Here we have Jesus talking about fasting, and people wondering why His disciples don't fast like the Pharisees do, or like John's disciples did. Jesus says two things about this 1) Jesus is here now, and when He will be gone, His disciples will have time to fast "Do wedding guests fast while celebrating with the groom? Of course not. They can't fast while the groom is with them. But someday the groom will be taken away from them, and then they will fast."
2) The old law will change, because Jesus brought in the new Law and he says this with 2 parables. You don't patch old clothing with a new patch ... because the one would shrink, and you'll of torn your clothes, and you don't put new wine in old wineskin's, or they'll tear.
The only time fasting is mandatory for Jews is the day of atonement (and repentance), also known as Yom Kippur. Still celebrated, and one of the most holiest of Jewish celebrations.
Jesus brought the new law, where HE is the source of atonement, to make right with the Lord, not trying by works or fasting, but by faith in Him. Things were going to change, and the disciples should be the witnesses of the new atonement instead of obeying the LAW for the old one.
Again, salvation by works ain't happening, never truly worked in the past, and won't work now. Faith in Christ, is what brings us into a right relationship with God.
This is not saying that you shouldn't fast. Fasting is a great practice (and one I should more regularly do), but even then, we can look at Isaiah 58, and see that God prefers fasting that loosens the chains of oppression, and were we care for the weak, the widows and orphans.
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