Mark 2:18-22 · Bible study
Mark 2:18-22 Commentary: Why Jesus’ Disciples Don’t Fast
Greek · 8 what the commentators say
Meaning in one sentence
Jesus explains why his disciples don’t fast using the bridegroom and new wine parables, revealing the newness of the kingdom.
Research Summary
- Meaning: Jesus defends his disciples’ non-fasting by declaring his presence a season of joy; his coming kingdom cannot be contained within old religious forms.
- Key words: νηστεύω (nēsteuō, fast), νυμφίος (numphios, bridegroom), ἄγναφος (agnaphos, unshrunk), παλαιός/καινός (palaios/kainos, old/new).
- Main debate: Whether the parables teach total replacement of Judaism (replacement view) or a progressive readiness for new practices (readiness view).
- Theological theme: Christ as the bridegroom brings the new covenant; his presence transforms worship and practice.
- Best use: To explain why Christian observance differs from Jewish custom and to challenge believers to evaluate whether their practices fit the season of grace.
Translation Comparison
BSB Berean Standard Bible 2020
18Now John’s disciples and the Pharisees were often fasting. So people came to Jesus and asked, “Why don’t Your disciples fast like John’s disciples and those of the Pharisees?”
19Jesus replied, “How can the guests of the bridegroom fast while He is with them? As long as He is with them, they cannot fast.
20But the time will come when the bridegroom will be taken from them; then they will fast.
21No one sews a patch of unshrunk cloth on an old garment. If he does, the new piece will pull away from the old, and a worse tear will result.
22And no one pours new wine into old wineskins. If he does, the wine will burst the skins, and both the wine and the wineskins will be ruined. Instead, new wine is poured into new wineskins.”
WEB World English Bible 2000
18John’s disciples and the Pharisees were fasting, and they came and asked him, “Why do John’s disciples and the disciples of the Pharisees fast, but your disciples don’t fast?”
19Jesus said to them, “Can the groomsmen fast while the bridegroom is with them? As long as they have the bridegroom with them, they can’t fast.
20But the days will come when the bridegroom will be taken away from them, and then they will fast in that day.
21No one sews a piece of unshrunk cloth on an old garment, or else the patch shrinks and the new tears away from the old, and a worse hole is made.
22No one puts new wine into old wineskins; or else the new wine will burst the skins, and the wine pours out, and the skins will be destroyed; but they put new wine into fresh wineskins.”
KJV King James Version 1769
18And the disciples of John and of the Pharisees used to fast: and they come and say unto him, Why do the disciples of John and of the Pharisees fast, but thy disciples fast not?
19And Jesus said unto them, Can the children of the bridechamber fast, while the bridegroom is with them? as long as they have the bridegroom with them, they cannot fast.
20But the days will come, when the bridegroom shall be taken away from them, and then shall they fast in those days.
21No man also seweth a piece of new cloth on an old garment: else the new piece that filled it up taketh away from the old, and the rent is made worse.
22And no man putteth new wine into old bottles: else the new wine doth burst the bottles, and the wine is spilled, and the bottles will be marred: but new wine must be put into new bottles.
ASV American Standard Version 1901
18And John’s disciples and the Pharisees were fasting: and they come and say unto him, Why do John’s disciples and the disciples of the Pharisees fast, but thy disciples fast not?
19And Jesus said unto them, Can the sons of the bridechamber fast, while the bridegroom is with them? as long as they have the bridegroom with them, they cannot fast.
20But the days will come, when the bridegroom shall be taken away from them, and then will they fast in that day.
21No man seweth a piece of undressed cloth on an old garment: else that which should fill it up taketh from it, the new from the old, and a worse rent is made.
22And no man putteth new wine into old wine-skins; else the wine will burst the skins, and the wine perisheth, and the skins: but they put new wine into fresh wine-skins.
YLT Young's Literal Translation 1898
18And the disciples of John and those of the Pharisees were fasting, and they come and say to him, `Wherefore do the disciples of John and those of the Pharisees fast, and thy disciples do not fast?'
19And Jesus said to them, `Are the sons of the bride-chamber able, while the bridegroom is with them, to fast? so long time as they have the bridegroom with them they are not able to fast;
20but days shall come when the bridegroom may be taken from them, and then they shall fast--in those days.
21`And no one a patch of undressed cloth doth sew on an old garment, and if not--the new filling it up doth take from the old and the rent doth become worse;
22and no one doth put new wine into old skins, and if not--the new wine doth burst the skins, and the wine is poured out, and the skins will be destroyed; but new wine into new skins is to be put.'
