- Aug 3, 2014
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New & Old Parable: Mark 2:19-22, Matthew 9:16-17, Luke 5:36-39
For a while I couldn’t figure out why this parable seemed like it came from left field. Reading through its context, I didn’t understand what Jesus Christ was saying to the Pharisees (excluding John’s disciples from one of the parables as they were not Pharisees). I read it through again and again to no avail - on my own strength of course. It’s so odd that I have read something over and over and for this to hit me in the face so suddenly as it did. So, I asked God for help about why I didn’t understand the parable’s context. I was answered that I didn’t understand fasting like I thought I did.
It’s really easy to gloss over the parts in the Old Testament about fasting, even though it is mentioned a lot it seems like there’s not any detail that goes into it. However, there are characteristics of fasting that are quite different from one another; Repentance (weeping, ashes and sackcloth), trouble, and humble: Esther 4:16, Exodus 34:28, Joel 2:12, Nehemiah 1:4, Psalm 35:13-14, Isaiah 58:5-7. There were also some abuse with God’s way of fasting in the Old Testament into the New Testament: Isaiah 58:3-4, Jeremiah 14:12 (read chapters for context) just to cite a couple from the OT.
Jesus Christ gave a reflective comparison of the two good ways and impure ways from the Sermon on the Mount in Matthew 6:16-18. Speaking of a Father in Secret, Jesus also described the same for prayer: Matthew 6:5-6. Often times when reading the Bible, I see the two are almost always hand in hand. However, we don’t always need to fast since Christ didn’t abolish it nor is it a command. The only command I do see is to put God first, above all things and in everything we, Christians, do. Especially when certain evil spirits need casting out of someone, as instructed in Mark 9:29 and Matthew 17:21.
What about Lent, is it good to participate? Yes and no. Yes, if you adhere to Christ’s Words about fasting and doing so in secret - not taking pride in doing something being seen for it by people. No, if all it brings is pride from people then it’s more of a temptation for some. Always self-check to see if you are doing something for God and not for something else, or anyone else: Romans 14:22-23.
Last thoughts: Jesus Christ is our New Garment, we put off the Old Garment which was the Law of Moses because a better one has come! In saying that I mean Jesus Christ has fulfilled the law and we also fulfill the law by His commandment: Matthew 22:34-40 & an echo from Romans 13:8-14.
Thanks for reading what I’ve learned!
For a while I couldn’t figure out why this parable seemed like it came from left field. Reading through its context, I didn’t understand what Jesus Christ was saying to the Pharisees (excluding John’s disciples from one of the parables as they were not Pharisees). I read it through again and again to no avail - on my own strength of course. It’s so odd that I have read something over and over and for this to hit me in the face so suddenly as it did. So, I asked God for help about why I didn’t understand the parable’s context. I was answered that I didn’t understand fasting like I thought I did.
It’s really easy to gloss over the parts in the Old Testament about fasting, even though it is mentioned a lot it seems like there’s not any detail that goes into it. However, there are characteristics of fasting that are quite different from one another; Repentance (weeping, ashes and sackcloth), trouble, and humble: Esther 4:16, Exodus 34:28, Joel 2:12, Nehemiah 1:4, Psalm 35:13-14, Isaiah 58:5-7. There were also some abuse with God’s way of fasting in the Old Testament into the New Testament: Isaiah 58:3-4, Jeremiah 14:12 (read chapters for context) just to cite a couple from the OT.
Jesus Christ gave a reflective comparison of the two good ways and impure ways from the Sermon on the Mount in Matthew 6:16-18. Speaking of a Father in Secret, Jesus also described the same for prayer: Matthew 6:5-6. Often times when reading the Bible, I see the two are almost always hand in hand. However, we don’t always need to fast since Christ didn’t abolish it nor is it a command. The only command I do see is to put God first, above all things and in everything we, Christians, do. Especially when certain evil spirits need casting out of someone, as instructed in Mark 9:29 and Matthew 17:21.
What about Lent, is it good to participate? Yes and no. Yes, if you adhere to Christ’s Words about fasting and doing so in secret - not taking pride in doing something being seen for it by people. No, if all it brings is pride from people then it’s more of a temptation for some. Always self-check to see if you are doing something for God and not for something else, or anyone else: Romans 14:22-23.
Last thoughts: Jesus Christ is our New Garment, we put off the Old Garment which was the Law of Moses because a better one has come! In saying that I mean Jesus Christ has fulfilled the law and we also fulfill the law by His commandment: Matthew 22:34-40 & an echo from Romans 13:8-14.
Thanks for reading what I’ve learned!
