A Time for Feasting and A Time for Fasting

Luke 5:33–39 ESV

33 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.” 34 And Jesus said to them, “Can you make wedding guests fast while the bridegroom is with them? 35 The days will come when the bridegroom is taken away from them, and then they will fast in those days.” 36 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. 37 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. 38 But new wine must be put into fresh wineskins. 39 And no one after drinking old wine desires new, for he says, ‘The old is good.’ ”

Jesus Sheds More Light on the Legalists

Jesus continues to be confronted with questions on the behavior of His disciples, their beliefs and apparent doubts concerning their motivations for their behavior. The Pharisees are making a comparison between John the Baptist’s disciples, their own disciples and Jesus’ disciples. They point out that John’s disciples and their disciples fast and pray regularly, while Jesus’ disciples eat and drink.

Jesus however, doesn’t cower and He does not become defensive. In fact, He responds perfectly (go figure).

He responds to their question with a question and an analogy, or parable, as He often does, when someone inquires information from Him.

We learn from other statements that He makes to His disciples, that He speaks in parables for a purpose. In the Gospel of Matthew Jesus explains that He speaks in parables, in order that those that have been given the secrets to the Kingdom of Heaven might know, but that those who have not been given the secrets to the Kingdom of Heaven, will not know, as was prophesied in Isaiah 6:9,10

Isaiah 6:9–10 ESV

9 And he said, “Go, and say to this people: “ ‘Keep on hearing, but do not understand; keep on seeing, but do not perceive.’ 10 Make the heart of this people dull, and their ears heavy, and blind their eyes; lest they see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their hearts, and turn and be healed.”

Jesus’ Response

Luke 5:34–38 ESV

34 And Jesus said to them, “Can you make wedding guests fast while the bridegroom is with them? 35 The days will come when the bridegroom is taken away from them, and then they will fast in those days.” 36 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. 37 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. 38 But new wine must be put into fresh wineskins.

Feasting and Fasting- Two very contrary activities. Jesus makes some wonderful analogies to learn from here in Luke 5.

Three Analogies

Bridegroom/Wedding Feast

The Messiah being the Bridegroom was not an analogy that was used in the Old Testament, so the people He was speaking to, would not have likely seen this connection, but the illustration is powerful none the less. It would have been inappropriate and rude for a wedding guest to refuse to eat at the wedding banquet. The wedding traditions of that time went on for multiple days, and the host would have been obligated to offer food, for those who were attending the celebration/ceremony. Jesus make a clear comparison to such a circumstance, as to his disciples celebrating his presence with them. Little did they know, that he would be required to depart from them in the manner that He did, ie: crucifixion on a cross.

Side note: Jesus never commands one to fast (OT law only required it one day a year) but Jesus taught concerning it a number of times, as an assumed behavior by those he was speaking to.

New Clothe on an Old Garment

An unshrunken/new clothe being used as a patch to repair a shrunken/used is a problem. Not only does it not hold, it would likely end up tearing the old clothe even worse, making the repair area even larger.

New Wine in Old Wineskins

A new wineskin will stretch and is therefore capable of storing new wine, which will will continue to grow and expand as it ages. An old wine has completed its fermentation process and will not expand any further.

Each of these examples served to illustrate the wonder of the New Covenant, the Gospel of the Messiah, as being a remarkable and exciting change from the old. They also serve to illustrate the incredible grace and mercy of God, in granting us reason for celebration, safely repairing and storing up for us that which is good.

Hebrews 8:13 ESV

13 In speaking of a new covenant, he makes the first one obsolete. And what is becoming obsolete and growing old is ready to vanish away.

A Time for Feasting and A Time for Fasting

Jesus, in his teaching, indicates that there was a time to feast and a time to fast similar to what Ecclesiastes says in Ecc 3

Ecclesiastes 3:4–7 ESV

4 a time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance; 5 a time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together; a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing; 6 a time to seek, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to cast away; 7 a time to tear, and a time to sew; a time to keep silence, and a time to speak;

There was a place for an old linen, to repair old clothes and old wineskins were fine for carrying old wine, but when something new arrives, it requires a change.

Luke 5:35 ESV

35 The days will come when the bridegroom is taken away from them, and then they will fast in those days.”

A Time for Fasting

Do you remember in the story of Esther, there was an appropriate time for fasting and prayer?

The psalmist speaks of the usefulness of fasting in having a humble spirit.

Psalm 69:10 ESV

10 When I wept and humbled my soul with fasting, it became my reproach.

Jesus taught that food was not our priority or our sustenance needed for life.

Matthew 4:4 ESV

4 But he answered, “It is written, “ ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.’ ”

John 4:32 ESV

32 But he said to them, “I have food to eat that you do not know about.”

John 4:34 ESV

34 Jesus said to them, “My food is to do the will of him who sent me and to accomplish his work.

Jesus fasted and prayed, and taught this to his disciples. However, he did so privately and suggests that is the proper method of fasting

Matthew 6:16–18 ESV

16 “And when you fast, do not look gloomy like the hypocrites, for they disfigure their faces that their fasting may be seen by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward. 17 But when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face, 18 that your fasting may not be seen by others but by your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.

