Posted: Feb 14, 08 12:16am
Please join in and express your reflectioms.
45. Wedding Guests
M't:9:14: Then came to him the disciples of John, saying, Why do we and the Pharisees fast oft, but thy disciples fast not? M't:9:15: And Jesus said unto them, Can the children of the bridechamber mourn, as long as the bridegroom is with them? but the days will come, when the bridegroom shall be taken from them, and then shall they fast.
The Pharisee’s had grumbled and quarreled over Jesus’ eating with tax collector’s and sinners. Jesus having answered them, then had John’s disciples question Him about both Pharisee’s and John’s followers fasting, but Jesus and His disciples not fasting. This is a great way of sowing discord, to set people against people, and people against ministers and vice versa. Jesus then answers for His disciples in defense of their not fasting as He had also done on other occasion. He sufficiently justifies the practice of His own disciples while not condemning the practice of John’s and his disciples. He clears His disciple’s practice while not throwing dirt upon John, for both groups work in God’s Kingdom doing the Father’s will.
Oh, that denominations would take note of this. It was common practice for marriages to be a time of rejoicing, not sorrow. The disciples of Christ were the children of the Bridechamber. They had actually had the Bridegroom with them, which John’s disciples had not. John at this time was now cast into prison and it was a season to fast and to fast often. When Christ was to be taken away from them, then they too should fast. Every duty to be done has a proper season. There is a time to laugh, a time to mourn, and a time to bring forth fruit in due season.
Are there discords in the Body of Christ, denominations, or your current church which could have been bettered handled by not setting people or groups against people or groups?
Can you justify a belief or doctrine of your denomination without condemning an opposing doctrine or belief of anther’s by using the example of this parable?
