Matthew 9:14-17 NASBS
Then the disciples of John came to Him, asking, “Why do we and the Pharisees fast, but Your disciples do not fast?” [15] And Jesus said to them, “The attendants of the bridegroom cannot mourn as long as the bridegroom is with them, can they? But the days will come when the bridegroom is taken away from them, and then they will fast. [16] But no one puts a patch of unshrunk cloth on an old garment; for the patch pulls away from the garment, and a worse tear results. [17] Nor do people put new wine into old wineskins; otherwise the wineskins burst, and the wine pours out and the wineskins are ruined; but they put new wine into fresh wineskins, and both are preserved.”
This is a fairly well-known chapter from the Bible, and it has been explained in a variety of ways by many people throughout history. Here’s my best try at explaining.
Jesus uses a parable to illustrate fasting as well as the reason why his disciples aren’t fasting, despite the fact that everyone else appears to be.
Starting with the most important reason for people to fast, Jesus goes on to explain why they should do so. Fasting is a period of abstinence from some activities in order to concentrate on God’s kingdom. Food, beverages, television, and other items fall under this category. Our goal when fasting is to become more intimate with Jesus, and it is Jesus himself who teaches us this when he says:
Matthew 9:15 NASBS
“The attendants j of the bridegroom cannot mourn as long as the bridegroom is with them, can they?
According to Jesus, fasting is not primarily intended to fulfill religious obligations, is not intended to try to gain God’s favour in vain, and most surely is not intended to be noticed by anybody other than God Himself.
In Matthew 6:16-18 NASBS
“Whenever you fast, do not put on a gloomy face as the hypocrites do, for they neglect their appearance so that they will be noticed by men when they are fasting. Truly I say to you, they have their reward in full. [17] But you, when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face [18] so that your fasting will not be noticed by men, but by your Father who is in secret; and your Father who sees what is done in secret will reward you.
Fasting is a private business between you and God, who sees you in your place of intimacy and blesses you with His Presence. Let us seek to be found in the secret place of intimacy with The Father, rather than falling into the trap of desiring human glory.
Because of His Presence, our wineskins are transformed, allowing us to accept the fresh wine. However, in this particular instance, wine refers to the delight that comes from new revelations of God’s character.
Prayer and fasting enable us to enter into the secret area of intimacy with God, and as a result, we are transformed so that we may experience God’s perfect will.
In His Presence we have:
His presence that fills me with joy.
“In Your presence is fullness of joy; at Your right hand are pleasures forevermore.” (Psalm 16:11)
Those who live in God’s presence are protected. The fact that we remain in His presence places us under the safety of His shadow.
“He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty’’ (Psalm 91:1).
In His presence, we find comfort and tranquility.
“My presence will go with you, and I will give you rest” (Exodus 33:14).
When we spend time with God, He takes us by hand, leads us to green pastures, and guides us in the path ahead of us.
“Nevertheless I am continually with You; You hold me by my right hand. You will guide me with Your counsel, and afterward receive me to glory” (Psalm 73:23-24).
Every mountain, every hurdle, and every hindrance that stands in our way, as well as every evil plan for our lives, are melted away by the fire and strength of God’s presence.
” The mountains melt like wax at the presence of the Lord” (Psalm 97:5).
“Take counsel together, but it will come to nothing; speak the word, but it will not stand, for God is with us” (Isaiah 8:10).
When we enter into God’s presence, our anxieties and insecurities, as well as our sufferings and sorrows, are lifted and removed from our lives.
“Come to me, all you who labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest” (Matthew 11:28).
In His presence, we are transformed, refined, and polished again. His presence removes the chaff from our character and helps us to become better people.
“But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord” (2 Corinthians 3:18).
So let us fast with a heart that yearns for His reign and the Presence of His majesty. It is in doing so that we will be able to share in the Lord’s joy, become more aware of His protective hand over our life, as well feel greater serenity and direction from the Lord.
As our faith grows as a result of spending time in the secret realm of intimacy, we shall watch the mountains move in His Presence. Abba takes us by the hand, refining our character as he transforms us into the image of Christ in the secret place, where our Father sees and rewards us.
We leave our worries at His feet and watch as He takes us by the hand, refining our character and transforming us into His image.
He pours out new wine, a deeper understanding of who He is, and a higher level of His Spirit as our wineskins are transformed in His Presence.
Thank you, thank you, thank you, Daddy
Blessings
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