"When you fast, do not put on a gloomy look, like the hypocrites, for they neglect their personal appearance to let people see that they are fasting. I tell you, that is all the reward they will get.

But when you fast, perfume your hair and wash your face,

Then the disciples of John came up to him and said, "Why is it that we and the Pharisees are keeping the fast, while your disciples are not keeping it?"

Jesus said to them, "Can wedding guests mourn as long as the bridegroom is with them? But a time will come when the bridegroom will be taken from them, and they will fast then.

Now John's disciples and the Pharisees were keeping a fast. And people came and asked him, "Why is it that when John's disciples and the disciples of the Pharisees are keeping the fast, yours are not keeping it?"

Jesus said to them, "Can wedding guests fast while the bridegroom is with them? As long as they have the bridegroom with them they cannot fast.

But a time will come when the bridegroom will be taken from them, and when that day comes, they will fast.

"You give up what God has commanded and hold fast to what men have handed down.

Jesus said to them, "Can you make wedding guests fast while the bridegroom is with them?

But other days will come, and when the bridegroom is taken away from them, in those days they will fast."

Not many days later, the younger son gathered up all he had, and went away to a distant country, and there he squandered his property by fast living.

I fast two days in the week; I pay tithes on everything I get.'

and a young man named Eutychus, who was sitting at the window, became very drowsy as Paul's address grew longer and longer, and finally went fast asleep and fell from the third story to the ground, and was picked up for dead.

As a great deal of time had now passed, and navigation had become dangerous, for the autumn fast was already over, Paul began to warn them.

For everything that was written in earlier times was written for our instruction, so that by being steadfast and through the encouragement the Scriptures give, we might hold our hope fast.

Epaphras, one of your own number, a slave of Christ Jesus, wishes to be remembered to you. He is always standing up for you in his prayers that you may stand fast, like men of mature convictions, whatever God's will for you may be.

So stand firm, brothers, and hold fast to the instructions you have received from us, whether by letter or by word of mouth.

By Silvanus, our faithful brother, as I think him, I have written you this short letter to encourage you and bear my testimony that this is what the true mercy of God means. Stand fast in it.