Matthew 9:15
“Jesus said to them, “Can the friends of the bridegroom mourn, as long as the bridegroom is with them? But the days will come when the bridegroom will be taken away from them, and then they will fast.”
What does Matthew 9:15 mean?
Jesus is answering questions about why his followers aren't fasting like other religious groups do. He uses the picture of a wedding celebration to make his point: when the bridegroom is present with his friends, it's a time of joy, not sadness, so fasting would be out of place. He's saying that his presence with them right now is cause for celebration, not abstinence or mourning. But then he adds something sobering. He hints that the time will come when he'll be taken away from them, and then fasting and grief will make sense. For his followers living after his crucifixion and resurrection, this becomes a way of expressing longing for his return and their dependence on God during seasons of separation from him. It's a tender way of acknowledging both the joy of knowing him and the genuine sorrow of missing him.