Luke the beloved physician shared how Jesus, “went forth, and saw a publican, named Levi, sitting at the receipt of custom: and he said unto him, Follow me. And he left all, rose up, and followed him. And Levi made him a great feast in his own house: and there was a great company of publicans and of others that sat down with them. But their scribes and Pharisees murmured against his disciples, saying, Why do you eat and drink with publicans and sinners? And Jesus answering said unto them, They that are whole need not a physician; but they that are sick. I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance. And they said unto him, Why do the disciples of John fast often, and make prayers, and likewise the disciples of the Pharisees; but yours eat and drink?”, and in chapter five and verse thirty-four of his book Luke shares how Jesus asks the religious leaders, “can you make the children of the bride-chamber fast, while the bridegroom is with them?” where we read:
And he said unto them, Can you make the children of the bride-chamber fast,
while the bridegroom is with them?
The verse reads, “And he said unto them, Can you make the children of the bride-chamber fast, ...” Luke began with the words, “and he said unto them” or “and Jesus uttered, declared, proclaimed and asked the religious leaders”, “Can you make the children” which means “do you have the power, ability, power and strength to carry out, execute and designate the offspring, progeny and dependents” “of the bride-chamber fast” or “pertaining to the friends of the bridegroom whose duty it was to provide and care for whatever pertained to the bridal chamber to abstain as a religious exercise from food and drink”. Luke shared how Jesus began to speak to the “religious leaders” by referring to the “dependents and attendants” of the “groom” abstaining from “eating and drinking” while doing the following.
The verse goes on to say, “... while the bridegroom is with them?” Luke continued with the words, “while the bridegroom” which means “during the time and moment the groom or man who is to be married” “is with them” or “is alongside and beside his attendants”? Luke shared how Jesus continued His question by referring to the time before the marriage when the “groom” is still with his “attendants”.
When we think through Luke's words in this verse, we see how Jesus employed the example of a “groom” being with his attendants before his wedding. During the time the “groom” was waiting to be married, he and his “attendants” would celebrate by “eating and drinking” together. This was a celebration time as well as an acknowledgement that the “groom” would no longer be a single man. Jesus is the “groom” sent unto mankind, and those who submit their lives to Him become the “bride of Christ”. Jesus will have more to say about His illustration in the next verse, but suffice it for now to understand that He came to the world to have people come to Him as their personal “Savior, Lord and Groom”, and those who yield their lives to Him shall receive forgiveness of their sins and everlasting life with His Father God. Those who are wise will say “yes” to the eternal “Groom” Jesus whose invitation is to everyone.
Next time Luke shares how Jesus tells the religious leaders, “the days will come, when the bridegroom shall be taken away … and then shall they fast”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.
Until
tomorrow…there is more…
Look for the daily devotional book
“Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the
marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, “One Year in the
Sermon on the Mount” and the new poetry book "Random Mushrooms
Volumes I and II" and the new novel "Elizabeth County"
in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com
; http://www.barnesandnobles.com
; download to e-books, and find it locally at
www.mrzlc.com/bookstore.
All references are from "Strongs Concordance".
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