Then the disciples of John came to him, saying, “Why do we and the Pharisees fast, 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?
- BSB 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?”
- 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?”
Scripture quotations are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
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 5:33–39They said to him, “Why do John’s disciples often fast and pray, likewise also the disciples of the Pharisees, but yours eat and drink?”
- Mark 2:18–22John’s disciples and the Pharisees were fasting, and they came and asked him, “Why do John’s disciples and the disciples of the Pharisees fast, but your disciples don’t fast?”
- Matt 6:16“Moreover when you fast, don’t be like the hypocrites, with sad faces. For they disfigure their faces, that they may be seen by men to be fasting. Most certainly I tell you, they have received their reward.
- Matt 11:18–19For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they say, ‘He has a demon.’
- Prov 20:6Many men claim to be men of unfailing love, but who can find a faithful man?
- Luke 18:9–12He spoke also this parable to certain people who were convinced of their own righteousness, and who despised all others.
- John 3:25There arose therefore a questioning on the part of John’s disciples with some Jews about purification.
- John 4:1Therefore when the Lord knew that the Pharisees had heard that Jesus was making and baptizing more disciples than John
- Matt 11:2Now when John heard in the prison the works of Christ, he sent two of his disciples
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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.'
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Original language
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