Darby Darby Bible 1890
18And the disciples of John and the Pharisees were fasting; and they come and say to him, Why do the disciples of John and [the disciples] of the Pharisees fast, but thy disciples fast not?
19And Jesus said to them, Can the sons of the bride-chamber fast while the bridegroom is with them? As long as they have the bridegroom with them they cannot fast.
20But days will come when the bridegroom shall have been taken away from them, and then shall they fast in that day.
21No one sews a patch of new cloth on an old garment: otherwise its new filling-up takes from the old [stuff], and there is a worse rent.
22And no one puts new wine into old skins; otherwise the wine bursts the skins, and the wine is poured out, and the skins will be destroyed; but new wine is to be put into new skins.
Douay-Rheims Douay-Rheims Bible 1899
18And the disciples of John and the Pharisees used to fast. And they come and say to him: Why do the disciples of John and of the Pharisees fast; but thy disciples do not fast?
19And Jesus saith to them: Can the children of the marriage fast, as long as the bridegroom is with them? As long as they have the bridegroom with them, they cannot fast.
20But the days will come when the bridegroom shall be taken away from them: and then they shall fast in those days.
21No man seweth a piece of raw cloth to an old garment: otherwise the new piecing taketh away from the old, and there is made a greater rent.
22And no man putteth new wine into old bottles: otherwise the wine will burst the bottles, and both the wine will be spilled and the bottles will be lost. But new wine must be put into new bottles.
Verse in Context
Original Language (Koine Greek)
New Testament · Koine Greek · Mark 2:18
Source: STEPBible TAGNT/TEHB (CC-BY 4.0). Click or tap a morphology code to see the full parsing.
Scholars' Consensus
Commentators across traditions agree that Jesus’ response shifts the question from “Why don’t you fast?” to “Why should you?”. Vincent’s Word Studies notes that the Greek periphrastic construction (ἦσαν νηστεύοντες) indicates they were actively fasting at that moment, not just observing a routine. Jesus identifies himself as the bridegroom (cf. John 3:29), a claim his questioners would recognise from John the Baptist’s own teaching. The Cambridge Bible points out that “sons of the bridechamber” are the wedding guests, and fasting would be inappropriate during a wedding feast. Both Gill and Matthew Henry emphasise that the bridegroom’s presence defines the season: joy while he is here, fasting when he is taken. The two parables that follow reinforce this: the old garment and old wineskins cannot contain the new work Jesus brings. Barnes adds that the new patch and new wine represent the gospel’s fresh, powerful reality, which cannot be forced into existing religious structures without damaging both. This helps believers see that Christian practice is not merely an adjustment of Jewish piety but a new creation grounded in Christ’s presence.
How settled is the interpretation?
Interpretive difficulty: Medium
Main views:
- Incompatibility view: The new patch and new wine represent the gospel’s radical newness; old structures (Pharisaic legalism, ceremonial fasts) cannot be mixed with it without damage (supported by Barnes, Gill, Matthew Henry).
- Readiness view: Jesus says his disciples are not yet strong enough for severe discipline (Lange, Cambridge Bible); the old wineskins represent their current capacity, not the system itself. New wine must be put into new skins gradually.
What is clear: Jesus is the bridegroom whose presence brings joy; his disciples will fast when he is taken away, and the kingdom he brings cannot be contained by older religious forms without transformation.
What Scholars Agree and Debate
| Topic | Agreed | Debated |
|---|---|---|
| What does the bridegroom represent? | Jesus identifies himself as the bridegroom, a messianic claim that points to divine intimacy and joy. | Most traditions see this as a direct reference to the new covenant relationship; some early Catholic interpretation also connected it to Eucharistic presence. No tradition disputes the central claim. |
| The purpose of fasting | Fasting is appropriate as a response to loss and mourning, not as a routine performance. | Protestants tend to emphasise that fasting is a voluntary, Spirit-led discipline; Catholics and Orthodox maintain set fasting seasons (Lent) as part of the Church calendar, seeing them as training in self-denial rather than mere mourning. Both affirm that Christ’s presence brings joy. |
| The meaning of new wine and old wineskins | The new kingdom cannot be forced into old religious frameworks without destroying both. | Some (e.g., many Reformed and evangelical interpreters) read this as a call for radical break from Jewish legal tradition. Others (e.g., Catholic and Anglican) see it as a warning against rigidly preserving traditions without openness to the Spirit’s fresh work, while still valuing continuity. |
Historical & Cultural Context
Fasting was a regular part of Jewish piety. Pharisees fasted twice a week (Luke 18:12) as a mark of devotion, while John’s disciples fasted often (Luke 5:33). In this scene, the combination of John’s imprisoned master and the presence of Pharisees likely produced an extraordinary fast, as Lange suggests. The questioners come to Jesus while he is dining at Levi’s house (Mark 2:15-16), highlighting the contrast between celebration and mourning.
