Luke 5 35

Luke 5:35 kjv

But the days will come, when the bridegroom shall be taken away from them, and then shall they fast in those days.

Luke 5:35 nkjv

But the days will come when the bridegroom will be taken away from them; then they will fast in those days."

Luke 5:35 niv

But the time will come when the bridegroom will be taken from them; in those days they will fast."

Luke 5:35 esv

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

Luke 5:35 nlt

But someday the groom will be taken away from them, and then they will fast."

Luke 5 verses

Luke 5 35 Meaning

Luke 5:35 proclaims a shift in the spiritual landscape inaugurated by Jesus. He declares that a time of intense joy, represented by the presence of the "bridegroom," will eventually cease. This absence will usher in a period of mourning and solemn devotion, characterized by fasting. It foretells His future departure and the spiritual response required of His followers in the interim before His glorious return.

Luke 5 35 Context

This verse is part of Jesus' response to a question posed by the Pharisees and scribes. They observed that John the Baptist's disciples and their own often fasted, but Jesus' disciples "eat and drink." Their query was a challenge to Jesus' understanding of piety and religious practice, suggesting His disciples were lax. Jesus responds by drawing a clear distinction between the present, which is a time of celebration because of His physical presence (likened to a wedding feast with the Bridegroom), and a future time when He would be "taken away." He then follows this with the parables of the new patch on an old garment and new wine in old wineskins, emphasizing that His ministry does not merely update existing religious frameworks but ushers in a new covenant and a new reality, one that cannot be contained within outdated forms. The immediate context, therefore, is about the true nature of the Kingdom of God as present in Jesus, and the spiritual appropriate response to His presence versus His absence.

Luke 5 35 Word analysis

• But (Ἀλλὰ - Alla): This Greek conjunction introduces a strong contrast or opposition. Here, it contrasts the current joyous feasting with a future, sorrowful period. It signals a major shift in the disciples' experience.
• days will come (ἐλεύσονται ἡμέραι - eleusontai hēmerai): This future tense emphasizes the certainty and inevitability of the predicted event. It signifies a divinely appointed time that will arrive.
• when the bridegroom (ὅταν ὁ νυμφίος - hotan ho nymphios): The definite article "the" (ὁ) identifies this bridegroom as a specific, significant figure. In Jewish thought, the bridegroom often symbolized God's relationship with Israel or, by Jesus' time, the coming Messiah. Jesus implicitly identifies Himself as this highly anticipated "bridegroom," a direct claim to Messianic identity and authority. The "wedding feast" metaphor represents a time of ultimate joy, blessing, and covenant fulfillment.
• is taken away (ἀπαρθῇ - aparthe): This is a key phrase. The Greek verb apairō means to "take away," "lift off," or "be carried away." It is in the aorist passive subjunctive, implying a definite event where an action is performed upon the bridegroom, suggesting external forces are involved. In this context, it is a clear prophecy of Jesus' death, particularly His crucifixion, where He would be forcibly removed from His disciples through divine will, though enacted by human hands. This phrasing subtly hints at His divine purpose even in His suffering.
• from them (ἀπ’ αὐτῶν - ap’ autōn): Refers to Jesus' disciples, the ones who were currently enjoying His presence and not fasting. The impact of His departure is keenly personal to them.
• and then (τότε - tote): Marks a chronological consequence; the fasting will occur as a direct result after the bridegroom's departure.
• they will fast (νηστεύσουσιν - nēsteusousin): The future tense verb, nēsteuō, refers to abstaining from food for religious reasons. In the Jewish tradition, fasting was intrinsically linked with mourning, repentance, seeking God's favor, or anticipating a future deliverance. Here, it is associated with a time of deep sorrow due to the absence of the "bridegroom."
• in those days (ἐν ἐκείναις ταῖς ἡμέραις - en ekeinais tais hēmerais): Reinforces the specificity of the future period. It points to the particular days following His departure, which include His passion, death, burial, and ascension, as well as the period of the church age, awaiting His return.

Words-group Analysis:

• "But days will come when the bridegroom is taken away from them": This phrase serves as a pivot. It moves from the current joyous state to a future state of sorrow and absence. It reveals Jesus' divine foreknowledge of His crucifixion and ascension, reframing what might seem like a mere interruption to His disciples' lives into a central part of God's plan. This premonition contrasts sharply with the contemporary belief that the Messiah would immediately establish His glorious kingdom, free from suffering.
• "the bridegroom is taken away": This specific imagery for Christ's death is powerful. It elevates His departure from a common death to a cosmic, significant event, robbing His followers of profound joy. It implies a sense of violent separation, not a natural departure. It subtly refutes the idea of a continually present, physical Messiah as anticipated by some Jewish traditions, and prepares the disciples for His spiritual presence after His glorification.
• "then they will fast in those days": This specifies the spiritual response of the disciples to the bridegroom's absence. Fasting signifies a period of grief, spiritual yearning, and anticipation of the bridegroom's return. It shifts their spiritual posture from celebration to sober waiting, reminding them that while they possess joy in the Holy Spirit, there remains a deep longing for the full consummation of the Kingdom when the Bridegroom returns. This fasting isn't merely religious ritual but a deep expression of yearning for His bodily presence and the ultimate establishment of His kingdom.

Luke 5 35 Bonus section

The reference to the "bridegroom taken away" connects profoundly to the typology of the Passover Lamb (Exod 12), whose death signified redemption but also an immediate departure from Egypt. This verse, therefore, does not just describe Jesus' crucifixion but establishes the Messianic age as a dual period: one of inaugurated joy in His first coming and spiritual presence (through the Holy Spirit) but also a prolonged period of yearning for the complete consummation of joy at His future physical return (Acts 1:9-11). This verse provided critical teaching for the early church, helping them understand their mission and their spiritual life in the period between Christ's ascension and His future advent. Their fasting became a tangible expression of a pilgrim people longing for their heavenly home and the return of their King.

Luke 5 35 Commentary

Luke 5:35 encapsulates Jesus' radical teaching by asserting the uniqueness of His personal presence and the consequential spiritual posture of His followers. Jesus introduces Himself metaphorically as the "Bridegroom," immediately evoking imagery of unparalleled joy and festivity from Jewish wedding traditions. His presence inaugurates a "wedding feast" era, making traditional forms of mourning like fasting inappropriate. The spiritual state of His disciples directly mirrors His physical proximity. This teaching challenges the religious norms of the Pharisees, who valued regular, public fasting as a sign of piety.

However, Jesus prophesies a dramatic shift: the "Bridegroom is taken away." This refers primarily to His crucifixion, followed by His ascension. This prophetic statement sets the stage for the grief and mourning that His disciples would experience, during which time their fasting would become a natural and appropriate spiritual expression. This period of His physical absence defines the church age – a time characterized by longing for His Second Coming (Rev 19:7-9). Thus, Christian fasting, unlike the often ritualistic fasting of the Pharisees, becomes an authentic expression of spiritual yearning, sorrow over sin, identification with Christ's suffering, and earnest anticipation of His glorious return, signifying that complete joy will only be fully restored when He comes back to consummate His Kingdom.