< Previous | Contents | Next >
Fasting
14. Then the disciples of john came to him, saying, "Master, why do we and the Pharisees fast while you and your disciples do not?"
15. Jmmanuel said to them, "How can the ignorant fast and suffer while they are being taught knowledge?
16. "And how can the teacher fast when he must teach knowledge to the ignorant?
17. "Truly, I say to you, your teachings are false if you fast according to a religious dogma; fasting serves only the health of the body and the growth of the spirit.
18. "No one mends an old garment with a new patch of cloth, because the patch will tear again from the garment, and the rip will become worse.
19. "Neither is new wine poured into old wineskins, for the skins will tear, the wine will spill, and the wineskins will be ruined. Instead, new wine is put into new wineskins so both are preserved.