From the text itself and some background of the persons [Pharisees and scribes] who are asking:
Fasting meant two meanings to them. The first is fasting literally: in which they ate five days out of a week and did not eat the other two days [in contrastto the Lord's disciples who ate all 7 days]. The second meaning is they were
religious in their background. They can boast that they achieve all that the flesh could achieve and had gained for themselves the name of godliness and service to God. They are like the Chinese ascetics who cultivate themselves by suffering. It is also like the vegetarians who uplifts vegetarianism. They achieved what men found hard to achieve.
So, the Lord's answer was also of two parts. The first part was according to the literal meaning of the word. The disciples did have to fast because the Lord Jesus was not yet "taken away" (Luke 5:35). After He was taken away, His disciples would have to fast. After He was rejected and crucified, the disciples would have to fast. This was the Lord's answer according to the literal meaning of the question on fasting.
In the second answer, the Lord used five parables to explain the reason [the new and the old cannot be mixed together]. The Pharisees thought that they ought to do good, have religious works, try their best to keep God's commandments, and please God. The Lord told them that the literal fasting could come to His disciples only after He had departed from them. But if fasting refers to good works, there should not be any fasting even after He has left the disciples. That kind of fasting would be useless even after the Lord left them. The Lord used these five parables to show the Pharisees that the things He brought in were completely incompatible with the ordinances and ceremonies of the law. The grace which He brought in was absolutely incompatible with the law. The five parables signify that the law and grace can never be mixed. If they are mixed together, the law will no longer be the law, and grace will no longer be grace.
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But the meaning of the second part is even much deeper and experiential to us:
The Lord Jesus was born in a religious nation where Judaism originated, but everything related to Him, including His birth, took place outside religion and had nothing to do with religion. This was not an accident or a coincidence; it was God's arrangement and ordination. Man likes religion, but God detests religion. From man's point of view, religion is better than sin, the world, and the flesh with its lusts, and religion renders a certain amount of help to communities and societies. From God's point of view, however, religion is deceitful, because it undermines God's work by causing man to reject the
living God.
For example, we have "much feeling" when a young believer would go to a dance club or visit an improper place, but if he comes to the meeting with his Bible and sits in a well-behaved manner, we would praise him. It is easy to understand that a Christian should not be in a sinful place like a dance club, but few of us realize that it is also improper for a Christian to devoutly attend a meeting in a dead and formal way. We condemn the practice of going to a dance club, but we do not condemn the practice of coming to a meeting in a dead and formal way.
How many of us ever confessed to participating in a meeting in a dead and formal way? In God's eyes,
death is no less defiling than sin.
The best example of human livingness is when we have children coming to visit. They are like a team of destroyers. In less than five minutes they will break or "destroy" everything in the living room. Do you prefer children who are sick or dead to those who are active, lively, and messy? In the same principle, when the saints are dead in their spirit, our meetings are quiet and orderly, but when we call “O Lord!” and are living, it is not possible to be orderly. This does not mean that we should not be orderly. However, sometimes when we are living, we will not be concerned about being orderly. Man cares for religion, but God cares for life. God does not want religion. He wants us to be living.
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So .......... ARE YOU IN LOVE WITH THE BRIDGEGROOM??
It is NOT a matter of fasting or feasting. It is a matter of having the Lord's presence. If fasting can bring you the Lord's person, then fast.
If the louder I am, the more I touch the Lord’s presence, touch Him as the Bridegroom, and touch His loveliness, sweetness, and freshness. If this is the case, I should always be loud.
If the more quiet am I, the more I have the Lord's presence and touch His freshness and His loveliness .... if this is the case, then I should be quiet.
The Lord did not give any reasons to John's disciples. He did not say, "You have formed a new religion, and in order to tear down your new religion, I do not want My disciples to fast.".
The Lord Jesus did not say this. The Lord Jesus said that He was with His disciples as the Bridegroom. If He as the Bridegroom wanted them to fast, they should fast, and if He wanted them to eat and drink, they should eat and drink. Likewise, if the Lord’s presence wants us to be loud, we should be loud. If we can touch the presence of the Bridegroom by being quiet, we should be quiet. If we cannot touch the Lord’s presence in our quietness, we should proclaim, “O Lord! Lord Jesus!” By calling on Him in this way, we will enjoy the presence of the Bridegroom.
I like what you said about ascetics and vegans.
May 25 2016, 08:43 PM
no problem la....the young one are just excited.
Quote
, other disturbing news really baffled me.
, cinema segregation 
, pork free, no pork 
, etc....
This verse implies something.
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