Mark 2:18

When to fast

18 John's disciples and the Pharisees had a habit of fasting. Some people asked Jesus, "Why do John's disciples and the Pharisees' disciples fast, but yours don't?"

Mark 2:18 Meaning and Commentary

Mark 2:18

And the disciples of John and of the Pharisees used to
fast
Or "were fasting"; perhaps that very day, and so were the more displeased at this entertainment, Matthew had made for Christ and his disciples, and at their being at it; or fasting was usual with them: they fasted often, both John's disciples, and the disciples of the Pharisees, or the Pharisees themselves; so the Vulgate Latin reads: of their frequent fasting, (See Gill on Matthew 9:14),

and they came:
both the disciples of John, ( Matthew 9:14 ) , and the Scribes and Pharisees, ( Luke 5:30 Luke 5:33 ) ,

and say unto him, why do the disciples of John and of the Pharisees
fast, but thy disciples fast not? (See Gill on Matthew 9:14).

Mark 2:18 In-Context

16 When some of the legal experts from among the Pharisees saw that he was eating with sinners and tax collectors, they asked his disciples, "Why is he eating with sinners and tax collectors?"

17 When Jesus heard it, he said to them, "Healthy people don't need a doctor, but sick people do. I didn't come to call righteous people, but sinners."

18 John's disciples and the Pharisees had a habit of fasting. Some people asked Jesus, "Why do John's disciples and the Pharisees' disciples fast, but yours don't?"

19 Jesus said, “The wedding guests can't fast while the groom is with them, can they? As long as they have the groom with them, they can't fast.

20 But the days will come when the groom will be taken away from them, and then they will fast.