Matthew 9:14 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?"

◄ Matthew 9:14 ►

New International Version
Then John’s disciples came and asked him, “How is it that we and the Pharisees fast often, but your disciples do not fast?”

New Living Translation
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?”

English Standard Version
Then the disciples of John came to him, saying, “Why do we and the Pharisees fast, but your disciples do not fast?”

Berean Standard Bible
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?”

Berean Literal Bible
Then the disciples of John come to Him saying, "Why do we and the Pharisees often fast, but Your disciples do not fast?"

King James Bible
Then came to him the disciples of John, saying, Why do we and the Pharisees fast oft, but thy disciples fast not?

New King James Version
Then the disciples of John came to Him, saying, “Why do we and the Pharisees fast often, but Your disciples do not fast?”

New American Standard Bible
Then the disciples of John came to Him, asking, “Why do we and the Pharisees fast, but Your disciples do not fast?”

NASB 1995
Then the disciples of John came to Him, asking, “Why do we and the Pharisees fast, but Your disciples do not fast?”

NASB 1977
Then the disciples of John came to Him, saying, “Why do we and the Pharisees fast, but Your disciples do not fast?”

Legacy Standard Bible
Then the disciples of John came to Him, asking, “Why do we and the Pharisees fast, but Your disciples do not fast?”

Amplified Bible
Then the disciples of John [the Baptist] came to Jesus, asking, “Why do we and the Pharisees often fast [as a religious exercise], but Your disciples do not fast?”

Christian Standard Bible
Then John’s disciples came to him, saying, “Why do we and the Pharisees fast often, but your disciples do not fast? ”

Holman Christian Standard Bible
Then John’s disciples came to Him, saying, “Why do we and the Pharisees fast often, but Your disciples do not fast?”

American Standard Version
Then come to him the disciples of John, saying, Why do we and the Pharisees fast oft, but thy disciples fast not?

Contemporary English Version
Some followers of John the Baptist came and asked Jesus, "Why do we and the Pharisees often go without eating, while your disciples never do?"

English Revised Version
Then come to him the disciples of John, saying, Why do we and the Pharisees fast oft, but thy disciples fast not?

GOD'S WORD® Translation
Then John's disciples came to Jesus. They said, "Why do we and the Pharisees fast often but your disciples never do?"

Good News Translation
Then the followers of John the Baptist came to Jesus, asking, "Why is it that we and the Pharisees fast often, but your disciples don't fast at all?"

International Standard Version
Then John's disciples came to Jesus and asked, "Why do we and the Pharisees fast often, but your disciples don't fast?"

Majority Standard Bible
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?”

NET Bible
Then John's disciples came to Jesus and asked, "Why do we and the Pharisees fast often, but your disciples don't fast?"

New Heart English Bible
Then John's disciples came to him, saying, "Why do we and the Pharisees fast often, but your disciples do not fast?"

Webster's Bible Translation
Then came to him the disciples of John, saying, Why do we and the Pharisees fast often, but thy disciples fast not?

Weymouth New Testament
At that time John's disciples came and asked Jesus, "Why do we and the Pharisees fast, but your disciples do not?"

World English Bible
Then John’s disciples came to him, saying, “Why do we and the Pharisees fast often, but your disciples don’t fast?”

Literal Translations

Literal Standard Version
Then the disciples of John come to Him, saying, “Why do we and the Pharisees fast much, and Your disciples do not fast?”

Berean Literal Bible
Then the disciples of John come to Him saying, "Why do we and the Pharisees often fast, but Your disciples do not fast?"

Young's Literal Translation
Then come to him do the disciples of John, saying, 'Wherefore do we and the Pharisees fast much, and thy disciples fast not?'

Smith's Literal Translation
Then came to him the disciples of John; saying, Wherefore do we and the Pharisees fast much, and thy disciples fast not?

Catholic Translations

Douay-Rheims Bible
Then came to him the disciples of John, saying: Why do we and the Pharisees fast often, but thy disciples do not fast?

Catholic Public Domain Version
Then the disciples of John drew near to him, saying, “Why do we and the Pharisees fast frequently, but your disciples do not fast?”

New American Bible
Then the disciples of John approached him and said, “Why do we and the Pharisees fast [much], but your disciples do not fast?”

New Revised Standard Version
Then the disciples of John came to him, saying, “Why do we and the Pharisees fast often, but your disciples do not fast?”

