Matthew 9:14-17 - On Fasting

¹⁴ Then came to him the disciples of John, saying, Why do we and the Pharisees fast, and thy disciples fast not?

¹⁵ And Jesus said to them, Can the companions of the bridegroom mourn, as long as the bridegroom is with them? But the days will come, when the bridegroom will be taken from them, and then will they fast. ¹⁶ No one putteth a patch of undressed cloth on an old garment; for the piece that filleth in teareth away from the garment, and a worse rent is made. ¹⁷ Nor do men put new wine into old skins; else the skins burst, and the wine runneth out, and the skins are spoilt. But they put new wine into new skins, and both are preserved together.

¹⁸ And the disciples of John and the Pharisees were fasting; and they come and say to him, Why do the disciples of John and the disciples of the Pharisees fast, and thy disciples fast not?

¹⁹ And Jesus said to them, Can the companions of the bridegroom fast, while the bridegroom is with them? As long as they have the bridegroom with them, they cannot fast. ²⁰ But the days will come, when the bridegroom will be taken from them, and then will they fast in that day. ²¹ No one seweth a patch of undressed cloth on an old garment; for the new piece teareth away from the old garment, and a worse rent is made. ²² And no one putteth new wine into old skins; for the new wine will burst the skins, and the wine is lost, and the skins.

³³ And they said to him, The disciples of John fast often, and make prayers, and likewise those of the Pharisees; but thine eat and drink.

³⁴ But Jesus said to them, Can ye make the companions of the bridegroom fast while the bridegroom is with them? ³⁵ But the days will comeand when the bridegroom is taken from them, then will they fast in those days.

³⁶ And he spoke also a parable to them: No one taketh a patch from a new garment and putteth it upon an old one; for then both the new garment would be rent, and the patch from the new garment would not match with the old. ³⁷ And no one putteth new wine into old skins; for the new wine would burst the skins, and would itself run out, and the skins would be spoilt. ³⁸ But new wine must be put into new skins. ³⁹ And no one, having drunk old wine, desireth new; for he saith, The old is good.