Matthew 9:14-17 - On Fasting

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

¹⁵ And Jesus said to them, Can the children of the bridechamber mourn as long as the bridegroom is with them? But the days will come when the bridegroom will be taken from them, and then they shalt fast. ¹⁶ But no one puts a piece of unfilled cloth on an old garment; for it takes away its fullness from the garment, and the rent is made worse. ¹⁷ Neither do they put new wine into old bottles; otherwise the bottles break, and the wine is poured out and the bottles destroyed; but they put new wine into new bottles, and both are preserved.

¹⁸ And the disciples of John and of the Pharisees fasted. And they came and said to him, Why do the disciples of John and the disciples of the Pharisees fast, and your disciples fast not?

¹⁹ And Jesus said to them, Can the sons of the bridechamber fast as long as the bridegroom is with them? As long as they have the bridegroom with them, they cannot fast, ²⁰ but days will come when the bridegroom shall be taken from them, and then they shall fast at that time. ²¹ No one sews a piece of undressed cloth on an old garment; if he does the new piece takes away its fullness from the old, and the rent is made worse. ²² And no one puts new wine into old bottles; if he does the wine breaks the bottles, and the wine and the bottles are destroyed.

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

³⁴ And he said to them, Can you make the children of the bridechamber fast while the bridegroom is with them? ³⁵ But 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; That no one puts a piece of a new garment on an old garment; if he does, the new both tears the old, and that from the new disagrees with the old. ³⁷ And no one puts new wine into old bottles; if he does, the new wine will break the bottles, and itself be poured out, and the bottles be destroyed. ³⁸ But new wine must be put into new bottles. ³⁹ And no one drinking old wine desires new; for he says the old is good.