Mark 2:18-22 Meaning: Why Jesus' Disciples Did Not Fast
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.”
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.
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.
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.'
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.
Meaning in one sentence
Jesus explains why his disciples don't fast: the bridegroom is with them.
Context
This passage comes early in Jesus' ministry, as conflict with religious leaders is building. Just before this, Jesus called Levi the tax collector and ate at his house with many sinners, shocking the Pharisees. Now both John's disciples and the Pharisees notice that Jesus' followers do not fast the way they do. John's disciples had learned fasting from their teacher, who lived an ascetic life in the wilderness. The Pharisees fasted twice a week as a public display of devotion. Their question sounds simple, but it carries weight: they see Jesus and his group as careless about a core religious practice. Jesus does not answer directly. Instead, he gives three pictures, a wedding feast, a garment patch, and wineskins, that shift the whole frame. He is not just talking about fasting. He is saying that something new has arrived, something that cannot be squeezed into the old ways.
Key Words
The Greek word for fasting, nēsteuō, means to abstain from food, often as an act of worship or grief. For the Pharisees, fasting had become a routine that showed who was faithful. Jesus does not reject fasting itself, but he reframes its meaning. It belongs to seasons of loss, not to the time when the bridegroom is present.
That word numphios, bridegroom, is the key. In the Old Testament, God is pictured as Israel's husband (Hosea, Isaiah). By calling himself the bridegroom, Jesus is quietly saying he is God with his people. His presence turns a fasting day into a wedding feast.
Then comes the word kainos for new. It does not mean just recent or fresh. It means something of a new kind, unprecedented. The new wine and new patch are not a renovation of the old system; they are something entirely different. That is why Jesus says the old wineskins cannot hold it. The gospel does not simply improve the old religion, it replaces it with something the world had never seen.
How Christians Read This Verse
Christians across traditions see this passage as Jesus declaring a new era. The early church read the bridegroom image as pointing to Christ's divine identity. Ancient Jewish wedding customs, where guests celebrated, never fasted, shaped the interpretation. In later centuries, Reformers like Calvin and Luther saw this as Christ freeing believers from ceremonial laws. Anabaptist traditions have emphasized that the gospel cannot be forced into state or cultural structures. Catholics and Orthodox have kept a strong practice of fasting as a spiritual discipline, understanding that Jesus' words allow for fasting after the Ascension, which is why Lent exists. Evangelical readers often focus on the new wine as the Holy Spirit poured into lives made new. All these readings agree on one thing: Jesus is doing something radically new, and we cannot simply add him to our old patterns of religion.
A common misunderstanding
Living This Out
This week, pay attention to the difference between going through religious motions and truly being with Jesus. You might find yourself following old routines, a prayer you say without thinking, a Sunday you attend out of habit, while your heart feels hollow. That is patching old cloth. Jesus invites you to something more alive. Ask yourself: am I treating my faith like a repair job, or am I letting him make me into something new? There may be seasons when fasting or other disciplines are right, but they should come from love for the Bridegroom, not from pressure to perform. And if you are in a season of joy with him, do not force yourself into mourning. Celebrate his presence while you can.
Main takeaway: Jesus is the bridegroom whose presence brings joy, and his new life cannot be contained by old religious forms.
For Families
For ages 5, 8
Some people asked Jesus why his friends didn't fast. Jesus said it's like a wedding party: when the bridegroom is there, everyone celebrates. He is the Bridegroom, and his friends are happy because he is with them.
For ages 9, 12
Jesus used a story about new wine and old wineskins. You know how a new pair of jeans shrinks in the wash? If you sew a new patch onto old cloth, it will tear. Jesus was saying that his new way of living can't just be patched onto old religious rules. It needs a whole new start. When Jesus came, everything changed. Following him is not about adding a few good habits; it's about becoming a new person.
Questions People Ask
Why did John's disciples fast but Jesus' disciples did not?
John's disciples and the Pharisees fasted as a regular religious practice. Jesus explained that his disciples could not fast while he, the bridegroom, was with them because a wedding is a time for celebration, not mourning. After he was taken away (referring to his death), they would fast again.
What does the new wine and old wineskins parable mean?
New wine represents the new covenant and the fresh teaching Jesus brings. Old wineskins represent the old religious structures of Judaism that have become rigid. If you pour new wine into old wineskins, the skins burst and both are ruined. This means the gospel cannot be forced into old forms; it requires a transformation of heart and practice.
Is fasting required for Christians today?
Jesus did not command fasting, but he assumed his followers would fast after his departure (verse 20). The early church practiced fasting (Acts 13:2-3), and many Christians today fast as a spiritual discipline. It is not a legal requirement but a response to spiritual longing or seeking. It should flow from relationship with Christ, not from obligation.
What does 'the bridegroom will be taken away' mean?
This is a clear prediction of Jesus' death. He says the days will come when the bridegroom is taken away from them, and then they will fast. It points to the time after his crucifixion when his disciples would grieve. That is why fasting has its place in the Christian life, it is appropriate in seasons of longing for Christ's return or mourning over sin.
For pastors & researchers
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