OET interlinear LUKE 5:35

Section 5:33–39: Jesus explained why his disciples did not fast

In this section, some people made a comment to Jesus about fasting. Their comment implied that they were criticizing the disciples. It also implied the question, “Why do your disciples act differently from the disciples of John and the disciples of the Pharisees?” Jesus explained the difference in their actions. In his explanation, he compared himself to a bridegroom, and he compared his disciples to wedding guests. The disciples could not fast while he was with them, just as wedding guests do not fast while the bridegroom is with them.

After he had explained this different attitude towards fasting, he told them that he was teaching a new way to live for God. His new way would not fit into the old traditions. To illustrate this, Jesus used three comparisons:

1. He compared the old traditional ways to an old garment. He compared his new way to cloth taken from a new garment. No one would sew the new cloth onto an old garment.

2. He compared the old traditional ways to old wineskins. He compared his new way to new wine. When new wine is put into old wineskins, both are ruined.

3. Jesus concluded with a saying that rebuked those who wanted to keep to the old traditions. Jesus said that people who had drunk old wine did not want to drink new wine. He was really talking about people who were content with the old ways and teaching of the Jewish religion. He said that they were unwilling to consider the new ways and teaching that he had brought.

This section can be difficult for people to understand because Jesus used comparisons to illustrate what he was teaching. He did not make what he was teaching explicit. If you need to make the meaning clearer, you should explain it in a footnote.

In this section, there are some ideas that may not be familiar in certain cultures. For example:

1. fasting

2. Jewish wedding customs about bridegrooms

3. sewing patches onto cloth

4. new wine and old wine

5. wineskins

Consider carefully how to translate each of these ideas in a meaningful way in your language. The notes for this section will give suggestions.

Some other possible headings for this section are:

Jesus taught that his new way was different from Jewish traditions

Jesus’ new way and the old ways

This story also occurs in Matthew 9:14–17 and Mark 2:18–22.

Paragraph 5:33–35

This paragraph tells about how the religious leaders continued to disagree with Jesus. In 5:30, the religious leaders had accused Jesus of associating with the wrong kind of people. In this paragraph, they accused Jesus and his disciples of not keeping the Jewish traditions.

In this paragraph it is important for readers to know what “fasting” meant in the Jewish culture. Fasting meant to not eat food for a certain time for religious reasons. There were many reasons for fasting. For example, people fasted:

1. to express their grief and sorrow during times of mourning;

2. to show that they were sorry for their sins;

3. to strengthen their prayers that God would help or guide them.

John the Baptizer’s disciples and the Pharisees’ disciples followed these Jewish customs.

But the time will come when the bridegroom will be taken from them;

• But one day, the bridegroom will be taken away from his friends,

• But in the future, men/enemies will take the bridegroom away from his friends.

then they will fast.”

• and that will be the time for them to fast.”

• Then at that time his friends will sometimes give up eating.”

General Comment on 5:34–35

It is important to make it clear that Jesus was talking about himself here. There are several ways to do this:

• Insert a footnote that says something like this:

  Jesus compared the bridegroom in these verses to himself. The disciples did not fast at that time because they were so happy that Jesus was with them. Later people would kill Jesus, and the disciples would fast because they would be sad.

• Make the information explicit at the end of the verse. You could provide a new verse part, 5:35c, that says, for example:

  I am like that bridegroom.

• Supply that information within the verses. For example:

  Just as the friends of the bridegroom cannot fast while he is with them, in the same way, my disciples cannot fast while I am with them. But the days will come when I will be taken away. At that time, they will fast.