Matthew 9:13-15

Amplified Bible, Classic Edition

¹³Go and learn what this means: I desire mercy [that is, ^[a]readiness to help those in trouble] and not sacrifice and sacrificial victims. For I came not to call and invite [to repentance] the righteous (those who are upright and in right standing with God), but sinners (the erring ones and all those not free from sin).^(A)

¹⁴Then the disciples of John came to Jesus, inquiring, Why is it that we and the Pharisees fast ^[b]often, [that is, abstain from food and drink as a religious exercise], but Your disciples do not fast?

¹⁵And Jesus replied to them, Can the wedding guests mourn while the bridegroom is still with them? The days will come when the bridegroom is taken away from them, and then they will fast.

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Footnotes

Matthew 9:13 Joseph Thayer, A Greek-English Lexicon.
Matthew 9:14 Many manuscripts so read.

Matthew 9:13-15

New International Version

¹³But go and learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy, not sacrifice.’^[a]^(A) For I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.”^(B)

Jesus Questioned About Fasting^(C)

¹⁴Then John’s^(D) disciples came and asked him, “How is it that we and the Pharisees fast often,^(E) but your disciples do not fast?”

¹⁵Jesus answered, “How can the guests of the bridegroom mourn while he is with them?^(F) The time will come when the bridegroom will be taken from them; then they will fast.^(G)

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