dressed, a hole under my arm. My favorite shirt began to tear, and I would still wear it, hiding the hole, until one day I couldn't hide it any more. The threadbare shirt finally gave up the ghost and I had to throw it away. I'm going to tell you, it was almost like a funeral for me.

In our passage Jesus says that points us to a truth: We like comfortable things. This applies shirts, and to religion. We like what we like and we don't like change. Whether it's music, or pews, or decor, we like what we like. There is in each of us people a kind of passion for the old and because of this nothing moves more slowly than a church.

For the Jews, what Jesus was saying was difficult. The pharisees were a part of a rigid, legalistic framework. Everything was the way it was because it was the way it was. Both parables illustrate that Jesus' teachings and the kingdom he would inaugurate could not be appended to the religious structures of the Old testament but must put in a new framework.

Live a life of Joy.

J - Jesus

Celebrate His Presence in Worship. We should be joyful people. Not living by a checklist of rules, but lives of gratitude, prayers, and passion.

O - Others

Share the Joy of Jesus with Others Around You. You've heard of the "plus one" at a wedding. It's where you have the opportunity to invite a date or friend to a wedding. Who is your spiritual plus one today?

Y - Yield

We must yield ourselves to a mindset open to God's Work. Jesus’ analogy hints at the need for new wineskins (v. 37), a fresh way of thinking that’s open to His transformative grace. For yourself, this means letting go of “old wineskins”—like legalistic habits or resistance to change—that keep you from experiencing the joy of God’s kingdom. Reflect on areas where you might be stuck in routine or fear, and ask God to renew your heart.