Matthew 9:15

“When called to a bodily marriage, He miraculously wrought that wonderful work; and on the children of the bride-chamber, shall He not much rather be acknowledged to have bestowed the fruition of His Body and Blood?” — editor's note: Matt. ix. 15.

“But the days will come when the bridegroom shall be taken away from them; and then shall they fast;” words which although they were spoken before the resurrection of His Body, yet specially point to the season of Eastertide, in which after His resurrection for…” — editor's note: S. Matt. ix. 14, 15.

“For ‘the children of the bridegroom cannot fast while the bridegroom is with them:’ but when he has departed, then they will rightly fast.”” — editor's note: S. Matt. ix. 15. The Latin has sponsus in each clause.

“And, since it is written of Christ’s disciples, “The sons of the bridegroom fast not as long as the bridegroom is with them;” it is no wonder if by his undutiful son be here meant that undutiful disciple who betrayed Him.” — editor's note: Matt. ix. 15.

“Now as we find in the Gospels that the disciples of our Lord Jesus Christ are called sons, so in the same Gospels we find they are called brethren also.” — editor's note: Matt. ix. 15.

“They are “sons of the bridegroom, sons of Christ.”” — editor's note: Matt. ix. 15. Filii sponsi, Lat.

“Why then is it said concerning them, “When the Bridegroom shall be taken from them, then shall the children of the Bridegroom fast”?” — editor's note: Matt. ix. 15.

“Matthew, accordingly, goes on to say: “And it came to pass, as He sat at meat in the house, behold, many publicans and sinners came and sat down with Jesus and His disciples;” and so on, down to where we read, “But they put new wine into new bottles, and both are preserved.”” — editor's note: Matt. ix. 10–17.

“…rather she was born after the Spirit: forasmuch as all, who have believed in Him, among whom is herself also, are rightly called “children of the Bridegroom:” but clearly the mother of His members, which are we: in that she wrought together by charity, that faithful ones should be born in the Church, who are members…” — editor's note: Matt. ix. 15. [See R.V.]

“In the same way He calls us also the children of the bridegroom, when He says, “The time will come, when the bridegroom shall be taken away from them, and then shall the children of the bridegroom fast.”” — editor's note: Matt. ix. 15.

“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.

“…said elsewhere also, “Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up:”and, “The days will come when the Bridegroom shall be taken away from them:and here, “There shall no sign be given it, but the sign of Jonas the prophet:” declaring both that He should dieand “the ox that knoweth his owner, and the ass…” — editor's note: Matt. ix. 15.

“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.

“…to his manifold wisdom, he bestows on them that need, Scripture designates Him by innumerable other titles, calling Him Shepherd, King, Physician, Bridegroom, Way, Door, Fountain, Bread, Axe, and Rock.” — editor's note: e.g., Matt. ix. 15.

When He had replied to them respecting eating and converse with sinners, they next assault Him on the matter of food; “Then came to him the disciples of John, saying, Why do we and the Pharisees fast often, but thy…

O boastful enquiry and ostentation of fasting much to be blamed, nor can John’s disciples be excused for their taking part with the Pharisees who they knew had been condemned by John, and for bringing a false…

What they say come to this, Be it that you do this as Physician of souls, but why do your disciples neglect fasting and approach such tables? And to augment the weight of their charge by comparison, they put…

For John drank neither wine, nor strong drink, increasing his merit by abstinence, because he had no power over nature. But the Lord who has power to forgive sins, why should He shun sinners that eat, since He has…

Through Matthew mentions only the disciples of John as having made this enquiry, the words of Mark rather seem to imply that some other persons spoke of others, that is, the guests spoke concerning the disciples of…

Or; Luke relates that the Pharisees, but Matthew that the disciples of John, said thus, because the Pharisees had taken them with them to ask the question, as they afterwards did the Herodians. Observe how when…

Christ is the Bridegroom and the Church the Bride. Of this spiritual union the Apostles were born; they cannot mourn so long as they see the Bridegroom in the chamber with the Bride. But when the nuptials are past,…

He means thus; The present is a time of joy and rejoicing; sorrow is therefore not to be now brought forward; and fasting is naturally grievous, and to all those that are yet weak; for to those that seek to…

Hence some think that a fast ought to follow the forty days of Passion, although the day of Pentecost and the coming of the Holy Spirit immediately bring back our joy and festival. From this text accordingly,…

Here again He confirms what He has said by examples of common things; “No man putteth a patch of undressed cloth into an old garment; for it taketh away its wholeness from the garment, and the rent is made worse;”…

By the old garment He means His disciples, who had not yet been renewed in all things. The patch of undressed, that is, of new cloth, means the new grace, that is, the Gospel doctrine, of which fasting is a portion;…

As much as to say, An undressed patch, that is, a new one, ought not to be put into an old garment, because it often takes away from the garment its wholeness, that is, its perfection, and then the rent is made…

After two comparisons made, that of the wedding, and that of the undressed cloth, He adds a third concerning wine skins; “Neither do men put new wine into old skins.” By the old skins He means His disciples, who were…

Herein He also shews us the cause of those condescending words which He often addressed to them because of their weakness.

Otherwise; By the “old garment,” and “old skins,” we must understand the Scribes and Pharisees; and by the “piece of new cloth,” and “new wine,” the Gospel precepts, which the Jews were not able to bear; so “the rent…

This shews that the Apostles being hereafter to be replenished with newness of grace, ought not now to be bound to the old observances.

Otherwise; Everyone who rightly fasts, either humbles his soul in the groaning of prayer, and bodily chastisement, or suspends the motion of carnal desire by the joys of spiritual meditation. And the Lord here makes…

That Matthew writes here “mourn,” where Mark and Luke write “fast,” shews that the Lord spake of that kind of fasting which pertains to humbling one’s self in chastisement; as in the following comparisons He may be…

Figuratively, this His answer, that while the Bridegroom was present with them, His disciples needed not to fast, teaches us the joy of His presence, and the sacrament of the holy food, which none shall lack, while…

Or, when He has departed from us for our sins, then is a fast to be proclaimed, then is mourning to be put on.

By these examples He shews that neither our souls nor bodies, being so weakened by inveteracy of sin, are capable of the sacraments of the new grace.

The different comparisons all refer to the same thing, and yet are they different; the garment by which we are covered abroad signifies our good works, which we perform when we are abroad; the wine with which we are…

Matthew 9:15 and Mark 2:19 share the same wording (10 words).

Matthew 9:15 and Mark 2:20 share the same wording (19 words).

Matthew 9:15 and Luke 5:34 share the same wording (14 words).

Matthew 9:15 and Luke 5:35 share the same wording (18 words).

Cited together in Augustine of Hippo on Matthew 9:14–17 (Catena Aurea).

Cited together in Augustine of Hippo on Matthew 9:14–17 (2) (Catena Aurea).

Cited together in John Chrysostom on Matthew 9:14–17 (Catena Aurea).

Cited together in John Chrysostom on Matthew 9:14–17 (2) (Catena Aurea).

Cited together in Tractates on the Gospel of John Tractate 75.

Cited together in Remigius of Auxerre on Matthew 9:14–17 (2) (Catena Aurea).

Cited together in Tractates on the Gospel of John Tractate 75.

Cited together in Tractates on the Gospel of John Tractate 75.

Cited together in Tractates on the Gospel of John Tractate 75.

Cited together in Tractates on the Gospel of John Tractate 75.

Cited together in Of Holy Virginity Chapter 6.

Cited together in Tractates on the Gospel of John Tractate 75.

Cited together in Tractates on the Gospel of John Tractate 75.