Matthew 9:14-17 - On Fasting

¹⁴ Then came to him the disciples of John, saying: Why do we and the Pharisees fast often, but your disciples fast not?

¹⁵ And Jesus said to them: Can the sons of the bride-chamber mourn while the bridegroom is with them? But the days will come, when the bridegroom shall be taken from them, and then will they fast. ¹⁶ No one puts a patch of new cloth on an old garment; for that which is put in to fill it up, takes from the garment, and a worse rent is made. ¹⁷ Nor do men put new wine into old bottles; if so, the bottles burst, and the wine runs out, and the bottles are lost. But they put new wine into new bottles, and both are preserved.

¹⁸ And the disciples of John and of the Pharisees were in the habit of fasting; and they came, and said to him: Why do the disciples of John and of the Pharisees fast, but your disciples fast not?

¹⁹ And Jesus said to 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 can not fast. ²⁰ But the days will come when the bridegroom shall be taken from them, and then they will fast in those days. ²¹ No one sews a patch of new cloth on an old garment; if so, the new piece which fills it up, takes from the old, and a worse rent is made. ²² And no one puts new wine into old bottles; if so, the new wine bursts the bottles, and the wine is spilled, and the bottles are destroyed. But new wine must be put into new bottles.

³³ And they said to him: Why do the disciples of John fast often, and make prayers, and likewise the disciples of the Pharisees, but yours eat and drink?

³⁴ And he said to them: Can you make the sons of the bride-chamber fast, while the bridegroom is with them? ³⁵ But the days will come when the bridegroom shall be taken from them; then shall they fast in those days.

³⁶ And he spoke also a parable to them: No one patches an old garment with a piece taken from a new garment. If so, the new tears it, and the patch from the new suits not the old. ³⁷ And no one puts new wine into old bottles; if so, the new wine will burst the bottles, and it will be spilled,. and the bottles will be destroyed. ³⁸ But new wine must be put into new bottles, and both will be preserved. ³⁹ And no one, after drinking old wine, immediately desires new; for he says: The old is better.