Matthew 9:14-17 - On Fasting
14 The disciples of John asked: Why do your disciples not fast? They frequently fasted, and so did the Pharisees.
15 Jesus replied: Should the wedding guests mourn and also celebrate with the groom? The days will come when the bridegroom will be taken away from them. Then they will fast. 16 Why patch an old garment with cloth that has not been shrunk? The patch shrinks and pulls away from the old cloth leaving a big hole. 17 Neither do men put new wine in old wineskins. The skins burst and the wine is lost. They put new wine in fresh wineskins, and both are preserved.
18 John's disciples and the Pharisees were fasting. They came to him and asked: Why do John's disciples and the disciples of the Pharisees fast but your disciples do not?
19 Jesus replied: Will the friends of a newly married man practice fasting while he is with them? As long as they have him with them they will not go without food. 20 But the days will come when the husband will be taken away from them. Then they will fast. 21 No man puts a patch of new cloth on an old coat. The new, by pulling away from the old, makes a worse hole. 22 No man puts new wine into old wineskins. The skins will burst and the wine and the skins will be wasted. New wine has to be put into new wine skins.
33 They said: The disciples of John fast often and make supplications. So do the disciples of the Pharisees. But yours eat and drink.
34 Jesus replied: Could you make the sons of the bride-chamber fast while the bridegroom is with them? 35 The days will come and when the bridegroom will be taken away from them. Then they will fast.
36 He told an illustration to them: No one takes a piece of cloth from a new garment and puts it on an old garment. Otherwise he will tear the new. Also the new will not match the old. 37 No one puts new wine in old wine skins. The new wine will burst the old skins and spill the wine. 38 But new wine must be put into fresh wine skins. 39 After drinking old wine no one desires the new for the old is better.