“Can the wedding guests mourn as long as the bridegroom is with them?”
Jesus’s presence in our lives has brought with it a celebration of new life in Him. When hard times come, we should be reliant on Him with the freedom to pray, to fast, and to mourn as necessary, but we should celebrate Jesus Christ and what he has done for us. For He did not come to abolish the law, but to fulfill it. Let us renew our hearts and minds to receive what He has for each of us.
Matthew 9:14-17
14 Then the disciples of John came to him, saying, “Why do we and the Pharisees fast, but your disciples do not fast?” 15 And Jesus said to them, “Can the wedding guests mourn as long as the bridegroom is with them? The days will come when the bridegroom is taken away from them, and then they will fast. 16 No one puts a piece of unshrunk cloth on an old garment, for the patch tears away from the garment, and a worse tear is made. 17 Neither is new wine put into old wineskins. If it is, the skins burst and the wine is spilled and the skins are destroyed. But new wine is put into fresh wineskins, and so both are preserved.”
[ WHAT ] is this passage saying and what is a key truth or thought that we learn?
+ In [v.14] why are the disciples of John fasting? What is the significance?
+ For whom are the disciples fasting for, to whom are they praying to, and how does Jesus reveal more of His nature in His response? [v.15]
+ What do the cloth and wineskins represent? [v.16,17]
+ What does Jesus warn them against in the second half of the passage? What is the tear in the cloth, and what is wasted wine? [v.16,17]
[ HOW ] is the Lord calling me to action/obedience?
+ Is there a sin to confess or a next step to take? How has it gone since last time?
+ Am I living in the celebration and joy of life with Jesus Christ?
+ How am I renewing my heart and mind to receive His truths?
[ WHO ] am I walking with and praying for to discover Jesus?
+ What is my next step?