At that time John’s disciples came to Jesus and asked, “Why is it that we and the Pharisees fast so often, but Your disciples do not fast?”
Parallel translations
- WEB Then John’s disciples came to him, saying, “Why do we and the Pharisees fast often, but your disciples don’t fast?”
- KJV Then came to him the disciples of John, saying, Why do we and the Pharisees fast oft, but thy disciples fast not?
- ESV Then the disciples of John came to him, saying, “Why do we and the Pharisees fast, but your disciples do not fast?”
- NKJV Then the disciples of John came to Him, saying, “Why do we and the Pharisees fast often, but Your disciples do not fast?”
- NASB Then the disciples of John *came to Him, asking, “Why do we and the Pharisees fast, but Your disciples do not fast?”
- NLT One day the disciples of John the Baptist came to Jesus and asked him, “Why don’t your disciples fast like we do and the Pharisees do?”
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Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
John's disciples ask why Jesus' followers do not fast as they and the Pharisees do. The question opens Jesus' teaching on the newness of his coming.
Overview
Fasting was a mark of pious devotion, so the absence of it among Jesus' disciples seemed strange. The question, sincerely posed, gives Jesus occasion to explain how his presence changes the time. It introduces the theme that his arrival inaugurates something new that cannot simply be poured into old forms.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 9
- Luke 5:33–39Then they said to Him, “John’s disciples and those of the Pharisees frequently fast and pray, but Yours keep on eating and drinking.”
- Mark 2:18–22Now John’s disciples and the Pharisees were often fasting. So people came to Jesus and asked, “Why don’t Your disciples fast like John’s disciples and those of the Pharisees?”
- Matt 6:16When you fast, do not be somber like the hypocrites, for they disfigure their faces to show men they are fasting. Truly I tell you, they already have their full reward.
- Matt 11:18–19For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they say, ‘He has a demon!’
- Prov 20:6Many a man proclaims his loving devotion, but who can find a trustworthy man?
- Luke 18:9–12To some who trusted in their own righteousness and viewed others with contempt, He also told this parable:
- John 3:25Then a dispute arose between John’s disciples and a certain Jew over the issue of ceremonial washing.
- John 4:1When Jesus realized that the Pharisees were aware He was gaining and baptizing more disciples than John
- Matt 11:2Meanwhile John heard in prison about the works of Christ, and he sent his disciples
Themes, concepts, people & topics
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Christ at the center
Matthew presents Jesus as the promised King — son of David, son of Abraham — the new Moses and true Israel in whom every prophecy reaches 'that it might be fulfilled.'
How Matthew 9:14 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
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