Matthew 9:15 Meaning and Explanation
“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.”
King James Version (KJV)
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Read Full Chapter →Jesus likens his presence to a wedding feast, when mourning is out of place, and foretells a day when the bridegroom will be taken away.
What Does Matthew 9:15 Mean?
Jesus answers with the image of a wedding celebration. The friends of the bridegroom cannot mourn or fast while he is present with them; their appointed hour is for joy and feasting. So his disciples do not fast while he himself is with them. Yet he adds a shadow to the picture: the day will come when the bridegroom "shall be taken from them," and then they will indeed fast.
The image is tender and sobering at the same time. Christ's presence rightly turns sorrow into celebration, for the long-awaited One has arrived. But he already speaks plainly of the day he will be taken away, quietly foreshadowing the cross that lies ahead. There is a time to feast and a time to mourn, and the coming and going of the Bridegroom himself sets the true seasons of the believing heart.
Matthew 9:15 in the Original Language
nymphios (νυμφίος), 'bridegroom' -- the central figure of the wedding, here Jesus himself among his own.
Frequently Asked Questions About Matthew 9:15
What does Matthew 9:15 mean?
Jesus likens his presence to a wedding feast, when mourning is out of place, and foretells a day when the bridegroom will be taken away.