33 And they said unto him, Why do the disciples of John fast often, and make prayers, and likewise the disciples of the Pharisees; but thine eat and drink? 34 And he said unto them, Can ye make the children of the bridechamber fast, while the bridegroom is with them? 35 But the days will come, when the bridegroom shall be taken away from them, and then shall they fast in those days. 36 And he spake also a parable unto them; No man putteth a piece of a new garment upon an old; if otherwise, then both the new maketh a rent, and the piece that was taken out of the new agreeth not with the old. 37 And no man putteth new wine into old bottles; else the new wine will burst the bottles, and be spilled, and the bottles shall perish. 38 But new wine must be put into new bottles; and both are preserved. 39 No man also having drunk old wine straightway desireth new: for he saith, The old is better. (Luke 5:33-39 KJV)
A Question About Fasting
According to Luke, at the party organized by Matthew, Jesus was questioned about why his disciples did not fast like the disciples of John the Baptist and those of the Pharisees. In his response, he made them understand that it was not time to bother his disciples with fasting for a time would come when they would fast.
It was a wonder of his grace that, in training his disciples, he took into account their condition and tailored their duties to their readiness and situation. People criticized him because his disciples didn’t fast as often as those of the Pharisees and John the Baptist (Luke 5:33). But Christ emphasized what is at the heart of fasting—the mortification of sin, self-denial, and spiritual devotion—which is more valuable than outward rituals.
It was a wonder of his grace that he postponed his disciples’ trials until they were better prepared to face them. For now, they were like guests at a wedding feast, with the bridegroom present—enjoying joy and acceptance, with little opposition. But that would change. The time would come when the bridegroom would be taken from them (Luke 5:35), and they would then fast often, driven by sorrow, heavy responsibilities, and persecution. “We both hunger and thirst and are naked” (1 Corinthians 4:11). They would engage in more religious fasting because their circumstances would require it (Acts 13:2).
It was a wonder of his grace that he matched their responsibilities to their abilities. He would not patch new cloth onto an old garment (Luke 5:36), nor put new wine into old wineskins (Luke 5:37-38). He would not impose rigorous demands on them immediately after calling them, for fear they would fall away. Just as God did not lead Israel out of Egypt by the way of the Philistines, lest they turn back when they saw war (Exodus 13:17), Christ trained his followers gradually. No one, having just tasted old wine, wants new right away—they say the old is better because they are used to it (Luke 5:39). The disciples might be tempted to prefer their old way of life until they are gradually prepared for the new one they are called to.
Or, understood another way: let them first grow accustomed to religious exercises, and they will eventually embrace them fully. But we must be patient with them. Calvin sees in this a warning to the Pharisees not to boast about their fasting or make a show of it, nor to look down on Christ’s disciples for not doing the same. The Pharisees’ religion was flashy like new wine—sparkling and noisy—but true wisdom says, “The old is better.” While it may not look as impressive, it is more nourishing and beneficial. Christ’s disciples, though they lacked showy forms of godliness, had more of its real power.