Mark 2:18-22

7. DISPUTE ABOUT FASTING 2:18-22.

TEXT: 2:18-22

And John's disciples and the Pharisees were fasting: and they come and say unto him, Why do John's disciples and the disciples of the Pharisees fast, but thy disciples fast not? And Jesus said unto them, Can the sons of the bride-chamber fast, while the bridegroom is with them? as long as they have the bridegroom with them, they cannot fast. But the days will come, when the bridegroom shall be taken away from them, and then will they fast in that day. No man seweth a piece of undressed cloth on an old garment: else that which should fill it up taketh from it, the new from the old and a worse rent is made. And no man putteth new wine into old wine-skins: else the wine will burst the skins, and the wine perisheth, and the skins: but they put new wine into fresh wineskins.

THOUGHT QUESTIONS 2:18-22

90.

Was there something wrong about the fasting of John's disciples or of the fasting of the Pharisees? Why did they fast?

91.

Was Jesus saying that He and His disciples were as happy as a bridal party? If not what did He say in Mark 2:19?

92.

Are we living in the day when the bridegroom has been taken away? If so are we to fast? If so why do we fail to do it? Cf. Acts 13:1-2.

93.

What is represented by the undressed cloth in the figure of speech Jesus used? What was the old garment?

94.

What worse rent would be made? What was the point of the parable?

95.

Was the point the same in the figure of new and old wine skins?

COMMENT

TIME(Same as the call of LeviEarly Summer A.D. 28.)
PLACEMany feel this conversation took place around the table in Matthew's house.

PARALLEL ACCOUNTSMatthew 9:14-17; Luke 5:33-39.

OUTLINE1. The question of John's disciples, Mark 2:18. Mark 2:2. The answer of the bridegroom, Mark 2:19-20. Mark 2:3. The answer of the garment, Mark 2:21. Mark 2:4. The answer of the wine skins, Mark 2:22.

ANALYSIS

I.

THE QUESTION OF JOHN'S DISCIPLES. Mark 2:18.

1.

Asked during a fast by John's disciples and the Pharisees.

2.

Why do John's disciples fast and the disciples of Christ fail to fast?

II.

THE ANSWER OF THE BRIDEGROOM, Mark 2:19-20.

1.

The joy of the bridal party prevents fasting.

2.

When the bridegroom is gone there will be fasting.

III.

THE ANSWER OF THE GARMENT, Mark 2:21

1.

New cloth cannot patch old clothes.

2.

The results prevent such action.

IV.

THE ANSWER OF THE WINE SKINS, Mark 2:22.

1.

New wine cannot go in old skins.

2.

Results prevent such action.

EXPLANATORY NOTES

I.

THE QUESTION OF JOHN'S DISCIPLES, Mark 2:18.

Mark 2:18. John's disciples and the Pharisees were fasting. Perhaps they chose the very time of the feast for a fast. This would indeed produce a contrast and conflict. We believe John's disciples were sincere in their questions and offered no criticism. We could not say the same of the disciples of the Pharisees. The law of God prescribed only one fastthe great Day of atonement(Leviticus 23:27). During the captivity of the Jewish nation fasting was practiced by many. Fasting undoubtedly was associated with the repentance John preached.

II.

THE ANSWER OF THE BRIDEGROOM, Mark 2:19-20.

Mark 2:19. Sons of the bride-chamber. What a beautiful way to describe the attitude of our Lord for His work! Jesus was as happy as a bridegroomHis disciples shared His joy. How could they be sad or fast when they had just made the greatest discovery in time and eternity? It was time to rejoice, they had found the Messiah!

Mark 2:20. Then they will fast in that day. We now live in that day. We look for the coming of the bridegroom for His bridethere are many occasions when we need to fast. The church in Antioch fasted (Cf. Acts 13:1-2).This is not a legal requirement but it can be a wonderful spiritual exercise. There are mental, emotional, physical and spiritual benefits for the sons of the bride-chamber who will commit themselves to a period of prayer and fasting. The immediate reference here is probably to His crucifixion and the sorrow felt at that time. It can have a more far-reaching application as we have indicated.

III.

THE ANSWER OF THE GARMENT, Mark 2:21

Mark 2:21.. . a piece of undressed cloth or an old garment. This is an answer to question about fasting. Jesus is saying His mission is entirely new. It will not be added to that of the law as reflected so poorly through the Pharisees, nor even a part of the work of Johnwhich was only a preparation for the new kingdom. The Messiah was not sent to patch up the old but to offer an entirely new garment. The garment of praise for the worn-out garment of law.

