What is the meaning of Mark 2:18? Now John’s disciples and the Pharisees were often fasting • The statement sets the scene: two distinct groups—followers of John the Baptist and the Pharisees—shared a visible spiritual discipline. • John’s disciples fasted as an extension of his message of repentance (cf. Matthew 3:1–6; Mark 1:4), so regular fasting fit their call to prepare for the Messiah. • The Pharisees fasted “twice a week” (Luke 18:12), turning what the Law required only once a year on the Day of Atonement (Leviticus 16:29–31) into a badge of piety. • By mentioning both groups together, Mark highlights a rare point of agreement between them, underscoring how striking it was that Jesus’ followers did not join in. • The verse reminds us that outward religious practices, though valuable (see Psalm 35:13; Joel 2:12), can never replace a heart aligned with God (Isaiah 58:3–7). So people came to Jesus and asked, “Why don’t Your disciples fast like John’s disciples and those of the Pharisees?” • The crowd’s question implies an expectation: if respected religious figures fast, shouldn’t anyone serious about God do the same? • Their inquiry places Jesus in the role of rabbi. As teachers were judged by their disciples’ conduct (cf. Acts 22:3), the spotlight falls on Him. • Underneath the question lies a challenge to Jesus’ authority and the uniqueness of His mission. He is not merely another reformer; He is the Bridegroom (Mark 2:19–20), and His presence changes the timetable of spiritual disciplines. • The contrast prepares us for Jesus’ later teaching on new wine and wineskins (Mark 2:21–22), signaling that old forms cannot fully contain the joy and reality of the Kingdom He brings. • Matthew 6:16–18 shows that Jesus does endorse fasting—but with the right motive and timing, free from hypocrisy. summary Mark 2:18 presents a moment of tension: devout observers see Jesus’ disciples bypass a cherished practice, and they question Him. The verse exposes two kinds of fasting—one rooted in genuine repentance, another in self-display—while introducing Jesus as the defining factor for true devotion. Because He is present, the normal rhythms of religious life are reordered. His arrival means joy now, fasting later (Mark 2:19–20). The passage invites believers to practice spiritual disciplines from a heart that recognizes Christ’s authority and celebrates His nearness, not to impress others but to walk faithfully with the Bridegroom. |
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