Matthew 9:15

¹³ But go and learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy, not sacrifice.’ For I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.”

¹⁴ At that time John’s disciples came to Jesus and asked, “Why is it that we and the Pharisees fast so often, but Your disciples do not fast?”

Jesus replied, “How can the guests of the bridegroom mourn while He is with them? But the time will come when the bridegroom will be taken from them; then they will fast.

¹⁶ No one sews a patch of unshrunk cloth on an old garment. For the patch will pull away from the garment, and a worse tear will result.

¹⁷ Neither do men pour new wine into old wineskins. If they do, the skins will burst, the wine will spill, and the wineskins will be ruined. Instead, they pour new wine into new wineskins, and both are preserved.”

Do read the surrounding verses too, because the context often says more than a single verse.

Compare

BSB: Jesus replied, “How can the guests of the bridegroom mourn while He is with them? But the time will come when the bridegroom will be taken from them; then they will fast.
KJV: 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.
WEB: Jesus said to them, “Can the friends of the bridegroom mourn as long as the bridegroom is with them? But the days will come when the bridegroom will be taken away from them, and then they will fast.
ASV: And Jesus said unto them, Can the sons of the bridechamber mourn, as long as the bridegroom is with them? but the days will come, when the bridegroom shall be taken away from them, and then will they fast.
DARBY: And Jesus said to them, Can the sons of the bridechamber mourn so long as the bridegroom is with them? But days will come when the bridegroom will have been taken away from them, and then they will fast.
BLB: And Jesus said to them, “Are the sons of the bridechamber able to mourn as long as the bridegroom is with them? But days will come when the bridegroom shall have been taken away from them, and then they will fast.

ÅB: Og Jesus sa til dem: «Kan vel brudgommens venner sørge så lenge brudgommen er hos dem? Men dager skal komme da brudgommen blir tatt fra dem, og da skal de faste.
OTB: Jesus svarte: "Kan brudgommens gjester sørge mens han er med dem? Tiden vil komme når brudgommen blir tatt fra dem, og da vil de faste.
B1930: Og Jesus sa til dem: Kan vel brudesvennene sørge så lenge brudgommen er hos dem? Men de dager skal komme da brudgommen blir tatt fra dem, og da skal de faste.

Study notes (Tyndale)

Original text and word study

Cross references

Revelation 19:9
Then the angel told me to write, “Blessed are those who are invited to the marriage supper of the Lamb.” And he said to me, “These are the true words of God.”
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Revelation 21:2
I saw the holy city, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.
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John 3:29
The bride belongs to the bridegroom. The friend of the bridegroom stands and listens for him, and is overjoyed to hear the bridegroom’s voice. That joy is mine, and it is now complete.
Read in context
Acts 13:1–3
Now in the church at Antioch there were prophets and teachers: Barnabas, Simeon called Niger, Lucius of Cyrene, Manaen (who had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch), and Saul.
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John 16:20–22
Truly, truly, I tell you, you will weep and wail while the world rejoices. You will grieve, but your grief will turn to joy.
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Acts 14:23
Paul and Barnabas appointed elders for them in each church, praying and fasting as they entrusted them to the Lord, in whom they had believed.
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Matthew 25:1–10
“At that time the kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom.
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Psalms 45:14–15
In colorful garments she is led to the king; her virgin companions are brought before you.
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