Matthew 9:15

On Fasting

¹⁴ Then the disciples of John [the Baptist] came to Jesus, asking, “Why do we and the Pharisees often fast [as a religious exercise], but Your disciples do not fast?” ¹⁵ And Jesus replied to them, “Can the guests of the bridegroom mourn while the bridegroom is with them? The days will come when the bridegroom is taken away from them, and then they will fast. ¹⁶ But no one puts a piece of unshrunk (new) cloth on an old garment; for the patch pulls away from the garment, and a worse tear results.

Days are Coming

Friends of the Bridegroom

Jesus Said

Jesus

John 3:29

He who has the bride is the bridegroom; but the friend of the bridegroom, who stands by and listens to him, rejoices greatly because of the bridegroom’s voice. So this pleasure and joy of mine is now complete.

Acts 14:23

When they had appointed elders for them in every church, having prayed with fasting, they entrusted them to the Lord in whom they believed [and joyfully accepted as the Messiah].

Judges 14:11-20

When the people saw him, they brought thirty companions (wedding attendants) to be with him.

Psalm 45:14-15

She will be brought to the King in embroidered garments;
The virgins, her companions who follow her,
Will be brought to You.

Isaiah 22:12

Therefore in that day the Lord God of hosts called you to weeping, to mourning,
To shaving the head and to wearing sackcloth [in humiliation].

Matthew 25:1-10

“Then the kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins, who took their lamps and went to meet the bridegroom.

Luke 24:13-21

And then, that very day two of them were going to a village called Emmaus, which was about seven miles from Jerusalem.

John 16:6

But because I have said these things to you, sorrow has filled your hearts [and taken complete possession of them].

John 16:20-22

I assure you and most solemnly say to you, that you will weep and grieve [in great mourning], but the world will rejoice. You will be sorrowful, but your sorrow will be turned into joy.

Acts 1:9-10

And after He said these things, He was caught up as they looked on, and a cloud took Him up out of their sight.

Acts 13:1-3

Now in the church at Antioch there were prophets [who spoke a new message of God to the people] and teachers: Barnabas, Simeon who was called Niger, Lucius of Cyrene, Manaen who had been brought up with Herod [Antipas] the tetrarch, and Saul.

1 Corinthians 7:5

Do not deprive each other [of marital rights], except perhaps by mutual consent for a time, so that you may devote yourselves [unhindered] to prayer, but come together again so that Satan will not tempt you [to sin] because of your lack of self-control.

2 Corinthians 11:27

in labor and hardship, often unable to sleep, in hunger and thirst, often [driven to] fasting [for lack of food], in cold and exposure [without adequate clothing].

Revelation 19:9

Then the angel said to me, “Write, ‘Blessed are those who are invited to the marriage supper of the Lamb.’” And he said to me [further], “These are the true and exact words of God.”

Revelation 21:2

And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, arrayed like a bride adorned for her husband;