IV.

THE ANSWER OF THE WINE SKINS, Mark 2:22

Mark 2:22. New wine in old wine-skinsThis is a Hebrewistic manner of presenting parablestwo with the same point for emphasis. The point in the use of the -parables-' is that the using of the ill-chosen patch and the unsuitable bottles defeats the purpose of him who resorts to it, and the purpose is defeated because of an unwise uniting of the new with the old. The new is the living, expanding, divinely-vigorous kingdom of Christ; the old is that which pertains to the Jewish dispensation, which was decaying and ready to vanish away (Hebrews 8:13) (W. N. Clarke)

FACT QUESTIONS 2:18-22

116.

At what time and place did this question of fasting occur?

117.

What was the probable motive behind the question?

118.

Why call the disciples of Jesus sons of the bride-chamber?

119.

In what day did Jesus promise that His followers would fast?

120.

What is represented by the piece of undressed cloth? What is the garment?

121.

What is represented by the new wine?

SIDELIGHTS

Mark 2:13-22.Levi's feast: the moral questions it occasioned. 1. Mark 2:13-17. Eating with publicans and sinners. In calling Matthew (Levi) from the receipt of custom, our Saviour made him relinquish all his old pursuits and companions, and conferred upon him an unexpected honour. The feast given by him was, therefore, partly a farewell, partly a celebration. In overstepping the boundary line of Jewish religious and social etiquette, the Lord performed an act of great significance, which was sure to call forth remark.

I. Superficial knowledge, when linked with malice, will put the worst construction upon the best actions. Conventional morality was invoked to condemn Christ in mingling with the publicans. No trouble was taken to ascertain the true character of the feast. By their criticism the Pharisees exposed their own hollowness and unspirituality. They condemned themselves in seeking to condemn Christ. For such judgments men are responsible. The greatest care and most spiritual view should be taken ere judgment is passed upon the actions of others, especially when their character is known to be good.

II. It is the motive which is the true key to the nature of actions. 1. This applies absolutely in the case of actions in themselves indifferent, or only conventionally forbidden; but in all actions it is an indispensable canon of ultimate judgment. Even where the external nature of an action is unmistakable, the utmost care should be taken in forming an opinion. Absolute and unqualified judgment is for God alone. 2. When challenged for our conduct it is well to explain the principle upon which we act. Christ at once makes known his motives, and with no anger. Yet in so doing he judged his accusers. They pretended to be whole, and so could not object to him doing good to those who required his aid. Why were they dissatisfied, if not from secret disquietude with their own condition and attitude? Irony proceeding from deepest spiritual discernment!

III. The holiest sought out and companied with sinners that He might make them holy. It is only by sympathy, and by appeals to their highest nature, that sinful men can be won to God.(Muir)

LESSONS

1.

Jesus was first, last, and always a teacher. No occasion went by unimproved for teaching.

2.

If we do not speak to all we meet about Christ how shall we discover the hungry hearts like Levi?

3.

Could we have dinners for sinners and introduce Jesus to them at the meal? It has been done with good success.

4.

We should not be surprised at criticismmuch of it unfoundedthis is part of the price of progress.

5.

How glad we should be to take the particular prescription the Great physician gives for us.

6.

We should be as happy in our labors for Christ as a bride and groom on their honeymoon.

POINTS FOR TEACHERS

The Calling of Matthew

(A wonderful lesson for every teacher)

We know three things about him:

(1)

He was a Hebrew.

a.

Justifiable pride.

b.

Understandable narrowness.

(2)

He was a publican.

a.

A consciousness of an authority under which he served.

b.

Responsible for accuracy in keeping of records.

(3)

A profoundly religious man.

a.

His remarkable familiarity with the Scriptures of the Hebrew people. No less than 99references in his gospel.

b.

He applied his knowledge.

How our Lord dealt with this man:

1.

Found him in the midst of work.

a.

All the brooding of his mind lay behind the outward activity of the tax collector.

b.

Perhaps he knew very much about Jesus since his place of work was at Capernaum.

c.

The decisive momentthe command of Jesus.

2.

Jesus asked for submission.

3.

He promised fellowship.

4.

He called Matthew into an enterprise.

The results are self-evident in the gospel he wrote. (G. Campbell Morgan)