Mark 2:15-22

Christian Standard Bible

¹⁵ While he was reclining at the table in Levi’s house, many tax collectors^(A) and sinners^(B) were eating^[a] with Jesus and his disciples, for there were many who were following him. ¹⁶ When the scribes^(C) who were Pharisees^[b](D) saw that he was eating^(E) with sinners^(F) and tax collectors,^(G) they asked his disciples, “Why does he eat^[c] with tax collectors and sinners?”

¹⁷ When Jesus heard this, he told them, “It is not those who are well who need^(H) a doctor,^(I) but those who are sick.^(J) I didn’t come to call the righteous,^(K) but sinners.”^(L)

A Question about Fasting

¹⁸ Now^(M) John’s^(N) disciples^(O) and the Pharisees^[d](P) were fasting.^(Q) People came and asked him, “Why do John’s disciples and the Pharisees’ disciples fast, but your disciples do not fast?”

¹⁹ Jesus said to them, “The wedding guests cannot fast while the groom^(R) is with them, can they? As long as they have the groom with them, they cannot fast. ²⁰ But the time^[e] will come^(S) when the groom will be taken away from them,^(T) and then they will fast^(U) on that day. ²¹ No one sews a patch of unshrunk cloth on an old garment. Otherwise, the new patch pulls away from the old cloth,^(V) and a worse tear is made. ²² And no one puts new wine^(W) into old wineskins. Otherwise, the wine will burst^(X) the skins, and the wine is lost as well as the skins. No, new wine is put into fresh wineskins.”