Expositor's Bible Commentary Commentary Luke 5:34

"And Jesus said unto them, Can ye make the sons of the bride-chamber fast, while the bridegroom is with them?" — Luke 5:34 (ASV)

By stating a fact about the disciples of John and of the Pharisees, the disciples are now criticized, not only for eating with sinners, but for having a lifestyle in contrast to proper religious decorum. Jesus’ answer is indeed remarkable. The first part of the saying is clear. Jesus compares the situation to a wedding (cf. Ephesians 5:25–33; Revelation 19:6–9), which naturally calls for joy. But to think at a wedding of the possibility of the groom’s death is highly unusual. Jesus seems to anticipate already here his rejection and his death at the hands of his enemies.