Mark 2:16-20
Mark 2:16 (KJB)
And when the scribes and Pharisees saw him eat with publicans and sinners, they
said unto his disciples, How is it that he eateth and drinketh with publicans
and sinners?
No doubt the Pharisees had seen this group enter the house of Matthew and it
would have seemed normal to them since all the guests were publicans and sinners
but then they saw Jesus eating with them and the disciples were questioned by
them. They wanted to know why Jesus was associating, and even worse, being seen
in public with this crowd. They wanted to know why He was eating with them? They
did not know that Matthew had just become a disciple and wanted to tell all his
friends and co-workers the good news. (Mat 21:31 KJV) Whether of them twain
did the will of his father? They say unto him, The first. Jesus saith unto them,
Verily I say unto you, That the publicans and the harlots go into the kingdom of
God before you. The Pharisees because of their arrogance and pride had
sentenced themselves to eternal damnation.
Mark 2:17 (KJB)
When Jesus heard it, he saith unto them, They that are whole have no need of the
physician, but they that are sick: I came not to call the righteous, but sinners
to repentance.
Then Jesus overheard their question and responded quickly. He used the example
of if a person is healthy, why would they go to a doctor? Only when a person
becomes sick should they go see a doctor. The basic premise here is that those
who are sick need a doctor just as those who are sinners need a Savior. In other
words, everyone needs a Savior including the Pharisees. The Pharisees had placed
ritual and ceremony above everything, even to the excluding of having mercy upon
someone. The whole essence of the ministry of Jesus was to have mercy on the
sinners who became saved. He came to call them to repentance, that is, to
salvation. When Jesus speaks about not calling the righteous, he may have those
in mind who are already saved and He may have implied that those who are
“self-righteous” and do not think they need a Savior. Until the Lord opens their
spiritual eyes or ears, they will continue to walk around in spiritual ignorance
of the fact they too are in need of a Savior.
Mark 2:18 (KJB)
And the disciples of John and of the Pharisees used to fast: and they come and
say unto him, Why do the disciples of John and of the Pharisees fast, but thy
disciples fast not?
Apparently even after John was thrown into prison, some of his disciples had
stayed together in a group. This little feast in Matthew’s house had probably
been planned on a day of fasting when both the Pharisees and the disciples of
John would fast. The Pharisees would fast on Monday and Thursday. So this may
have occurred on one of those days. The disciples of John had approached Jesus
directly on the question of fasting. They wanted to know why they and the
Pharisees fast but His disciples do not fast. It is the difference between
freedom in Christ and a religious system.
Mark 2:19 (KJB)
And Jesus said unto them, Can the children of the bridechamber fast, while the
bridegroom is with them? as long as they have the bridegroom with them, they
cannot fast.
They normal length of a Jewish wedding lasted seven days and during that time,
the guests were normally excused from the more serious religious obligations.
(Isa 54:5 KJV) For thy Maker is thine husband; the LORD of hosts is his
name; and thy Redeemer the Holy One of Israel; The God of the whole earth shall
he be called. The time for fasting in a preparatory sense has passed
because now is the time of fulfillment. Jesus will be the husband and the body
of believers will be the bride of Christ. This is why there is no mourning or
fasting on the part of the disciples because the time of fulfillment of all the
prophecies of the past has come. Fasting in the presence of the bridegroom would
show a sadness or a displeasure concerning the wedding and may be considered an
insult. A wedding is a time of joy and not for sadness.
Mark 2:20 (KJB)
But the days will come, when the bridegroom shall be taken away from them, and
then shall they fast in those days.
Jesus then states there will come a time when the disciples will fast. This will
be the time when He is taken from them for three days for the crucifixion until
the resurrection. During those days, there would be a time of mourning and
fasting. Fasting was never a part of any requirement. If a Christian fasted, it
was between them and God. During the years of the New Testament there would be
fasting by the church but not by requirement, it would be voluntary. (Acts
13:2-4 KJV) As they ministered to the Lord, and fasted, the Holy Ghost said,
Separate me Barnabas and Saul for the work whereunto I have called them. {3} And
when they had fasted and prayed, and laid their hands on them, they sent them
away. {4} So they, being sent forth by the Holy Ghost, departed unto Seleucia;
and from thence they sailed to Cyprus.