Luke 5:27-35 - "The Friends of the Bridegroom"

34 And He said to them, "Can you make the friends of the bridegroom fast while the bridegroom is with them? 35 But the days will come when the bridegroom will be taken away from them; then they will fast in those days."   Luke 5 records the early days of the earthly ministry of Jesus. He is teaching and preaching in the synagogues of the region of Galilee, calling His disciples to follow Him, confronting the kingdom of darkness by casting out demons, healing the sick, and forgiving sins. In doing these things He is showing His power and authority over Satan, sickness, selfishness and sin!   It appears that the Pharisees and the scribes, (the expert teachers of the Law of Moses), were following Him and His disciples wherever they went. They are great examples of the critical religious hypocrites, “holier than thou, do-gooders” for show and other to see, that seem to be in all our churches even today! After Matthew’s conversion, he is so excited and happy over his forgiveness of sins, and his calling by Jesus to be a disciple that he has party at his house. He invites Jesus and His disciples, and his lost sinner friends to have a “great feast” and rejoice with him. He wanted them to meet Jesus too!   From the passage it is also obvious that the Pharisees are also there, or at least outside watching and observing this great celebration. And immediately they express their complaint against the Jesus and His disciples and said to them, “Why do You eat and drink with tax collectors and sinners?” These self-righteous religious leaders were the ones that later Jesus would tell the story about in Luke 18:9-14. “Also He spoke this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and despised others: "Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, 'God, I thank You that I am not like other men--extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this tax collector. I fast twice a week; I give tithes of all that I possess.' And the tax collector, standing afar off, would not so much as raise his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, 'God, be merciful to me a sinner!' I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other; for everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted."     In response to their criticism here in Luke 5, Jesus gives four illustrations to reveal to them that the “old” was passing because the “New” had come. The first illustration was about sick people realizing their need for a physician. It is sin-sick sinners, that are broken in spirit, hopeless and helpless, that will come to the Great Physician for spiritual healing! The next illustration in verses 33-35, was about the Bridegroom and His friends.   The scribes and Pharisees were not only upset at the disciples' friends, but also at their obvious joy as they fellowshipped with Jesus and the guests. We get the impression that the Pharisees experienced little if any joy in the practice of their religion (see Matt. 6:16; Luke 15:25-32). Jesus was "a Man of Sorrows" (Isa. 53:3), but He was also filled with joy (Luke 10:21; John 15:11; 17:13). Jewish weddings lasted a week and were times of great joy and celebration. By using this image, Jesus was saying to His critics, "I came to make life a wedding feast, not a funeral. If you know the Bridegroom, then you can share His joy." He said that one day He would be "taken away," which suggested rejection and death; but meanwhile, there was good reason for joy, for sinners were coming to repentance.   My friend, please don’t fall into the category of being a critical religious Pharisee, but by the grace of God rejoice and enjoy your new life in Jesus Christ every day!   God bless!