Hunger For the King
“Then came to him the disciples of John, saying, Why do we and the Pharisees fast oft, but thy disciples fast not? And Jesus said unto them, Can the children of the bridechamber mourn, as long as the bridegroom is with them? but the days will come, when the bridegroom shall be taken from them, and then shall they fast. No man putteth a piece of new cloth unto an old garment, for that which is put in to fill it up taketh from the garment, and the rent is made worse. Neither do men put new wine into old bottles: else the bottles break, and the wine runneth out, and the bottles perish: but they put new wine into new bottles, and both are preserved.” Matthew 9:14-17 (KJV)
THE FASTING OF THE PHARISEES WAS FOR THE DISPLAY OF THEIR OWN SPIRITUALITY (v. 14; 6:16-18))
THE FASTING OF JOHN’S DISCIPLES WAS FOR THE PURPOSE OF HERALDING THE MESSIAH AND CALLING THE PEOPLE TO REPENTANCE (v. 14).
WHEN THE BRIDEGROOM IS PRESENT THERE IS NO PLACE FOR MOURNING (FASTING) (v. 15).
AFTER HIS RESURRECTION IS TRULY A TIME FOR REJOICING (v. 15).
THE OLD CANNOT BE PATCHED WITH THE NEW (v. 16).
THE OLD WINESKINS ARE NOT SUFFICIENT FOR THE NEW WINE (v. 17; Romans 8:1, 5).
NEW SKINS ARE NEEDED FOR THE NEW WINE OF LIFE IN JESUS CHRIST (v. 17).
DUE TO SUCH A MIRACULOUS CHANGE HUNGER FOR THE KING GROWS AND GROWS.
EDIT 10/27/07: To read more on this topic you may go to here.
Filed under: Christianity, Jesus, Matthew, SermonBites | Tagged: Bridegroom, Hypocrisy, Messiah, New Wine, Wineskins