Gospel of Mark Part 13: Jesus Questioned About Fasting [Small Group Discussion]

Title: When and How to Fast

Scripture Focus: Mark 2:18–22 – “And John’s disciples and the Pharisees were fasting; and they came and said to Him, ‘Why do John’s disciples and the disciples of the Pharisees fast, but Your disciples do not fast?’ And Jesus said to them, ‘Can the attendants of the bridegroom fast when the bridegroom is with them? So long as they have the bridegroom with them, they cannot fast. But the days will come when the bridegroom is taken away from them, and then they will fast in that day. No one sews a piece of unshrunk cloth on an old garment; otherwise that patch pulls away from it, the new from the old, and a worse tear results. And no one puts new wine into old wineskins; otherwise the wine will burst the skins, and the wine is lost and the skins as well; but one puts new wine into fresh wineskins.’”

OPENING QUESTION

What comes to mind when you think of fasting? Is it a personal spiritual discipline, a ritual, or something outdated?

BACKGROUND

Jesus’ ministry was centered on preaching the gospel—calling people to repent and believe (Mark 1:14–15). His miracles, healings, and casting out demons demonstrated His authority, but they were never the ultimate focus. When questioned about why His disciples didn’t fast like the Pharisees or John the Baptist’s followers, Jesus used vivid illustrations—the bridegroom, new cloth, and new wineskins—to explain that the timing and heart behind fasting matter more than the ritual itself.

KEY POINTS

1. The Question About Fasting

• The Challenge: John’s disciples and the Pharisees fasted regularly, often twice a week (Luke 18:12).

• The Law: Only one fast was commanded in the Law of Moses—on the Day of Atonement (Leviticus 23:26–32). Other fasts were voluntary or traditional.

• The Concern: Why did Jesus’ disciples not follow these established practices?

  
  

2. Jesus’ Two-Part Response

• The Bridegroom Illustration:

  • Friends of the bridegroom do not fast during the wedding celebration—it’s a time of joy, not mourning.

  • While Jesus (the Bridegroom) was with them, fasting would be out of place.

  • The time for fasting would come when He was “taken away” (Mark 2:19–20).

    
    

• The New Cloth & New Wineskins:

  • New cloth on old fabric causes more damage; new wine in old skins bursts the container.

  • The new covenant Jesus brought was incompatible with the old, ritual-heavy traditions.

    
    

3. Fasting in the New Covenant

• Not Eliminated: Jesus did not forbid fasting; He redefined its purpose.

• The Right Way: Done in humility and secrecy to honor God—not to impress people (Matthew 6:16–18).

• The Wrong Way: Hypocritical, prideful fasting like the Pharisees, who looked righteous outwardly but were corrupt inwardly (Matthew 23:27–28).

  
  

  

4. The Early Church & Fasting

• Practiced in appointing elders (Acts 14:21–23), sending missionaries (Acts 13:1–3), and seeking God’s guidance.

• Joined with prayer, fasting became a way to humble oneself and seek God’s help (Ezra 8:21–23).

  
  

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

1. Why do you think fasting became such a ritualized act in the time of Jesus?

2. How does Jesus’ illustration of the bridegroom help us understand when fasting is appropriate?

3. What dangers are there in fasting (or any spiritual practice) for the wrong reasons?

4. How can we keep fasting focused on God rather than on appearances or traditions?

5. When have you experienced a time when fasting deepened your prayer life?

   
   

APPLICATION

• Check Your Motives: Before fasting, ask if it’s to seek God’s will or to impress others.

• Choose the Right Time: Fasting is most effective when it aligns with a deep spiritual need—personal struggles, major decisions, intercession for others.

• Pair It With Prayer: Fasting without prayer is just going hungry; fasting with prayer is spiritual discipline.

• Stay Humble: Remember that God sees the heart, not the ritual.

  
  

MEMORY VERSEMatthew 6:17–18 – “But you, when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face so that your fasting will not be noticed by men, but by your Father who is in secret; and your Father who sees what is done in secret will reward you.”

PRAYER FOCUS

Ask God to give you the right heart and motive for fasting. Pray for discipline to seek Him earnestly in both times of joy and times of need, and for humility to keep your devotion between you and Him.

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