Mark 2:19 (WEB)
Jesus said to them, “Can the groomsmen fast while the bridegroom is with them? As long as they have the bridegroom with them, they can’t fast.
Catechism · 1
- §796Paragraph 2 · The Church - People of God, Body of Christ, Temple of the Holy SpiritRead at vatican.va
“The Lord referred to himself as the "bridegroom."” — Catechism footnote: Mk 2:19.
Fathers and councils · 20
Augustine of Hippo
“And there cometh one of the rulers of the synagogue, Jairus by name; and when he saw Him, he fell at His feet,” etc. By this, then, we are certainly to understand that the occurrence in connection with the daughter of the ruler of the synagogue did take place after Jesus had passed across the lake again in the ship.” — editor's note: [The events can be arranged in the order of Mark, with the exception of the passage, chap. ii. 15–22. This must be placed, as Augustin says, after the return…
Read the whole commentChapter III.—Of the Question Whether Mark’s Reports of the Repeated Occasions on Which the Name of Peter Was Brought into Prominence are Not at Variance with the Statement Which John Has Given Us of the Particular…
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John Chrysostom
“But yet He doth not rebuke even these, nor say, “O ye vainglorious and over-busy;” but He discourses to them with all gentleness, saying, “The children of the bride-chamber cannot fast, as long as the bridegroom is with them.”” — editor's note: Matt. ix. 15. Comp. Mark ii. 19; Luke v. 33.
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Tertullian
“At all events, in the Gospel they think that those days were definitely appointed for fasts in which “the Bridegroom was taken away;” and that these are now the only legitimate days for Christian fasts, the legal and prophetical antiquities having been abolished: for wherever it suits their…” — editor's note: Matt. ix. 14, 15; Mark ii. 18–20; Luke v. 33–35.
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Gregory of Nazianzus
“Or in another sense they are used of a thing which is not reasonable; as, Can the Children of the Bridechamber fast while the Bridegroom is with them; whether He be considered as visible in bodily form (for the time of His sojourning among us was not one of mourning, but of gladness), or, as the Word.” — editor's note: Mark ii. 19.
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Catena Aurea on Mark
- Glossa OrdinariaCatena Aurea on Mark
As above, the Master was accused to the disciples for keeping company with sinners in their feasts, so now, on the other hand, the disciples are complained of to the Master for their omission of fasts, that so matter…
Read the whole comment - Theophylact of OhridCatena Aurea on Mark
For the disciples of John being in an imperfect state, continued in Jewish customs.
Read the whole comment - Augustine of HippoCatena Aurea on Mark
But it may be thought that He added Pharisees, because they joined with the disciples of John in saying this to the Lord, whilst Matthew relates that the disciples of John alone said it: but the words which follow…
Read the whole comment - John ChrysostomCatena Aurea on Mark
The disciples of John, therefore, and of the Pharisees, being jealous of Christ, ask Him, whether He alone of all men with His disciples could, without abstinence and toil, conquer in the fight of the passions.
Read the whole comment - BedeCatena Aurea on Mark
But John did not drink wine and strong drink, because he who has no power by nature, obtains more merit by abstinence. But why should the Lord, to whom it naturally belonged to forgive sins, shun those whom he could…
Read the whole comment - Augustine of HippoCatena Aurea on Mark
Mark here calls them children of the nuptials, whom Matthew calls children of the bridegroom; for we understand the children of the nuptials to be not only those of the bridegroom, but also of the bride.
Read the whole comment - Pseudo-ChrysostomCatena Aurea on Mark
He then calls Himself a bridegroom, as if about to be betrothed to the Church. For the betrothal is giving an earnest, namely, that the grace of the Holy Ghost, by which the world believed.
Read the whole comment - Theophylact of OhridCatena Aurea on Mark
He also calls Himself a bridegroom, not only as betrothing to Himself virgin minds, but because the time of His first coming is not a time of sorrow, nor of sadness to believers, neither does it bring with it toil,…
Read the whole comment - Pseudo-ChrysostomCatena Aurea on Mark
But intercourse with Him, He says, is far removed from all sorrow, when He adds, “As long as they have the bridegroom with them, they cannot fast.” He is said, from whom some good is far removed; but he who has it…
Read the whole comment - Theophylact of OhridCatena Aurea on Mark
We must also understand that every man whose works are good is the son of the Bridegroom; he has the Bridegroom with him, even Christ, and fasts not, that is, does no works of repentance, because he does not sin: but…
Read the whole comment - BedeCatena Aurea on Mark
But in a mystical sense, it may thus be expressed; that the disciples of John and the Pharisees fast, because every man who boasts of the works of the law without faith, who follows the traditions of men, and…
Read the whole comment - Pseudo-ChrysostomCatena Aurea on Mark
As if He said, because these are preachers of the New Testament, it is not possible that they should serve old laws; but ye who follow old customs, fitly observe the fasts of Moses. But for these, who are about to…
Read the whole comment - BedeCatena Aurea on Mark
For He compares His disciples to old bottles, who would burst at spiritual precepts, rather than be held in restraint by them. But they will be new bottles, when after the ascension of the Lord, they are renewed by…
Read the whole comment - Theophylact of OhridCatena Aurea on Mark
Or else the disciples are likened to old garments on account of the infirmity of their minds, on which it was not fitting to impose the heavy command of fasting.
Read the whole comment - BedeCatena Aurea on Mark
Neither was it fitting to sew on a new piece; that is, a portion of doctrine which teaches a general fast from all the joy of temporal delights; for if this be done, the teaching is rent, and agrees not with the old…
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Cross-references · 2
Mark 2:19 and Luke 5:34 share the same wording (11 words).
Matthew 9:15 and Mark 2:19 share the same wording (10 words).