Translations from Aramaic

Lamsa Bible
Then the disciples of John came up to him, and said, Why do we and the Pharisees fast a great deal, and your disciples never fast?

Aramaic Bible in Plain English
Then the disciples of Yohannan approached him, and they were saying, “Why are we and the Pharisees fasting much, and your disciples are not fasting?”

NT Translations

Anderson New Testament
Then came to him the disciples of John, saying: Why do we and the Pharisees fast often, but your disciples fast not?

Godbey New Testament
Then the disciples of John come to Him, saying, Wherefore do we and the Pharisee fast, but thy disciples do not fast?

Haweis New Testament
Then came unto him disciples of John, saying, Why do we and the Pharisees keep many fasts, but thy disciples fast not?

Mace New Testament
Then John's disciples came to him and said, why do the Pharisees, as well as we, observe so many fasts, and your disciples keep none?

Weymouth New Testament
At that time John's disciples came and asked Jesus, "Why do we and the Pharisees fast, but your disciples do not?"

Worrell New Testament
Then came to Him the disciples of John, saying, "Why do we and the Pharisees fast often, but Thy disciples fast not?"

Worsley New Testament
Then also come to Him the disciples of John, saying, Why do we and the pharisees fast much, but thy disciples do not fast?

Additional Translations ...

Audio Bible

Context

Questions about Fasting
13But go and learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy, not sacrifice.’ For I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.” 14At 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?” 15Jesus replied, “How can the guests of the bridegroom mourn while He is with them? But the time will come when the bridegroom will be taken from them; then they will fast.…

Berean Standard Bible · Download

Cross References

Mark 2:18-20
Now 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?” / Jesus replied, “How can the guests of the bridegroom fast while He is with them? As long as He is with them, they cannot fast. / But the time will come when the bridegroom will be taken from them; then they will fast.

Luke 5:33-35
Then they said to Him, “John’s disciples and those of the Pharisees frequently fast and pray, but Yours keep on eating and drinking.” / Jesus replied, “Can you make the guests of the bridegroom fast while He is with them? / But the time will come when the bridegroom will be taken from them; then they will fast.”

Matthew 11:18-19
For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they say, ‘He has a demon!’ / The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they say, ‘Look at this glutton and drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners!’ But wisdom is vindicated by her actions.”

John 3:29
The bride belongs to the bridegroom. The friend of the bridegroom stands and listens for him, and is overjoyed to hear the bridegroom’s voice. That joy is mine, and it is now complete.

Ecclesiastes 3:1-4
To everything there is a season, and a time for every purpose under heaven: / a time to be born and a time to die, a time to plant and a time to uproot, / a time to kill and a time to heal, a time to break down and a time to build, ...

Isaiah 58:3-5
“Why have we fasted, and You have not seen? Why have we humbled ourselves, and You have not noticed?” “Behold, on the day of your fast, you do as you please, and you oppress all your workers. / You fast with contention and strife to strike viciously with your fist. You cannot fast as you do today and have your voice be heard on high. / Is this the fast I have chosen: a day for a man to deny himself, to bow his head like a reed, and to spread out sackcloth and ashes? Will you call this a fast and a day acceptable to the LORD?

Zechariah 8:19
“This is what the LORD of Hosts says: The fasts of the fourth, the fifth, the seventh, and the tenth months will become times of joy and gladness, cheerful feasts for the house of Judah. Therefore you are to love both truth and peace.”

Acts 13:2-3
While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, “Set apart for Me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.” / And after they had fasted and prayed, they laid their hands on them and sent them off.

Romans 14:17
For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking, but of righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit.

Colossians 2:16-17
Therefore let no one judge you by what you eat or drink, or with regard to a feast, a New Moon, or a Sabbath. / These are a shadow of the things to come, but the body that casts it belongs to Christ.

1 Corinthians 8:8
But food does not bring us closer to God: We are no worse if we do not eat, and no better if we do.

2 Corinthians 11:27
in labor and toil and often without sleep, in hunger and thirst and often without food, in cold and exposure.

Joel 2:12-13
“Yet even now,” declares the LORD, “return to Me with all your heart, with fasting, weeping, and mourning.” / So rend your hearts and not your garments, and return to the LORD your God. For He is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger, abounding in loving devotion. And He relents from sending disaster.

