Matthew 9:15 kjv

And Jesus said unto them, Can the children of the bridechamber mourn, as long as the bridegroom is with them? but the days will come, when the bridegroom shall be taken from them, and then shall they fast.

Matthew 9:15 nkjv

And Jesus said to them, "Can the friends of the bridegroom mourn as long as the bridegroom is with them? But the days will come when the bridegroom will be taken away from them, and then they will fast.

Matthew 9:15 niv

Jesus answered, "How can the guests of the bridegroom mourn while he is with them? The time will come when the bridegroom will be taken from them; then they will fast.

Matthew 9:15 esv

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.

Matthew 9:15 nlt

Jesus replied, "Do wedding guests mourn while celebrating with the groom? Of course not. But someday the groom will be taken away from them, and then they will fast.

Matthew 9 verses

Matthew 9 15 Meaning

Matthew 9:15 presents Jesus' self-identification as the "Bridegroom" and provides a profound spiritual explanation for why His disciples do not fast while He is physically present with them. It contrasts the prevailing religious practice of fasting, which signifies sorrow or spiritual earnestness, with the inherent joy that His presence brings. The verse also includes a poignant prophecy of His eventual "taking away"—a clear foretelling of His suffering, death, and ascension—after which His disciples would indeed have appropriate reasons and seasons for fasting as an expression of yearning and devotion in His physical absence.

Matthew 9 15 Context

Matthew 9:15 is part of a series of confrontations between Jesus and religious authorities (or John's disciples, in this case) that demonstrate His divine authority and inaugurate the New Covenant. The immediate context (Mat 9:14) involves the disciples of John the Baptist questioning Jesus about why His disciples do not fast, unlike themselves and the Pharisees. This question challenges Jesus' approach to piety and religious observance. Jesus responds by using the analogy of a wedding, directly asserting His unique role as the Bridegroom, signifying a time of unparalleled joy and blessing that makes traditional fasting inappropriate. The verse is then followed by the parables of the new garment and new wineskins (Mat 9:16-17), further illustrating the incompatibility of the "new" reality Jesus brings with the rigid "old" religious system. It highlights that Jesus is not merely reforming Judaism, but bringing a new creation that operates on fundamentally different principles of grace, joy, and the Spirit, replacing outward legalistic observance with an inner transformation that dictates genuine worship.

Matthew 9 15 Word analysis

• And Jesus said to them: Signifies Jesus' authoritative teaching in response to the preceding question.
• Can the friends of the bridegroom:
  • Friends of the bridegroom (υἱοὶ τοῦ νυμφῶνος - huii tou nymphōnos): Literally "sons of the bridal chamber/bridegroom." In Jewish culture, these were the chosen companions or attendants (shoshbinim) of the bridegroom, deeply involved in the wedding festivities, ensuring the success and joy of the event. Their role was one of celebration, making sorrow or mourning completely antithetical.
  • The bridegroom (ὁ νυμφίος - ho nymphios): A deeply significant term. In the Old Testament, God is often depicted as the Bridegroom and Israel as His bride, signifying a covenant relationship of love, intimacy, and joy (e.g., Isa 62:5, Hos 2:19-20). Jesus uses this metaphor to identify Himself, subtly claiming a divine or Messianic role as the central figure around whom joyous eschatological celebration should occur. This designation elevates the time of His earthly ministry to a joyous, celebratory "wedding feast" that directly fulfills long-anticipated prophetic promises.
• mourn (πενθεῖν - penthein): To express deep sorrow, grief, or lamentation, often accompanied by fasting and outward signs of distress. It stands in direct contrast to the celebratory atmosphere expected at a wedding. Fasting was the common outward expression of such inner sorrow or spiritual longing.
• as long as the bridegroom is with them?: Emphasizes the presence of the Bridegroom as the determining factor for the lack of mourning/fasting. His physical presence transforms the very nature of their reality, from a state requiring penitence to one demanding jubilation. It suggests an incompatibility between Christ's joyful, redemptive presence and sorrow-based religious observances.
• The days will come: A prophetic phrase indicating a definite, future event, an anticipation of a significant shift.
• when the bridegroom is taken away from them:
  • Taken away (ἀπαρθῇ - aparthē): Passive voice, suggesting an external, imposed removal, not a voluntary departure on His part, though it aligns with His divine will. This term hints at violence, death, and crucifixion, signifying a forcible separation. It points to His crucifixion and ascension, initiating a new phase for His disciples. It implies both His death on the cross and His eventual ascension into heaven.
  • from them: Refers to His disciples, the immediate audience. The emphasis is on His physical absence from their immediate midst.
• and then they will fast: A direct instruction and prediction. It signifies that appropriate reasons and seasons for fasting will emerge after His physical departure. This legitimate fasting will be borne out of longing, sorrow, or deep spiritual earnestness, reflective of a yearning for the Bridegroom's return, spiritual brokenness, or intensified prayer. This clarifies that Jesus does not abolish fasting but recontextualizes its purpose and timing.

Matthew 9 15 Bonus section

• This verse underpins the understanding that Christianity is fundamentally a faith of joy in Christ's presence (spiritual or physical), yet also a faith that recognizes times for sorrow and serious spiritual discipline in a world awaiting His full return.
• The Bridegroom metaphor also highlights Jesus' claim to ultimate authority and His covenant relationship with humanity. He is not merely a teacher or prophet but the longed-for Messiah who initiates a divine wedding.
• The distinction Jesus draws between the "friends of the bridegroom" and "John's disciples" illustrates the difference between those living in the light of the full revelation of the Messiah and those still preparing for His advent.
• This verse implicitly teaches against performative piety, suggesting that outward religious practices must stem from inner spiritual reality and align with the redemptive moment ushered in by Christ. The emphasis is on genuine relationship over ritualistic obligation.

Matthew 9 15 Commentary

Matthew 9:15 is a pivotal statement by Jesus, directly challenging conventional religious piety of His day and defining His own unique identity. The core message is that His presence inaugurates a period of unparalleled spiritual joy, akin to a wedding feast. Therefore, mournful practices like fasting are fundamentally incongruous with the joyous reality of the Bridegroom's personal presence. Jesus doesn't invalidate fasting as a spiritual discipline but places it within its appropriate theological and chronological context. The prophecy that the "Bridegroom will be taken away" refers directly to His crucifixion and ascension. This foretelling signifies the coming shift from an era of direct, physical communion to a period where His physical absence will warrant sincere fasting—motivated by deep longing for His return, grief over the world's brokenness, or intense spiritual burdens, rather than rigid religious legalism. This verse implicitly sets apart the new covenant life of joy in Christ from the somber and ritualistic aspects of the old order, yet also affirms that sincere spiritual disciplines, including fasting, continue to hold significance for believers after His physical departure.