However Jesus never taught asceticism nor did the apostles endorse asceticism-

Instead they endorsed and taught loving the Lord God with all your heart, mind soul and strength. Fasting or Feasting must always be God-centered.

Colossians 2:23 ESV

23 These have indeed an appearance of wisdom in promoting self-made religion and asceticism and severity to the body, but they are of no value in stopping the indulgence of the flesh.

Colossians 3:1–3 ESV

1 If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. 2 Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. 3 For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God.

Fasting and Feasting must always be done with a heart of worship and love for God.

Why Do Christians Fast? by David Mathis is an excellent article that helps us to see the appropriate motive for our fasting today.

Fasting for repentance of sin- Past

Daniel 9:3 ESV

3 Then I turned my face to the Lord God, seeking him by prayer and pleas for mercy with fasting and sackcloth and ashes.

Fasting for deliverance of trials- Present

Esther 4:3 ESV

3 And in every province, wherever the king’s command and his decree reached, there was great mourning among the Jews, with fasting and weeping and lamenting, and many of them lay in sackcloth and ashes.

Fasting for guidance and favor- Future

Ezra 8:21–23 ESV

21 Then I proclaimed a fast there, at the river Ahava, that we might humble ourselves before our God, to seek from him a safe journey for ourselves, our children, and all our goods. 22 For I was ashamed to ask the king for a band of soldiers and horsemen to protect us against the enemy on our way, since we had told the king, “The hand of our God is for good on all who seek him, and the power of his wrath is against all who forsake him.” 23 So we fasted and implored our God for this, and he listened to our entreaty.

There are similar reasons why we should feast and celebrate.

Feasting for Remembrance- Past

Communion

Feasting for Celebration- Present

Fellowship in Christ and with Christ presently by His Spirit and current blessings such as a Thanksgiving meal

Feasting For Hope- Future

Looking forward to our future Hope in Heaven. The Marriage Supper of the Lamb.

Revelation 19:9 ESV

9 And the angel said to me, “Write this: Blessed are those who are invited to the marriage supper of the Lamb.” And he said to me, “These are the true words of God.”

Jeremiah 31:31–33 ESV

31 “Behold, the days are coming, declares the Lord, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and the house of Judah, 32 not like the covenant that I made with their fathers on the day when I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt, my covenant that they broke, though I was their husband, declares the Lord. 33 For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, declares the Lord: I will put my law within them, and I will write it on their hearts. And I will be their God, and they shall be my people.

Already and Not yet of the Kingdom of God.

In the Gospel of Luke 5 we learn that Jesus was here walking with the disciples, talking with them. He ate with sinners and with saints. But then He went away from them. There was no reason for them to continue celebrating and feasting as they did when He was with them.

The time that Jesus spoke of in Luke 5:35

Luke 5:35 ESV

35 The days will come when the bridegroom is taken away from them, and then they will fast in those days.”

Certainly this would have been the 3 days between His death and resurrection. It is not certain if Jesus also meant the time after His ascension but we do see other places in the New Testament, where the church fasted and prayed. In the book of Acts, they spent a time of fasting and prayer, prior to calling the elders of the church.

So we should ask ourselves, “Is now a time for us to celebrate, to feast or is now a time for us to fast?”

He is not with us as He was with the disciples, yet He is alive within us in Spirit.

He has sent us the Spirit to indwell us, yet we await the day when we will see Him face to face.

The concepts of Feasting and Fasting are equally important. Whether we feast or fast, both practices are determined by our priority.

GOD is our Priority, not a priority.

1 Corinthians 10:31 ESV

31 So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.

Food is a means whereby we worship, obey and serve God

Isaiah 58, a chapter that I have come to love and appreciate very much, teaches us, the proper way to fast. We fast so that others might have what they need, in order that the love of God might shine through our lives and bring healing to sick and clothing to the poor and naked.

Isaiah 58:7–10 ESV

7 Is it not to share your bread with the hungry and bring the homeless poor into your house; when you see the naked, to cover him, and not to hide yourself from your own flesh? 8 Then shall your light break forth like the dawn, and your healing shall spring up speedily; your righteousness shall go before you; the glory of the Lord shall be your rear guard. 9 Then you shall call, and the Lord will answer; you shall cry, and he will say, ‘Here I am.’ If you take away the yoke from your midst, the pointing of the finger, and speaking wickedness, 10 if you pour yourself out for the hungry and satisfy the desire of the afflicted, then shall your light rise in the darkness and your gloom be as the noonday.

Food is a means whereby we are able to worship God, Love God, Love others and thereby serve and obey GOD.

Our Family is a means whereby we worship, obey and serve God

Our Friends are a means whereby we worship, obey and serve God

Our Finances are a means whereby we worship, obey and serve God