THEN THEY WILL FAST / MATTHEW 9:15

START YOUR DAY RIGHT DAILY DEVOTION

(KJV) Matthew 9:15

And Jesus said unto them, Can the children of the bridechamber mourn, as long as the bridegroom is with them? but the days will come, when the bridegroom shall be taken from them, and then shall they fast.

Then They Will Fast: Longing for the Bridegroom

In Matthew 9:15, Jesus answers a question about why His disciples don’t fast like those of John the Baptist or the Pharisees. He asks them, “Can the wedding guests mourn as long as the bridegroom is with them? The days will come when the bridegroom is taken away from them, and then they will fast.”

With those simple words, Jesus laid out a powerful expectation for the Church. Fasting—periodically abstaining from food to dedicate our time and attention to prayer and spiritual matters—isn’t an obsolete ritual. It is a vital practice for the era we live in right now.

We reside in the period of the “Bridegroom’s” absence: the time between Christ’s ascension into heaven and His glorious return. As the Church—Christ’s chosen “Bride” (Revelation 19:7; 22:17)—we look forward to the day the shout goes out that the Bridegroom has arrived (Matthew 25:6; John 14:3). Until that day comes, fasting serves as a profound spiritual anchor in four distinct ways:

A sign of our longing: It is a physical expression of our deep desire to be fully united with Christ at His return.
A means of preparation: It clears away the noise of the flesh, sharpening our spiritual focus and preparing our hearts for His coming.
A way of mourning His absence: It acknowledges that as good as earthly blessings are, this world is not our final home, and we feel the weight of our Savior being away.
A sign of sorrow for the world: It stands as an expression of grief over the sin, brokenness, and spiritual decay we see in the culture around us (Matthew 6:16).

When we fast, we empty ourselves of earthly sustenance to declare that our ultimate hunger is for Jesus alone. It is a quiet, powerful protest against the complacency of this world, reminding our souls that the Bridegroom is coming back.

Closing Prayer

Heavenly Father,

We thank You for the gift of Your Son, Jesus Christ, our Bridegroom. Lord, as we live in this season of waiting, we confess our deep hunger for Your presence. Teach us how to fast with pure hearts—not out of obligation, but out of a fierce longing to see You face-to-face. Let our physical hunger remind us of our greater spiritual need for You.

We pray for strength to resist the distractions of this world. May our fasting be a powerful tool of preparation, refining our faith and aligning our hearts with Your kingdom. We look forward with joy to the day when the waiting ends and we are united with You forever. Until that day, keep us watchful, holy, and faithful.

In Jesus’ mighty name, Amen.

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