The symbolic language used by Jesus is clearly within the context of the tension between the doctrine of the Gospel and the legalistic orientation of the Pharisees.

The "bridegroom" is Jesus who fills his friends - his disciples - with joy and freedom to organise their life in relationship to the person of "the bridegroom" and not according to predetermined legalisms. The "fasting" is the symbolism of a legal observance: it has no meaning for the disciples of Jesus. The "new situation" created among us, humans, because of the presence of Jesus is expressed by the symbols of "the new cloth", "new wine" as opposed to "old cloak", "old wineskins", symbols of the declining structure of Judaism.

To believe in the doctrine of Jesus and feel His presence has internally a force which overcomes any structure and system. If because of our human condition, we often fall into the temptation to "systematize and structurize", on our own, the saving message of Jesus, we should have at least the humility to recognise that it is a mistake which has to be corrected. That the fundamental and basic thing is the "bridegroom": just Jesus.