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Holy Gospel of St. Matthew

Faith Q&A › Metropolitan Youssef › Holy Scripture › Holy Gospel of St. Matthew

The question

What is meant by Matthew 9:15?

The answer

When our Lord Jesus Christ was with His disciples, they did not need to keep a fast in His presence. Christ did not belittle the times of fasting, but while He was in their presence, this was a time of joy. The time of fasting would come when He would be taken away from them. There is a time to fast and a time not to fast. In the prudence of the early Church fathers, the Church allocated times of fasting accordingly. The Apostles' Fast is the beginning of the Church fasts as it coincides with the Pentecost Feast and the beginning of the Church after the ascension of Christ to heaven and the descent of the Holy Spirit upon the apostles and the believers.

Answered by His Eminence Metropolitan Youssef (opens in a new tab)

Related questions

Questions answered by His Eminence Metropolitan Youssef (opens in a new tab) of the Coptic Orthodox Diocese of the Southern United States. Question 2093 on the Diocese’s Q&A site. Questions and answers © Coptic Orthodox Diocese of the Southern United States. All rights reserved.