Luke 5:34 - Printer Friendly

ESV: And Jesus said to them, "Can you make wedding guests fast while the bridegroom is with them?

NIV: Jesus answered, "Can you make the friends of the bridegroom fast while he is with them?

NASB: And Jesus said to them, 'You cannot make the attendants of the groom fast while the groom is with them, can you?

CSB: Jesus said to them, "You can’t make the wedding guests fast while the groom is with them, can you?

NLT: Jesus responded, 'Do wedding guests fast while celebrating with the groom? Of course not.

KJV: And he said unto them, Can ye make the children of the bridechamber fast, while the bridegroom is with them

NKJV: And He said to them, “Can you make the friends of the bridegroom fast while the bridegroom is with them?

Jesus has been asked why the disciples of John the Baptist and the Pharisees fast, yet His don't (Luke 5:33). His answer calls back to the Old Testament relationship between God as the groom and Israel as the bride. The arrival of God the groom was tied to deliverance (Isaiah 62:4–6). Though Jesus' sacrifice, resurrection, and return are yet to come, His mere presence is worthy of celebration. It's not suited to the mourning of fasting, or even to a plea that Messiah will come—He's already there.

"Wedding guests," in this culture, refers to the groom's attendants. Matthew 9:15 says, "Can the wedding guests mourn" instead of "fast." The arrival of the bridegroom brings joy and commences the celebration. Jesus' presence is God-with-us. His work of providing forgiveness for repentant sinners deserves celebration (Luke 5:29–32), and the same is true of His mere presence. His "attendants," in this case, are His disciples, and their experience is not compatible with mourning…yet.

Modern Christian believers are used to hearing Jesus named as the bridegroom of the church. Yet this imagery is new to the Jews present in the moment Luke describes. They think of God as the bridegroom of the nation of Israel (Hosea 2:16–20). This is the second of many times Jesus is referred to as the bridegroom in the New Testament (Matthew 22:2; 25:1; Luke 12:35–36; Ephesians 5:22–23; Revelation 19:7; 21:2). The first was given by John the Baptist (John 3:29).

Luke 5:33–39 records the second of four arguments Jesus has with religious leaders in between His callings of Levi (Luke 5:27–28) and the last seven disciples (Luke 6:12–16). The Pharisees couldn't understand why repentant sinners were cause for celebration (Luke 5:29–32). Now people can't understand why Jesus' presence is reason to celebrate and not join in the traditional fasts. After this, Luke records two altercations regarding the true nature of the Sabbath (Luke 6:1–11). The story of fasting and the wine and wineskins is also found in Matthew 9:14–17 and Mark 2:18–22.

Luke 5 continues Jesus' Galilean Ministry (Luke 4:14—9:50). The passage alternates calls to discipleship with miracles and teachings which demonstrate what discipleship entails. Jesus calls Peter, Andrew, and their business partners, James and John, to follow Him and make more disciples. Then Jesus makes a man with leprosy ceremonially clean. He forgives the sins of a paralytic. After He calls Levi to follow Him, Jesus celebrates instead of fasting. This draws critical questions from the crowd. The religious leaders consider Jesus' actions blasphemous. His message of forgiveness, faith, and repentance cannot be contained by their tradition.

Jesus has already proved He can expel demons, heal ailments, and reveal the kingdom of God (Luke 4:31–44). In this chapter, He begins to separate His followers from His detractors. This begins with calling the first five disciples and emphasizing faith and repentance over religious tradition. He will drive home the point by treating the Sabbath as a blessing rather than a burden (Luke 6:1–11). After formally inviting the Twelve to follow Him, Jesus will explain to a crowd what discipleship looks like and invite them to build their lives on Him (Luke 6:12–49). In chapter 7, Jesus champions Gentiles and the marginalized.

Luke was a traveling companion of Paul (Acts 16:10) and a physician (Colossians 4:14). Unlike Matthew, Mark, and John, Luke writes his gospel as an historian, rather than as a first-hand eyewitness. His extensive writings also include the book of Acts (Acts 1:1–3). These are deliberately organized, carefully researched accounts of those events. The gospel of Luke focuses on the earthly ministry of Jesus Christ. Luke's Gentile perspective presents Christ as a Savior for all people, offering both forgiveness and direction to those who follow Him.