St Matthew, Chapter 9, verse:16, The Bridegroom, the patch, and the wine.

Our paragraph topic is:  (The question of fasting) Part 2.  

The disciples of John the Baptist spoke with Christ about fasting.  They asked him why his disciples did not fast while the Pharisees and they did fast.  Instead of answering their question and telling them that his disciples did not fast because they were in the presence of the Lord, he told them that they did not fast because they could not mourn while the bridegroom was present.  He told them that they could not fast until the bridegroom was taken away and then they would fast.  The disciples of John did not understand that instead of mourning they should be rejoicing.  Instead of being in sorrow they should be festive because they were in the presence of the Lord.  John the Baptist had told them that one was coming that was even greater than he and he was not worthy to tie the straps of his sandals.  The disciples of John did not understand.  They were blinded.  They did not see.

Christ gives them further examples of his presence by telling them another reason for not fasting.  He tells them,  "No one puts a patch of raw cloth on an old garment."  Christ is telling them that this is why they do not understand because they are not his disciples.  They are not his disciples because they are old garments.  They are not his disciples because the old and the new patch will not work.  They are not his disciples because a new garment is needed and not an old one.  Christ lets them know the reason for the need of something new.  He says, the patch tears away from the garment, and a worse rent is made."   

So Christ has given them the explanation to help them understand why his disciples do not fast.  He has told them that a new garment is needed instead of a patch to an old garment.  He has told them that the wedding feast is taking place and his disciples are festive.  His disciples are rejoicing.  His disciples are merry.  Christ gives them these explanations so that they may understand.  Matthew gives us these statements from Christ so that we may understand.  Are we going to be disciples of Christ or disciples of John the Baptist?  Are we going to mourn at the wedding feast or are we going to rejoice?  Are we going to be sorrowful at the wedding feast or are we going to be happy?

Like the disciples of John the Baptist, do we follow the teachings of Christ or the teachings of our leaders?  John was a great prophet and a great teacher.  But he pointed to the one to come.  He admitted to his unworthiness and humbly showed the way to the Greater One.  There are many great religious leaders in the church community today.  John spoke of Christ. They speak of Christ.  John had disciples.  They have disciples.  Christ seeks new garments today, not old ones to put a patch upon.  John spoke of his decrease while Christ must increase.  Our leaders today, who do they point to?  Are you led to Christ through your religious leader today?  Are you being created as a new garment in Christ or are you being patched over?  
    

St Matthew, Chapter 9, verses:14-15, The Bridegroom, the patch, and the wine.

Our paragraph topic is:  (The question of fasting) Part 1.  

In the previous verses Christ gave instructions to the Pharisees, telling them to learn about mercy.  Now he gives instructions to the disciples of John the Baptist.  John's disciples come to Christ asking about fasting.  Christ has broken tradition.  He has brought about change in the old way of doing things.  He has given understanding to old laws and rules.  Now, he gives John's disciples details explaining why his disciples are different.  

John's disciples ask why they and the Pharisees fast when the disciples of Christ do not fast.  The rule of fasting has been a rule handed down for many generations.  Christ  asks them a  question,  "Can the wedding guests mourn as long as the bridegroom is with them?"   This question brings up a kind of dilemma.  The question they asked concerned the rules of fasting and Christ answered them with a question about a bridegroom.  How do the two questions relate?   Christ does not say, "They do not fast because...."  Instead he challenges them to see the reason for themselves.  He tells them about the bridegroom and mourning.  He tells them that now is not the time to mourn but to celebrate.  He implies that now is the time to rejoice and to be glad, because the bridegroom is in their midst.  He gives them a reason to know for themselves why his disciples do not fast.

John's disciple did not understand.  They see Christ as a teacher.  They see him as a great Rabbi.  They see him as a prophet.  They do not see him as the Son of God.  This is why they ask the question of fasting.  This is why they compare themselves with the Pharisees as following the rules of fasting.  This is why they are fasting and questioning why the disciples of Christ do not fast.  They do not understand the reason for joy.  They do not understand the reason for celebration.  They do not understand the reason for happiness.  They may not have understood the reasoning of Christ's answer concerning the bridegroom.  

Christ's answer indicates a wedding.  Christ's answer indicates a marriage about to happen.  Christ's answer indicates a a union about to take place.  Christ's answer indicates a feast taking place.  Christ's answer indicates a time for celebration.  John's disciple question indicated a time for mourning.  The question asked by John's disciple indicated a time for sorrow.  The question asked by John's disciple indicated that they did not know who was in their midst.

Christ tells them that a time will come when the bridegroom will be taken away from them and then they will fast.  And Christ was taken away from them and crucified on the cross.  Christ was taken away from them and buried in the tomb.  Christ was given back to them when he arose from the dead.  And Christ is with us today when he ascended into heaven.  Are we like John's disciples who mourn and fast in the presence of God?  Why do we not rejoice when our loved ones go to the wedding feast to meet the bridegroom?   

St Matthew, Chapter 9, verse:13, Matthew, the Publicans, and the sinners.

Our paragraph topic is:  (The call of Matthew) Part 4.  

Jesus has spoken directly to the Pharisees.  He told them that he socializes with sinners and publicans because they are the ones who need healing.  He told them that he socializes with sinners and publicans because they are the ones that are suffering.  He told them that he socializes with sinners and publicans because they are the ones who are sick.  He told them that he socializes with sinners and publicans because they are the ones that are lost.  They are the ones who need to be restored.  Now he gives the Pharisees further instructions to help them understand the why of his actions.  He tells them,  "Go, and learn what this means: I desire mercy, and not sacrifice." 

Christ is giving the Pharisees an opportunity to understand him.  He is opening the door to wisdom and allowing them to peek in and see wisdom through the knowledge of his words.  This passage comes from the Old Testament Bible where God spoke through the prophet Osee (Hosea) about the sins of Israel.  Now Christ is repeating those words to the Pharisees to help them understand the nature of God.  Christ is telling the Pharisees that God wants mercy and not a cold obedience to the Law.  He wants his people to understand that he is a forgiving God and not a God that exacts strict justice upon his people.  He wants love instead of a cold obedience to precepts.  He wants a relationship with his people instead of a distant friendship. 

Stone the adulterers.  Crucify the blasphemers.  Burn the possessed.  Exact strict justice in the name of God.  These are the sentences brought by the Chief priests and the Pharisees.  These are their understandings of what the Law required.  Yet mercy was not present.  Mercy did not exist.  Mercy did not have a place in the justice of the Law.  God wanted mercy and mercy was not present.  

Here we are at the crossroads today, living in a society that knows itself and lives for itself.  Our God is the judge and the jury of our actions.  He has set the rules in place and will judge our actions by the intentions of our hearts.  He desires mercy.  Yet he is the judge.  He desires mercy Yet the rules cannot be changed.  He desires mercy.  And we continue to live our lives as though the rules do not exist.  We live our lives as though the rules are made by society and not by God.  We live our lives as though the rules are made by society and we should therefore live by those rules instead.  So society tells us that greed is OK.  Society tells us that lust is OK.  Society tells us that selfishness is OK.  Society tells us that fornication is OK.  Society tell us that sin is OK.  Society tells us that all the things against God is OK because he does not punish us.  Yet he desires mercy and the rules are already set.  

Judgment at death is final and the final judgement is coming soon.  God desires mercy but he also must judge.  He has given us all the opportunity to know him.  He has given us all the opportunity to love him.  He has prepared a banquet in our honor and waits for us to attend.  He has created lavish gifts for our coming and waits for us to attend.  God loves us but he must judge.  He desires to show us mercy but we reject it.  How long do we expect to live without God's mercy?