Mark 2:17-19

Expanded Bible

¹⁷ Jesus heard this and said to them, “It is not the healthy people who need a doctor, but the sick. I did not come to ·invite [call] ·good people [the righteous; ^Cmeaning the “self-righteous” who feel no need to repent] but to ·invite [call] sinners [^Cthose who recognize their need to repent].”

Jesus Is Questioned About Fasting^(A)

¹⁸ Now the ·followers [disciples] of John [^Cthe Baptist; 1:4–8] and the Pharisees often fasted [^Cgiving up eating for spiritual purposes]. ·Some people [^LThey] came to Jesus and said, “Why do John’s ·followers [disciples] and the ·followers [disciples] of the Pharisees often fast, but your ·followers [disciples] don’t?”

¹⁹ Jesus answered, “The ·friends of the bridegroom [or wedding guests; ^Lchildren of the wedding hall] do not fast while the bridegroom is still with them [^CJesus is referring to himself; John 3:29; Rev. 19:7]. As long as the bridegroom is with them, they cannot fast.