Matthew 9:14-17 - On Fasting

¹⁴ Then also come to Him the disciples of John, saying, Why do we and the pharisees fast much, but thy disciples do not fast?

¹⁵ And Jesus said unto them, Can the friends of the bridegroom mourn, while the bridegroom is with them? but the days will come when the bridegroom shall be taken from them, and then they will fast. ¹⁶ As no one putteth a piece of new cloth to an old garment; for its new patch teareth away from the old garment, and the rent is made worse: ¹⁷ nor do they put new wine into old vessels; otherwise, the casks burst, and the wine is spilt, and the vessels are destroyed: but they put new wine into new vessels, and both are preserved.

¹⁸ And as the disciples of John, and of the pharisees used to fast, they came to Him, saying, Why do the disciples of John and of the pharisees fast, but thy disciples fast not?

¹⁹ And Jesus said unto them, Can the bridemen fast, when the bridegroom is with them? while the bridegroom is with them, they cannot fast: ²⁰ but the days will come, when the bridegroom shall be taken from them; and then shall they fast. ²¹ No man seweth a piece of new cloth on an old garment; otherwise, it's new patch teareth from the old, and the rent is made worse: ²² nor does any one put new wine into old vessels; otherwise the new wine bursteth the vessels, and the wine is spilt, and the vessels are destroyed: but new wine should be put into new vessels.

³³ And they said unto Him, Why do the disciples of John frequently fast and pray, and likewise those of the pharisees; but thine eat and drink?

³⁴ And He said unto them, Can ye make those 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 they will fast.

³⁶ Then He spake a parable to them, That no one putteth a piece of new cloth upon an old garment: otherwise, the new maketh a rent, and doth not match the old: ³⁷ nor doth any one put new wine in to old vessels; otherwise, the new wine will burst the casks, and be spilled, and the vessels will be destroyed: ³⁸ but new wine must be put into new vessels, and then both are saved. ³⁹ And no one that has been drinking old wine, immediately desireth new; for he saith, the old is better.