Mat 9:14-17 | TNotes | STEP | 9:14 fast: Fasting expressed personal humility and repentance (2 Sam 12:16-23 ; Dan 9:3 ). It called attention to the national need for repentance (Lev 16:29-31 ; Neh 9:1 ) and probably sought to hasten the arrival of the Messiah through purification. The fact that Jesus and his disciples did not fast (Matt 11:18-19 ) subtly proclaimed that the Messiah had already arrived (see also 6:16 ).

9:14 ^a fast: Fasting expressed personal humility and repentance (2 Sam 12:16-23 ^b; Dan 9:3 ^c). It called attention to the national need for repentance (Lev 16:29-31 ^d; Neh 9:1 ^e) and probably sought to hasten the arrival of the Messiah through purification. The fact that Jesus and his disciples did not fast (Matt 11:18-19 ^f) subtly proclaimed that the Messiah had already arrived (see also 6:16 ^g).
9:15 ^h wedding guests ... groom: John the Baptist had also described the Messiah and his disciples in this way (John 3:29 ⁱ), drawing on Old Testament imagery to reveal Jesus’ status (see Matt 25:1-13 ^j; Isa 54:5-6 ^k).

• taken away: This is Jesus’ first prediction of his violent death (see Matt 16:21 ^l; 17:12 ^m, 22-23 ⁿ; 20:18-19 ^o; 26:2 ^p, 26-35 ^q; Isa 53:8 ^r).

• then they will fast: Jesus may be referring to the disciples’ sorrow immediately after his crucifixion, or to the disciples’ lifestyle after his death and resurrection (see Acts 9:9 ^s; 13:2-3 ^t; 14:23 ^u; 27:9 ^v, 33 ^w).
Summary for Matt 9:16-17: 9:16-17 ^x These riddle-like parables contrast the new covenant that Jesus has established (26:26-29 ^y) with the old covenant, especially in relation to such rituals as fasting. Jesus consummates, but does not abolish, the law (5:17-20 ^z; see Gal 2:21 ^aa; 5:4 ^ab). Yet the new covenant requires new practices.