A Message for New Believers from Matthew 9:14
Matthew 9:14 says, “Then came to him the disciples of John, saying, Why do we and the Pharisees fast oft, but thy disciples fast not?”
This question arose during the early days of Jesus’ ministry, when many people were trying to understand how His teaching related to the religious practices they already knew. For new believers today, this passage offers an important lesson about the nature of the Christian life, the joy of knowing Christ, and the difference between outward religion and living faith.
In the time of Jesus, fasting was a well-known religious practice. It was a way people expressed sorrow for sin, humility before God, and longing for His help. The Pharisees fasted regularly as part of their strict religious discipline. John the Baptist’s disciples also fasted as a sign of repentance and preparation for the coming kingdom of God. Therefore, it seemed unusual to them that the disciples of Jesus did not follow the same pattern.
Their question was sincere. They were trying to understand why Jesus and His followers appeared to practice faith differently from the established religious traditions.
Jesus answered them in the verses that follow by using a simple picture: a wedding celebration. He explained that the friends of the bridegroom do not fast while the bridegroom is with them. A wedding is a time of joy, celebration, and fellowship. It would be strange for the guests to mourn or fast while the bridegroom stands among them.
Through this illustration, Jesus revealed something profound about Himself. He was identifying Himself as the bridegroom. In the language of Scripture, this image pointed to God’s loving relationship with His people. By calling Himself the bridegroom, Jesus was declaring that the long-awaited moment of God drawing near to His people had arrived.
For new believers, this truth is deeply encouraging. Christianity is not merely a system of rules or rituals. It is first and foremost a relationship with Jesus Christ. The disciples were not ignoring spiritual devotion; they were responding to the joy of being in the presence of the One who had come to bring salvation.
When someone first believes in Christ, there is often a sense of newness and joy. The burden of guilt is lifted through the forgiveness of sins. The heart begins to awaken to the love of God. Scripture becomes alive with meaning. Prayer becomes conversation with a gracious Father.
This joy is not superficial excitement. It flows from the reality that God has drawn near through His Son. The gospel announces that Jesus came into the world to seek and save those who were lost. Through His life, death, and resurrection, He opens the way for sinners to be reconciled to God.
Therefore, the Christian life begins with grace rather than with religious striving. Jesus did not gather disciples by first imposing heavy burdens upon them. Instead, He invited them into fellowship with Himself.
However, Jesus also explained that a time would come when the bridegroom would be taken away, and then His followers would fast. In saying this, He was pointing ahead to His death and eventual departure from the earth. After that time, His followers would experience seasons of longing, prayer, and self-denial as they waited for His return.
This teaches new believers an important balance. The Christian life contains both joy and discipline. There are moments of celebration in God’s presence, and there are also moments of spiritual hunger, repentance, and seeking God with deeper devotion.
Practices such as prayer, fasting, reading Scripture, and serving others are not meant to be empty traditions. They are ways believers draw nearer to God and grow in spiritual maturity. These practices become meaningful when they flow from love for Christ rather than from a desire to appear religious.
Jesus continued His explanation by giving two additional illustrations: the new patch on an old garment and new wine in old wineskins. Both images emphasize that something new had arrived. The kingdom of God, revealed through Christ, could not simply be added to old systems of religious thinking. It required transformation.
For someone new to the faith, this means that following Jesus involves more than adding a few spiritual habits to an otherwise unchanged life. The gospel brings renewal to the heart. God begins to reshape the way a person thinks, desires, and lives.
The message of Jesus calls people away from relying on their own righteousness and toward trusting in the grace of God. Instead of trying to earn acceptance through religious performance, believers are invited to receive salvation as a gift.
From that gift flows a new way of living. Gratitude replaces obligation. Love replaces mere duty. Obedience becomes the response of a heart that has encountered mercy.
Matthew 9:14 reminds new believers that the foundation of faith is the presence of Christ Himself. Christianity is not built upon human traditions, but upon the living Savior who calls people to follow Him.
As believers continue to grow, they learn that their relationship with Christ shapes every part of life. Worship becomes heartfelt rather than routine. Acts of kindness become expressions of God’s love. Times of fasting or prayer become opportunities to seek God more deeply.
The early disciples learned these lessons as they walked with Jesus day by day. They saw His compassion for the sick, His mercy toward sinners, and His authority in teaching about the kingdom of God. Through these experiences, they came to understand that the joy of knowing Him was greater than any outward religious display.
New believers today are invited into that same relationship. Through faith in Christ, the believer becomes part of God’s family. The Holy Spirit begins a work of renewal within the heart. Scripture becomes a guide for life, and the community of believers becomes a place of encouragement and growth.
Matthew 9:14 gently teaches that the Christian life begins with the presence of the bridegroom. The joy of salvation comes from knowing Jesus, trusting His grace, and walking with Him daily.
From that joyful beginning, believers continue to grow, learning how to seek God through prayer, devotion, and obedience. Yet the heart of faith remains the same: the living Christ has come, and those who follow Him are invited to share in the joy of His kingdom.
For every new believer, this passage offers reassurance that the journey of faith is not centered on outward performance, but on a living relationship with the Savior who calls His people to rejoice in His presence.
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