“Venient autem dies cum auferetur ab eis sponsus : et tunc jejunabunt in illis diebus.”
“But the days will come, when the bridegroom shall be taken away from them, and then shall they fast in those days.”
“But the time will come when the bridegroom will be taken from them; then they will fast.”
“But the days will come when the bridegroom will be taken away from them, and then will they fast in that day.”
“But the days will come, when the bridegroom shall be taken away from them, and then will they fast in that day.”
Jesus Christ here foretelleth that fasting shall be used in his Church, no less than in the old law, or in the time of John the Baptist. See Matthew ix. 15. — When first we begin to be converted to God, the spiritual consolations which God infuses into our souls, cause in us an overflowing of spiritual delights, so that we then feast, and are in the midst of delight; but when the Bridegroom shall be taken away, when these spiritual consolations cease, then we fast, and find the commandments difficult. It is then we must prepare ourselves for tribulation. (Ven. Bede)
Verses 18-22 Strict professors are apt to blame all that do not fully come up to their own views. Christ did not escape slanders; we should be willing to bear them, as well as careful not to deserve them; but should attend to every part of our duty in its proper order and season.