Children of the.
The Lord was the Bridegroom, and while He was on earth the 'sons' (companions, friends) of the bridechamber could not mourn nor fast; but in His absence they would do so. Mt 9:15; Mr 2:19; Lu 5:34. The friend of the Bridegroom (to whom John the Baptist likened himself) is spoken of in distinction from the bride herself. Joh 3:29.
And Jesus said to them, "The attendants of the bridegroom cannot mourn as long as the bridegroom is with them, can they? But the days will come when the bridegroom is taken away from them, and then they will fast.
And Jesus said to them, "While the bridegroom is with them, the attendants of the bridegroom cannot fast, can they? So long as they have the bridegroom with them, they cannot fast.
And Jesus said to them, "You cannot make the attendants of the bridegroom fast while the bridegroom is with them, can you?
"He who has the bride is the bridegroom; but the friend of the bridegroom, who stands and hears him rejoices greatly because of the bridegroom's voice So this joy of mine has been made full.
New American Standard Bible Copyright ©1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation, La Habra, Calif. All rights reserved. For Permission to Quote Information visit http://www.lockman.org