Mattiyahu 9:14-16 Fasting & The Bridegroom. Tim Hegg – A study in Matthew The disciples/Tamildim...

Mattiyahu 9:14-16

Fasting & The Bridegroom


• Tim Hegg – A study in Matthew

• The disciples/Tamildim of John/Yochanan came to Him – Mattiyahu has excluded the notice of Mark that the question about fasting was brought not only by the talmidim of Yochanan/John but also by the Pharisees (Mark 9:18). Both Matthew & Mark, the questionars “came” to Yeshua


• Cont.

• But in Luke it appears that they were part of the gathering at Levi’s House, even if they were not eating the meal (since they were fasting Mark 2:18). It is possible that the idea of the questionaires “coming” to Yeshua could mean “approached” Him in the sense of raising a question.


• The question presented to Yeshua has to do with the manner in which He was teaching His Talmidim and particularly that He was neglecting the established tradition of weekly fasts. Not only were national fast times observed in regard to the destruction of Jerusalem & The Temple (Zech 7:5, 8:15) but non-obligatory fasts on Monday’s and Thursday’s had also been established


• Cont.• In the 1st century Halachah. It is with

regard to these voluntary fast days that the Talmidim/disciples of John/Yochanan questioned Yeshua.

• The point is that Yeshua and His Disciples/Talmadim were not being questioned as to why they never fasted

Fasting & The Bridegroom• Cont.

• For surely the fast of Yom Kippur, and most likely, those of the national fast days throughout the year were observed. But the voluntary fasts were a sign of higher individual piety and if Yeshua were known as teaching repentance (Matthew 3:2, 4:17) then the obvious question was why He did not likewise teach His Talmdim/Disciples to fast on those days.


• Dates

• Tishri 3

• Tevet 10

• Adar 13

• Tammuz 17

• Av 9

• Fasts

• Tzion Gedaliah

• Asarah Be Tevet

• Ta’anit Ester

• Shevah Asar

• Tishnah Bi Av


• B. Kasdan “God’s Appointed Times”

• “While I (Kasdan) personally believe that Yom Kippur is the only biblically mandated fast, it would be good to note other days that rabbinic Judasim has considered fast days”


• The Fast of Tisha B’Av (9th of Av, usually in August) is observed by religeous Jews to mourn the numerous tragedies that struck on that day. Among the sad events remembered are the destruction of both temples in 586 BCE and 70 CE, respectively, and the expulsion of the Jews from Spain on this day in 1492. This is a total fast like Yom Kippur, with the scroll of Lamentations read to recall the tragic history


• The 10th of Tevet (around early December) which marks the beginning of the siege against Jerusalem in 586 BCE is another minor fast day. The fast of Esther (usually February or March) recalls the days of fasting and prayer before the deliverence recalled at Purim.

Fasting & The Bridegroom• The 17th of Tammuz (July) commemorates

the breach of the walls of Jerusalem in 586 BCE. The fast of Gedaliah (3rd of Tishri, usually September) points to the assasination of this last King of the first Temple period.


• While there is no direct commandment to observe these fast days, they are mentioned in scripture. Zechariah 8:19

Scriptures on FastingEzra 9:5, 10:6

Zech 7:3-5, 8:19

Nehemiah 1:4, 9:1

Esther 4:3, 16, 9:31

1 Kings 17:6,14-16, 19:8

Psalm 69:10

Psalm 109:24

Isaiah 58:4

Jeremiah 36:6

Daniel 9:3, 10:2-3

Joel 2:12 Matthew 4:2

Luke 2:37 Acts 13:2,3 14:23

Matthew 6:16-18

Matthew 11:18, 17:21

Scriptures on Fasting

1 Corinthians 7:5

1 Corinthians 8:13

2 Corinthians 6:5

2 Corinthians 11:27

Matthew

9:14-15

Parable of The Bridegroom

• Tim Hegg – Study in Matthew

• Yeshua equates fasting with mourning….

• Thus, the joy of a wedding brings about a situation in which certain Halacha was suspended or exempt. But in what sense does Yeshua refer to Himself as a bridegroom?


• In some few cases among the midrashim, the Messianic age is compared to a wedding celebration (cf mid rab Ex. 11:2) but is is not until the latter Pesiqta Rabbati (149a) that the Messiah is specifically cast in a metaphor of a bridegroom.

• The Tenach itself however compares the restoration of Israel in the last days to the joy that accompanies a wedding (Isa. 62:5)

Parable of the Bridegroom

• In Mattiyahu, Yeshua as the promised Messiah has brought the dawn of the eschalolgical banquet, as the bridegroom. He is the primary focus of that wedding banquet and therefore His Talmidim cannot mourn or fast.


• Yochanan/John the Baptiser/Immerser had already used the metaphor of the bridegroom in relationship to Yeshua in John 3:29. How then does this first parable, that of the bridegroom and the suspension of fasting fit together with the general theme of making Talmidim/Disciples?

Parable Of The Bridegroom

• The point is that Yeshua’s Talmidim, must understand that He is more then just another Sage in Israel. He is the long awaited Messiah, the bridegroom in the eschatological wedding of Israel’s final redemption.


• His presence therefore, suspends certain customs or received Halacha of the Sages. Therefore Yeshua stands unique among the Sages of Israel because He is more then a Sage, HE IS THE MESSIAH, the BRIDEGROOM, whose very appearance marks the beginning of the final Restoration.


• It is the reality of who Yeshua is, that will therefore mark out His Talmidim in unique ways as well.

• Psalm 19:5• Isaiah 61:10• Isaiah 62:5• Jeremiah 33:11• Mattiyahu 25:1-13

Mattiyahu 9:14-16 Fasting & The Bridegroom. Tim Hegg – A study in Matthew The disciples/Tamildim...

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