disciples) They proceed modestly, and do not enquire concerning John or Jesus Himself.
15. Ka/, and) Our Lord replies calmly and cheerfully : He draws joyful parables from the garments and the wine (which were being employed in the Feast) to condemn the sadness of those who questioned Him. — oi uiotrov vupipujvog, the children of the bridechamber) The companions of the bridegroom.1 Parables and riddles are suited to feasts and nuptials, and are employed to illustrate this nuptial period.2 — vtv6tTv} to mourn) Mourning and fasting are joined together. — et.svsovrai, shall come) He means His departure, which should take place at a future period. — xal r6rf} and then) Neither before nor after.3 — njtfnurtw/i'j they shall fast) necessarily and willingly.4
16. Oudsis, no one) Our Lord chose, as His disciples, men who were unlearned, fresh and simple, and imbued with no peculiar discipline. — See ch. xv. 2 ; cf. Gnomon on Luke vii. 20. The old raiment was the doctrine of the Pharisees; the new, that of Christ. — atpei, taketh away) both itself and more. — at/roD, his) The word is here in the masculine gender.5 — xeTpov tf%/<r/ia y/Wa/, the rent becomes worse) Therefore, there was before some rent. A ragged garment, altogether ragged, is intended.
17. 'AffxoOf, leather bottles) which were used instead of casks. The old bottles are the Pharisees; the new, the disciples; the wine, the Gospel. — dtfoXoDvra/, will perish) So that they can neither hold that, nor any other wine henceforward. — aptporepoi, both) masculine, as rig in ch. xxiii. 17.
18) mentions the same persons in company with the Pharisees ; Luke men tions the Scribes and Pharisees. — Harm. 1. c.
1 The Bridegroom Himself, if you except the forty days in the wilderness, is nowhere recorded as having fasted. — V. g.
2 Bengel means to say, the period when our Lord was with His disciples. -(I, B.)
8 Bengel means, neither whilst the Bridegroom was with the Church on earth, nor when the Church should be with the Bridegroom in heaven. — (I. B.)
4 This is the very characteristic aspect of Christianity : At one time is the nuptial and festive season ; at another time, the season for fasting and sor row. — V. g.
5 Rosenmiiller more naturally refers atvrov to p»n.ov,, " pannus impexus a vestimento vetustate contrito aliquid aufert " Beng. seems to take a.vrr>i/ with Trhqpupa, as " the portion put in by him to fill up the rent." — ED.