Matthew 9:14-17 - On Fasting

¹⁴ Then John's disciples came to him and said, why do the Pharisees, as well as we, observe so many fasts, and your disciples keep none?

¹⁵ Jesus answer'd them, can the bride-men mourn, while the bridegroom is with them? the day indeed will come, when the bridegroom shall be taken from them, and then will be the time to fast. ¹⁶ new cloth is never patch'd upon an old garment: for the patch will draw the garment, and rend it still worse. ¹⁷ neither do men put new wine into old skins: if they should, the bottles will burst, so that the wine will be lost and the skins be spoil'd: but they put new wine into new skins, whereby both are preserved.

¹⁸ It was customary for the Pharisees, and the disciples of John, to fast; they came therefore and ask'd him, why do John's disciples, and the Pharisees fast so frequently, and not your disciples?

¹⁹ Jesus answered, can the bridemen fast, while the bridegroom is with them? as long as they have the bridegroom with them, they cannot fast. ²⁰ but the time will come, when the bridegroom shall be taken away from them, and then shall they fast. ²¹ indeed no man ever sews a piece of new cloth on an old garment: because the new piece that is patch'd on, draws the old, and rends it still worse. ²² so no man pours new wine into old skins, for that would burst them, and then both would be lost: but new wine must be put into new skins.

³³ and likewise those of the Pharisees, are frequently fasting and praying, while yours are employed in eating and drinking?

³⁴ to which he answered, would you have the bridemen fast, while the bridegroom is with them? ³⁵ however, the time will come, when the bridegroom shall be taken away from them, and then they will have occasions enow of fasting.

³⁶ Besides, he applied this similitude to them. no man, said he, puts a piece of new cloth upon an old coat: if he does, the new will strain the old, and they will by no means suit one another. ³⁷ nor will any one put new wine into old skins: if they do, the new wine will burst the skins, and wine and skins be all lost. ³⁸ but new wine must be put into new skins, and both will be preserv'd. ³⁹ so no-body that has been drinking old wine, will immediately call for new: for 'tis his maxim, "the old is best."