Mark 2:20 — Community Reflections

MARK 2:20 — KING JAMES VERSION 0

“But the days will come, when the bridegroom shall be taken away from them, and then shall they fast in those days.”

But the time will come when the bridegroom will be taken from them, and on that day they will fast — the future tense introduces the first clear anticipation of Jesus' death in Mark. The bridegroom will be taken from them — the passive taken implies external force rather than voluntary departure, pointing to the violent death that will end the Galilean ministry. On that day they will fast: the disciples' fasting will not be a religious performance but a genuine mourning for genuine loss. The verse communicates that fasting has its place — not as a performance of piety but as an authentic response to loss and grief. The resurrection is not mentioned here; the focus is the death that will make fasting appropriate again.

Church Fathers on Mark 2:20

For the disciples of John being in an imperfect state, continued in Jewish customs.
Theophylact · 11th century

But it may be thought that He added Pharisees, because they joined with the disciples of John in saying this to the Lord, whilst Matthew relates that the disciples of John alone said it: but the words which follow father shew that those who said it spoke not of themselves, but of others.
Augustine · 4th century · de Con. Evan., ii, 27

But John did not drink wine and strong drink, because he who has no power by nature, obtains more merit by abstinence. But why should the Lord, to whom it naturally belonged to forgive sins, shun those whom he could make more pure, than those who fast? But Christ also fasted, lest He should break the precept, 'He ate with sinners,' that thou mightest see His grace, and acknowledge His power.
Bede · 8th century

Read all 10 entries in the readerCatena Aurea · St. Thomas Aquinas, tr. J. H. Newman · public domain

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