Bible Strands
Matthew 9:15
Jesus replied, “How can the guests of the bridegroom mourn while He is with them? But the time will come when the bridegroom will be taken from them; then they will fast.
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — Jesus addresses John’s disciples and the Pharisees regarding their inquiry about fasting, contrasting their current observance with the present time of His physical presence. He declares that mourning is inappropriate while the bridegroom is with them, but predicts a future period when He will be taken away and fasting will occur.
The words — μὴ (mē) and δύνανται (dunantai) form a rhetorical question meaning “Surely not can,” which frames the bridegroom’s presence as a condition that makes mourning impossible. εἶπεν (eipen) marks Jesus’ direct response to the preceding challenge about His disciples’ failure to fast.
The thread — The bridegroom metaphor connects to John 3:29, where John identifies himself as the friend of the bridegroom, and to Revelation 19:9 and Revelation 21:2, which depict the marriage supper of the Lamb and the holy city as a bride prepared for her husband. These references establish a consistent biblical pattern linking the bridegroom figure to divine presence and eschatological fulfillment.
Why it lands — The text demands recognition that the current era of Jesus’ ministry operates under different spiritual conditions than previous or future periods of observance. It requires readers to adjust their expectations of piety based on the presence or absence of the central figure rather than adhering to fixed rituals.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Greek words
King James Version
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.
Cross-references
- Revelation 19:9 Then the angel told me to write, “Blessed are those who are invited to the marriage supper of the Lamb.” And he said to me, “These are the true words of God.”
- John 3:29 The bride belongs to the bridegroom. The friend of the bridegroom stands and listens for him, and is overjoyed to hear the bridegroom’s voice. That joy is mine, and it is now complete.
- Revelation 21:2 I saw the holy city, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.
- Matthew 25:1 “At that time the kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom.
- John 16:20 Truly, truly, I tell you, you will weep and wail while the world rejoices. You will grieve, but your grief will turn to joy.
- Acts 13:1 Now in the church at Antioch there were prophets and teachers: Barnabas, Simeon called Niger, Lucius of Cyrene, Manaen (who had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch), and Saul.
- Acts 14:23 Paul and Barnabas appointed elders for them in each church, praying and fasting as they entrusted them to the Lord, in whom they had believed.
- Psalms 45:14 In colorful garments she is led to the king; her virgin companions are brought before you.
- Isaiah 22:12 On that day the Lord GOD of Hosts called for weeping and wailing, for shaven heads and the wearing of sackcloth.
- Luke 24:13 That same day two of them were going to a village called Emmaus, about seven miles from Jerusalem.