Christian Mutual Tolerance
A. Mackennal, D. D. Luke 5:33-34 And they said to him, Why do the disciples of John fast often, and make prayers, and likewise the disciples of the Pharisees… The whole passage illustrates the breadth and tolerance of our Lord's teaching. He is claiming for His disciples that their spiritual life be left to unfold itself naturally, that they be not fettered by forms, that they be not judged by religious traditions and old habits, that they be free to show themselves glad when they have cause of gladness, and that their expressions of sorrow and their self-discipline follow their feeling of sorrow and their need of discipline. He adds also a plea for the sincere among the Pharisees and John's disciples; He tells His own followers that they must be tolerant of these. No man accustomed to old wine will readily relish new. These parables have a perpetual application. They affirm the propriety of all forms of religious life that are the true outcome of spiritual experience, and they plead for consideration of one another in the differences which perpetually arise between Christians of varying experience and habitude. I. CHRIST'S VINDICATION OF FREEDOM TO ALL HIS DISCIPLES. II. CHRIST'S PLEA FOR CONSIDERATION OF ONE ANOTHER. (A. Mackennal, D. D.) Parallel Verses KJV: And they said unto him, Why do the disciples of John fast often, and make prayers, and likewise the disciples of the Pharisees; but thine eat and drink? WEB: They said to him, "Why do John's disciples often fast and pray, likewise also the disciples of the Pharisees, but yours eat and drink?"