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.
English Standard Version (ESV)
Jesus uses the analogy of a wedding feast to reveal that joy, not mourning, is the natural state when the "Bridegroom" (Himself) is present. The disciples' current joy is appropriate, but He's also hinting that His eventual "taking away" will usher in a time when fasting becomes a natural expression of sorrow.
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.
English Standard Version (ESV)
The disciples of John and the Pharisees question Jesus' disciples about why they don't fast like them. Jesus responds with a parable about wedding guests, explaining that feasting is appropriate as long as the bridegroom (himself) is present. He then shifts the focus, stating that a time will come when the bridegroom is "taken away," and then his followers will fast out of sorrow.
Why did Jesus' disciples seem so out of sync with their surroundings, and what does a wedding feast have to do with it?
Jesus uses the imagery of a wedding feast to explain why his disciples weren't fasting. In ancient Jewish culture, weddings were the pinnacle of celebration.
A Time of Unmatched Joy
The "children of the bridechamber" were the groomsmen and close friends of the groom. Their role was to celebrate with him, escorting the bride and participating in days of feasting. Mourning or fasting would be completely inappropriate – even unthinkable – during such a joyous occasion.
Jesus identifies Himself as the "Bridegroom" and His disciples (and by extension, all believers) as the "children of the bridechamber." Their current state, with Jesus physically present, is meant to be a season of joy and celebration, not sorrow. Their focus was on the Bridegroom Himself, not on religious practices that signified absence or grief.
Jesus' words about the Bridegroom being 'taken away' are a stark prediction. What does this departure signify, and why would it lead to fasting?
Jesus intentionally introduces a somber note: his eventual departure. This isn't just a temporary absence; it's a foreshadowing of his crucifixion and death.
A New Season of Sorrow and Expectation
The wedding feast represents the time of Christ's earthly ministry and His intimate presence with His followers. But this season is temporary. Jesus predicts a future time when He will be 'taken away.' This refers directly to His suffering, death, and burial.
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During this period of absence, fasting becomes the natural and appropriate response. It's not an arbitrary rule, but an expression of sorrow, repentance, and longing for the Bridegroom's return. The early church understood this, connecting fasting to times of mourning and spiritual discipline, like the forty hours Christ was in the grave.
Understand the original words
nymphōn · Greek Noun
A metaphor for the joyful, messianic age inaugurated by Jesus’ arrival; the invitation to his presence is a celebration of the kingdom of heaven breaking into human history.
nymphios · Greek Noun
A title used by Jesus to describe himself as the fulfillment of Israel's messianic hope, signaling the presence of God among His people.
This passage is the first recorded instance where Jesus directly alludes to his future death. The wedding imagery highlights the contrast between the joy of his presence and the sorrow that will follow his departure, providing context for the Christian practice of fasting as an expression of grief and repentance.
c. AD 27
Jesus Begins Public Ministry
Jesus begins his public ministry after his baptism, gathering disciples and teaching throughout Galilee.
c. AD 27— this verse
Disciples of John Question Jesus
Disciples of John the Baptist, likely concerned about their master's diminishing influence and Jesus' growing popularity, question Jesus about why his disciples don't fast like theirs and the Pharisees do.
c. AD 27
Jesus Uses Wedding Parable
Jesus responds with a parable comparing himself to a bridegroom and his disciples to wedding guests, explaining that fasting is inappropriate during a time of joy and celebration.
c. AD 27
Jesus Predicts His Departure
Jesus foretells that a time will come when he will be 'taken away,' and his disciples will then fast, alluding to his impending crucifixion and the period of mourning that will follow.
c. AD 30-33
Jesus' Crucifixion and Death
Jesus is crucified and dies, fulfilling his prediction and marking the 'taking away' of the bridegroom.
c. AD 30-33
Post-Crucifixion Mourning and Fasting
Following Jesus' death, his disciples experience a period of grief and likely fasting, in accordance with Jesus' prophecy.
This passage directly refers to Jesus as the 'Bridegroom,' providing the foundational understanding for the imagery Jesus uses in Matthew 9:15.
Isaiah 62:5This Old Testament prophecy speaks of God rejoicing over His people like a bridegroom rejoices over his bride, highlighting the profound love and celebration inherent in the relationship Jesus is alluding to.
Revelation 19:7-9This apocalyptic vision describes the marriage supper of the Lamb, directly fulfilling the 'wedding feast' imagery Jesus uses, showing the ultimate joy and union that awaits believers after Christ's departure and return.
Mark 2:18-20This parallel account of the same conversation frames the question about fasting within a broader discussion about new and old, reinforcing Jesus' point that the current season of His presence is a time of joy, not austerity.
1 Thessalonians 4:16-17This passage describes the future return of Christ and the gathering of believers, offering a glimpse of the ultimate 'Bridegroom' reunion that replaces the period of His absence and eventual fasting.
clarkeMatthew 9:15: "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."
Can the children of the bride-chamber - Νυμφωνος. Or, νυμφιου, bridegroom, as the Cod. Bezae and several versions have it. These persons were the companions of the bridegroom, who accompanied him to the house of his father-in-law when he went to bring the bride to his own home…
ellicottMatthew 9:15: "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."
(15) Can the children of the bridechamber mourn ?—The words were full of meaning in themselves, but they only gain their full significance when we connect them with the teaching of the Baptist recorded in John 3:29 . He had pointed to Jesus as “the Bridegroom.” He had taught t…
Jesus uses the analogy of a wedding feast to reveal that joy, not mourning, is the natural state when the "Bridegroom" (Himself) is present. The disciples' current joy is appropriate, but He's also hinting that His eventual "taking away" will usher in a time when fasting becomes a natural expression of sorrow.
The disciples of John and the Pharisees question Jesus' disciples about why they don't fast like them. Jesus responds with a parable about wedding guests, explaining that feasting is appropriate as long as the bridegroom (himself) is present. He then shifts the focus, stating that a time will come when the bridegroom is "taken away," and then his followers will fast out of sorrow.
The disciples of John and the Pharisees question Jesus' disciples about why they don't fast like them. Jesus responds with a parable about wedding guests, explaining that feasting is appropriate as long as the bridegroom (himself) is present. He then shifts the focus, stating that a time will come when the bridegroom is "taken away," and then his followers will fast out of sorrow.
"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." — Jesus uses the analogy of a wedding feast to reveal that joy, not mourning, is the natural state when the "Bridegroom" (Himself) is present. The disciples' current joy is appropriate, but He's also h…
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Last reviewed October 2026