The beloved physician Luke 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 he said unto them, Can you make the children of the bride-chamber fast, while the bridegroom is with them?”, and in chapter five and verse thirty-five of his book Luke shares how Jesus tells the religious leaders, “when the bridegroom shall be taken away from them …. then shall they fast” where we read:
But the days will come, when the bridegroom shall be taken away from them,
and then shall they fast in those days.
The verse reads, “But the days will come, when the bridegroom shall be taken away from them, ...” Luke began with the words, “but the days will come” or “however, nonetheless, notwithstanding, moreover and the time will arrive and appear”, “when the bridegroom” which means “inasmuch and soon the groom or man who is to be married” “shall be taken away from them” or “will be carried away and removed from the children of the bride-chamber”. Luke shared how Jesus referred to the time when the “groom” would be removed from being with the “children of the bride-chamber”.
The verse continues, “... and then shall they fast in those days.” Luke added the words, “and then shall they fast” which means “and at that time the children of the bride-chamber will abstain as a religious exercise from food and drink” “in those days” or “at that time or during those sunsets to sunrises”. Luke shared how Jesus said the “children of the bride-chamber” would begin “abstaining” from eating and drinking after the “groom” leaves them.
When we consider Luke's words in this verse, we see how Jesus is using this illustration as a parable concerning He and His disciples. The “bridegroom” or “groom” represents Jesus, and the “children of the bride-chamber” represent His “attendants” or “disciples”. Jesus presented this example to respond to the “religious leaders” who were questioning why His disciples were “eating” on the “Sabbath day”, and because Jesus was with His disciples, they were like the “children of the bride-chamber” and they were to celebrate while they were with Him. Jesus would indeed be taken away from His disciples very soon, and afterward they would fast, however, Jesus was still with them, and there was no need to fast. God loves people, and He sent His Son Jesus to die for their sins. When a person submits themselves to Him as their personal “Savior and Lord”, they receive forgiveness for their sins and will inherit everlasting life. There is a time for “fasting”, and there is a time for “celebrating”, and those who yield their lives to Him are able to participate in both.
Next time Luke shares how Jesus speaks, “also a parable unto them”, 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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