Wedding imagery was deeply familiar in Jewish culture. A Jewish wedding feast lasted up to a week, and guests, called “sons of the bridechamber”, were released from religious duties including fasting. To fast during a wedding would have been an insult. Jesus draws on this common understanding: his presence is like the bridegroom at a wedding, a time for joy, not mourning (Clarke, citing Ward’s Customs). The term “taken away” (ἀπαρθῇ) in verse 20 implies a violent removal, foreshadowing the cross, as the Cambridge Bible notes.
The two parables ground the teaching in everyday life. “Unshrunk cloth” (ἄγναφος, agnaphos) is new, undressed fabric that will shrink when washed, tearing the old garment. Wineskins were made of animal skins; new wine ferments and expands, so only flexible new skins can hold it without bursting. These vivid images argue that the old forms of fasting and legal observance cannot contain the new kingdom Jesus ushers in. The question is not whether fasting is good, but whether it fits the present season. Vincent observes that the verbs imply the new patch “tears away” (αἴρει) from the old, and the wine “will burst” (ῥήξει), showing the destructive incompatibility of mixing old and new without proper preparation.
Textual Notes
The supplied sources note two variants. In verse 20, many important manuscripts (including the best Alexandrian and Western witnesses) read ἐν ἐκείνῃ τῇ ἡμέρᾳ (“in that day”) rather than the more common “in those days” (ἐν ἐκείναις ταῖς ἡμέραις). Mill, Bengel, and Griesbach favour the singular reading, which Clarke adopts, though he notes the plural reading also has support. The textual choice does not change the sense: the fasting is tied to the specific time of Christ’s removal. In verse 21, some manuscripts omit the initial conjunction and (καί); the UBS Greek text includes it. Beyond these, no significant variants are reported by the consulted commentators for this passage.
Reception History
From the early church through the Reformation, Mark 2:18-22 has been central to discussions about fasting and the shape of Christian practice. Augustine and later medieval writers used the bridegroom image to connect fasting with the Church’s longing for Christ’s return. The cloth and wineskins were often read as a contrast between the old covenant (the Law) and the new covenant (the Gospel). At the Reformation, both Catholic and Protestant interpreters agreed that the passage does not abolish fasting but locates its proper season in Christ’s absence. Baptistic and Free Church traditions have sometimes used the “new wineskins” to argue for simple, Spirit-led forms of worship unchanged by tradition. The Lutheran and Anglican traditions have particularly valued the passage as a guide for fasting during Lent, emphasising that Christian fasting is always done in view of the bridegroom’s presence and promise.
Preaching This Verse
Three-point outline
- The bridegroom defines the season. Jesus calls himself the bridegroom, a bold claim to divine authority. While he is present, his disciples experience joy, not mourning. Christian practice is shaped by Christ’s presence, not by religious calendar.
- The cross will bring fasting. Jesus foretells his violent removal. Then his disciples will fast, not as a duty but as the natural response to loss. Fasting finds meaning in relationship to Christ, not in ritual performance.
- New wine needs new wineskins. The gospel cannot be forced into old religious structures. Fresh faith, grace, and Spirit require new forms of life and worship. Trying to patch the old only makes things worse.
Five-point outline
- The question: Why do your disciples not fast? (v.18)
- The answer: It is a wedding feast, not a funeral (v.19)
- The foreshadowing: The bridegroom will be taken, then they will fast (v.20)
- The lesson of the cloth: New patch on old garment tears both (v.21)
- The lesson of the wineskins: New wine bursts old skins; both are lost (v.22)
Illustration hooks
- A couple plans a wedding: guests would not fast during the reception. The event determines the mood. Similarly, Christ’s presence sets the tone for joy.
- A homeowner tries to patch a worn coat with stiff new denim; the first wash pulls the seam apart. The old fabric gives way, mixing materials that behave differently ends badly.
- Opening a fizzy drink bottle that has been recycled too many times: the plastic cracks, and everything spills. New fermentation needs a container designed for pressure.
Questions your congregation is asking
- Are we supposed to fast? And if so, when and how?
- Does Jesus reject the Old Testament practices entirely, or just repurpose them?
