Mark 2:18

A Question About Fasting

18 Now ¹John's disciples and the Pharisees were fasting. And people came and said to him, ²"Why do John's disciples and ³the disciples of the Pharisees fast, but your disciples do not fast?"

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 And the scribes of the Pharisees, when they saw that he was eating with sinners and tax collectors, said to his disciples, "Why does he eat with tax collectors and sinners?"

17 And when Jesus heard it, he said to them, "Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. I came not to call the righteous, but sinners."

18 Now John's disciples and the Pharisees were fasting. And people came and said to him, "Why do John's disciples and the disciples of the Pharisees fast, but your disciples do not fast?"

19 And Jesus said to them, "Can the wedding guests fast while the bridegroom is with them? As long as they have the bridegroom with them, they cannot fast.

20 The days will come when the bridegroom is taken away from them, and then they will fast in that day.

Cross References

• 1. Matthew 11:2; John 4:12">1John 4:12; Luke 11:1; John 1:35; John 3:25; John 4:1; [Acts 18:25; Acts 19:3]
• 2. [Mark 7:5]
• 3. Luke 18:12