Daniel 9:3
So I turned my attention to the Lord God to seek Him by prayer and petition, with fasting, sackcloth, and ashes.

Nehemiah 1:4
When I heard these words, I sat down and wept. I mourned for days, fasting and praying before the God of heaven.

Treasury of Scripture

Then came to him the disciples of John, saying, Why do we and the Pharisees fast oft, but your disciples fast not?

the disciples.

Matthew 11:2
Now when John had heard in the prison the works of Christ, he sent two of his disciples,

John 3:25
Then there arose a question between some of John's disciples and the Jews about purifying.

John 4:1
When therefore the Lord knew how the Pharisees had heard that Jesus made and baptized more disciples than John,

Why.

Matthew 6:16
Moreover when ye fast, be not, as the hypocrites, of a sad countenance: for they disfigure their faces, that they may appear unto men to fast. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward.

Matthew 11:18,19
For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they say, He hath a devil…

Proverbs 20:6
Most men will proclaim every one his own goodness: but a faithful man who can find?

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Matthew 9

1. Jesus heals a paralytic
9. calls Matthew from the receipt of custom;
10. eats with tax collectors and sinners;
14. defends his disciples for not fasting;
20. cures the sick woman;
23. raises Jairus' daughter from death;
27. gives sight to two blind men;
32. heals a mute man possessed of a demon;
36. and has compassion on the multitude.

Berean Study Bible

Then the disciples of John
This phrase refers to the followers of John the Baptist, a significant prophetic figure who prepared the way for Jesus. The Greek word for "disciples" is "μαθηταί" (mathētai), indicating learners or students. John's disciples were committed to his teachings and practices, which included fasting as a sign of repentance and devotion. Historically, John the Baptist's ministry was characterized by a call to repentance and preparation for the coming Messiah, which his disciples earnestly followed.

came to Him
The act of coming to Jesus signifies a direct approach to the source of divine wisdom and authority. The Greek verb "προσέρχομαι" (proserchomai) implies drawing near with intention. This approach reflects a genuine quest for understanding and clarity, as John's disciples sought to reconcile their practices with those of Jesus' followers. It highlights the openness of Jesus' ministry to questions and dialogue, a hallmark of His teaching style.

and asked
The Greek word "λέγοντες" (legontes) is used here, meaning "saying" or "asking." This indicates a respectful inquiry rather than a challenge. The disciples of John were not confrontational but were seeking insight into the differences in religious practices. This reflects a broader theme in the Gospels where questions are used as a means to reveal deeper truths and understanding.

Why do we and the Pharisees fast often
Fasting was a common religious practice among Jews, often associated with mourning, repentance, and seeking God's favor. The Greek word for "fast" is "νηστεύω" (nēsteuō), which means to abstain from food for spiritual purposes. The Pharisees, known for their strict adherence to the law, fasted regularly as a demonstration of piety. This question highlights the tension between traditional religious practices and the new way of life introduced by Jesus.

but Your disciples do not fast?
This contrast points to a significant shift in religious observance introduced by Jesus. The absence of fasting among Jesus' disciples suggests a new understanding of God's kingdom, characterized by joy and presence rather than ritualistic observance. The Greek word "νηστεύουσιν" (nēsteuousin) is used here, emphasizing the ongoing nature of the practice that Jesus' disciples were not engaging in. This reflects the transformative nature of Jesus' ministry, where the focus is on the presence of the Bridegroom, as Jesus later explains, rather than on traditional expressions of piety.

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers

(14) The disciples of John.--The passage is interesting as showing (1) that the followers of the Baptist continued during our Lord's ministry to form a separate body (as in Matthew 11:2; Matthew 14:12); and (2) that they obeyed rules which he had given them, more or less after the pattern of those of the Pharisees. They had their own days of fasting (the context makes it probable that the feast in Matthew's house was held on one of them), their own forms of prayer (Luke 11:1). They, it would seem, acting with the Pharisees, and perhaps influenced by them, were perplexed at conduct so unlike that of the master they revered, and came therefore with their question. But they were, at least, not hypocrites, and they are answered therefore without the sternness which had marked the reply to their companions.