- What counts as “old wineskins” in our church today? How do we know when something needs to change?
Leading a Discussion
This passage confronts us with a question about the rhythm of faith: when is celebration appropriate, and when is mourning? Jesus does not reject fasting; he puts it in its proper place. His presence changes everything. As a group, consider how your own practices, whether fasting or other disciplines, are shaped by your relationship with Christ rather than by rote tradition.
Discussion questions
- Read Mark 2:18-22. Who is asking the question, and why might they be fasting at that particular time? (Consider the context: John is in prison, and Jesus is feasting with tax collectors.)
- Jesus calls himself the “bridegroom.” What does this title claim about his identity? How would John’s disciples have heard this, given John 3:29?
- Verse 20 says the bridegroom “will be taken away.” What event is Jesus pointing to? How does this shape the way his followers understand fasting?
- In the parable of the cloth, what does the “old garment” represent? What about the “new patch”? Why does mixing them make things worse?
- The parable of the wineskins makes a similar point. What does “new wine” represent in Jesus’ ministry? What are the “old wineskins” that cannot hold it?
- In what areas of your life or church have you seen attempts to “patch” old practices with new ideas? What were the results?
- How can you tell when a spiritual practice (like fasting) is a joyful response to Christ versus a hollow routine? What helps keep your discipleship fresh?
Word Study
The key original-language words in this verse. Select any word for its full lexicon entry — meaning, every occurrence in Scripture, and related words.
Cross-References
Source: Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (TSK, public domain)
| Matthew 6:16 | “Moreover when you fast, don’t be like the hypocrites, with sad faces. For they disfigure their faces that they may be seen by men to be fasting. Most certainly I tell you, they have received their reward. |
| Matthew 6:18 | so that you are not seen by men to be fasting, but by your Father who is in secret; and your Father, who sees in secret, will reward you. |
| Matthew 9:14 | Then John’s disciples came to him, saying, “Why do we and the Pharisees fast often, but your disciples don’t fast?” |
| Matthew 9:17 | Neither do people put new wine into old wineskins, or else the skins would burst, and the wine be spilled, and the skins ruined. No, they put new wine into fresh wineskins, and both are preserved.” |
| Matthew 23:5 | But they do all their works to be seen by men. They make their phylacteries broad and enlarge the fringes of their garments, |
| Luke 5:33 | They said to him, “Why do John’s disciples often fast and pray, likewise also the disciples of the Pharisees, but yours eat and drink?” |
| Luke 5:39 | No man having drunk old wine immediately desires new, for he says, ‘The old is better.’” |
| Luke 18:12 | I fast twice a week. I give tithes of all that I get.’ |
Interlinear and lexical data from STEPBible (CC BY 4.0). Cross-reference data from OpenBible.info (CC BY 4.0). Commentaries are public domain.
For personal reflection
Read the devotional page — prayer, application, and "for families"
What the Commentators Say
5 public-domain commentaries, condensed into plain language.
Adam Clarke's Commentary Methodist/Wesleyan 1826
Clarke highlights the Pharisees' habit of censuring others instead of correcting themselves, demanding conformity to their own piety, and using comparisons only to exalt themselves. He also notes a significant textual variant: many manuscripts read "in that day" rather than "in those days," pointing specifically to the day of Christ's betrayal.
Barnes' Notes on the Bible Protestant 1832
Barnes draws attention to the phrase "used to fast," noting it means the disciples of John and the Pharisees were accustomed to fasting often. He also specifies that the questioners in this account are John's disciples coming to Jesus with their concern.
Gill's Exposition of the Bible Baptist 1748
Gill interprets the bridegroom as Christ and his disciples as the wedding guests, making fasting inappropriate while Christ is present. He reads the new cloth and new wine as the gospel, which cannot be stitched onto or poured into old Jewish traditions or self-righteous hearts. The old bottles represent the Pharisees, who reject the new wine and are ruined by it.
Lange's Commentary Reformed 1857
Lange observes that the fast in question was likely an extraordinary one prompted by John's imprisonment, not a regular legal fast. He notes that the disciples of John and the Pharisees, though different in background, united in their ascetic and legalistic objection to Jesus' freedom. The parables then show that the new gospel cannot be contained within old forms.
Matthew Henry's Commentary Reformed/Presbyterian 1710
Henry's focus is on how Christ shifts from justifying himself to justifying his disciples against the Pharisees' complaints. Jesus does not merely excuse their actions; he actively stands by them and will bear them out when they follow his will, whether in not fasting or in Sabbath conduct.