Religious Practices
Text: Mark 2:18-22; Matthew 9:14-17; Luke 5:33-39
13 October 2013
RELIGIOUS PRACTICES
1. The practice of Fasting
a) The Disciples of John
b) The Disciples of the Pharisees Mark 2:18
2. Practice of Fasting
a) Required only on the Day of Atonement Leviticus 16; 23:26-32; Numbers 29:7-11
b) Affliction of the soul Leviticus 23:26
3. History of Fasting
a) Moses… seeking pardon from God for Israel Exodus 32-34; Deuteronomy 9:15-18
b) Fasting to commemorate calamities Jeremiah 52:12-13; 2 Kings 25:23-25; Isaiah 58
c) Jesus Matthew 4; Luke 4
QUESTION PUT TO JESUS
Why did His disciples not fast? Mark 2:18
REPLY OF JESUS
1. He does not invalidate the practice of fasting
2. But He still defended the non-fasting practice of His disciples
3. Illustration of a Bridegroom and friends Mark 2:19-21
a) Jesus was compared to the Bridegroom
b) Disciples like the friends of the Bridegroom
c) Fasting would not be in-keeping with the circumstances
d) They will fast at the time when the Bridegroom departs (reference to His death)
TWO RELATED PARABLES
1. Parable of the Un-shrunk cloth on an Old Garment Mark 2:21
2. Parable of the New Wine in Old Wineskins Mark 2:22
3. They are incompatible
4. They will clash and cause damage
5. Jesus’ teachings and practices will not be appreciated by the Disciples of John and the Disciples of the Pharisees