What is the meaning of Matthew 9:14? Then John’s disciples • These followers of John the Baptist continued the repentance-focused lifestyle their teacher modeled (Matthew 3:4; 11:18). • John had pointed them toward Jesus as “the Lamb of God” (John 1:35-37), so their coming shows sincere interest rather than hostility. • Their loyalty to John’s rigorous discipline explains why matters of fasting weighed heavily on them (Luke 7:33). came to Jesus • They approached the One to whom John had always directed attention (John 3:28-30). • Jesus welcomed seekers, whether they were fishermen, Pharisees like Nicodemus, or John’s disciples (John 6:37). • The scene underscores that true answers about spiritual practice are found in Christ, not in tradition alone (Colossians 2:8-10). and asked • Inquiry is encouraged by Scripture: “Ask, and it will be given to you” (Matthew 7:7). • Their respectful question contrasts with the Pharisees’ accusatory spirit a few verses earlier (Matthew 9:11). • Bringing confusion directly to Jesus models the wisdom urged in James 1:5—“If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God.” Why is it that we and the Pharisees fast so often • Regular fasts had become a mark of piety; Pharisees boasted of fasting “twice a week” (Luke 18:12). • Even John’s disciples adopted frequent fasting, perhaps every Monday and Thursday, reflecting national mourning practices rooted in Zechariah 7:5. • Yet God had warned Israel that fasting can become empty ritual when the heart is wrong (Isaiah 58:3-6). • The contrast sets the stage for Jesus to reveal that timing and relationship determine the value of any discipline (Ecclesiastes 3:1; Hosea 6:6). but Your disciples do not fast? • The observation is factual: Jesus’ disciples were feasting with Him (Matthew 9:10). • Their non-fasting signals the arrival of the Bridegroom, a time for joy rather than mourning (Matthew 9:15; John 3:29). • It points to the transition from the old covenant’s anticipatory rituals to the new covenant’s realized presence of God in Christ (Hebrews 10:1; Romans 14:17). • Jesus will affirm that fasting has its place—after His departure—but not as a badge of righteousness (Matthew 6:16-18; Acts 13:2). summary Matthew 9:14 captures a collision between old forms of devotion and the new reality ushered in by Jesus. John’s disciples, sincere yet puzzled, highlight how religious practice without understanding can miss the moment God is creating. Their question allows Jesus to teach that disciplines like fasting must align with His presence and purposes. True righteousness flows from relationship with the Bridegroom, joyfully expressed when He is near and soberly pursued when He is absent. |
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