Pulpit Commentary

Verses 14-17. - Christ's care for the free-dora of his disciples from ceremonial bondage. He teaches that the standpoint of the Baptist was preparatory (ch. 3.), and was not intended to be a permanent resting-place. Observe that of the three accounts St. Matthew's points out the most clearly that the objection originated with the disciples of John the Baptist. Perhaps St. Matthew found these possessing special influence in the part for which his Gospel was primarily intended. So also St. John thought it desirable to recall the teaching of the Master, that while he himself was the Bridegroom, the Baptist was only subordinate (John 3:29). On the survival of the teaching of John the Baptist, and the greater importance of its professed adherents during the apostolic age than is usually supposed, vide Bishop Lightfoot, 'Colossians,' p. 163, edit. 1875. Verse 14. - Then (τότε). In this case the close chronological connexion with the preceding incident is confirmed by the parallel passages (especially Luke). Came (come, Revised Version) to him. They move forward among the crowd, and draw near to him (προσέρχονται αὐτῷ). The disciples of John (vide supra), saying, Why (cf. ver. 11) do we and the Pharisees fast? (cf. Matthew 6:16, note, Schurer, II. 2. p. 118). Oft (πολλά); Textus Receptus, and Westcott and Hort margin, with all the versions and the great mass of the authorities. Yet probably to be omitted, with Westcott and Host, on the evidence of the Vatican manuscript, and the original hand of the Sinaitic. It may have arisen from a gloss on the πυκνά of Luke. But thy disciples fast not. The feast given by St. Matthew was evidently at the time of some fast observed by the stricter Jews.

Parallel Commentaries ...

Greek

At that time,
Τότε (Tote)
Adverb
Strong's 5119: Then, at that time. From ho and hote; the when, i.e. At the time that.

John’s
Ἰωάννου (Iōannou)
Noun - Genitive Masculine Singular
Strong's 2491: Of Hebrew origin; Joannes, the name of four Israelites.

disciples
μαθηταὶ (mathētai)
Noun - Nominative Masculine Plural
Strong's 3101: A learner, disciple, pupil. From manthano; a learner, i.e. Pupil.

came
προσέρχονται (proserchontai)
Verb - Present Indicative Middle or Passive - 3rd Person Plural
Strong's 4334: From pros and erchomai; to approach, i.e. come near, visit, or worship, assent to.

to [Jesus]
αὐτῷ (autō)
Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Dative Masculine 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 846: He, she, it, they, them, same. From the particle au; the reflexive pronoun self, used of the third person, and of the other persons.

[and] asked,
λέγοντες (legontes)
Verb - Present Participle Active - Nominative Masculine Plural
Strong's 3004: (a) I say, speak; I mean, mention, tell, (b) I call, name, especially in the pass., (c) I tell, command.

“Why is it that
Διὰ (Dia)
Preposition
Strong's 1223: A primary preposition denoting the channel of an act; through.

we
ἡμεῖς (hēmeis)
Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Nominative 1st Person Plural
Strong's 1473: I, the first-person pronoun. A primary pronoun of the first person I.

and
καὶ (kai)
Conjunction
Strong's 2532: And, even, also, namely.

the
οἱ (hoi)
Article - Nominative Masculine Plural
Strong's 3588: The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.

Pharisees
Φαρισαῖοι (Pharisaioi)
Noun - Nominative Masculine Plural
Strong's 5330: Of Hebrew origin; a separatist, i.e. Exclusively religious; a Pharisean, i.e. Jewish sectary.

fast
νηστεύομεν (nēsteuomen)
Verb - Present Indicative Active - 1st Person Plural
Strong's 3522: To fast, abstain from food. From nestis; to abstain from food.

so often,
πολλά (polla)
Adjective - Accusative Neuter Plural
Strong's 4183: Much, many; often.

but
δὲ (de)
Conjunction
Strong's 1161: A primary particle; but, and, etc.

Your
σου (sou)
Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive 2nd Person Singular
Strong's 4771: You. The person pronoun of the second person singular; thou.

disciples
μαθηταί (mathētai)
Noun - Nominative Masculine Plural
Strong's 3101: A learner, disciple, pupil. From manthano; a learner, i.e. Pupil.

{do} not
οὐ (ou)
Adverb
Strong's 3756: No, not. Also ouk, and ouch a primary word; the absolute negative adverb; no or not.

fast?”
νηστεύουσιν (nēsteuousin)
Verb - Present Indicative Active - 3rd Person Plural
Strong's 3522: To fast, abstain from food. From nestis; to abstain from food.

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NT Gospels: Matthew 9:14 Then John's disciples came to him saying (Matt. Mat Mt)