Matthew 9:14 kjv
Then came to him the disciples of John, saying, Why do we and the Pharisees fast oft, but thy disciples fast not?
Matthew 9:14 nkjv
Then the disciples of John came to Him, saying, "Why do we and the Pharisees fast often, but Your disciples do not fast?"
Matthew 9:14 niv
Then John's disciples came and asked him, "How is it that we and the Pharisees fast often, but your disciples do not fast?"
Matthew 9:14 esv
Then the disciples of John came to him, saying, "Why do we and the Pharisees fast, but your disciples do not fast?"
Matthew 9:14 nlt
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?"
Matthew 9 14 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Matt 9:15 | And Jesus said to them, "Can the friends of the bridegroom mourn as long... | Jesus' immediate answer; bridegroom analogy. |
| Matt 9:16 | No one puts a patch of unshrunk cloth on an old garment... | New wine, old garment analogy. |
| Matt 9:17 | Neither is new wine put into old wineskins... | New wine, old wineskins analogy. |
| Mk 2:18 | Now John's disciples and the Pharisees were fasting... | Parallel account. |
| Lk 5:33 | And they said to Him, "The disciples of John often fast..." | Parallel account. |
| Isa 58:3 | "Why have we fasted," they say, "and You do not see us?" | False vs. true fasting concern. |
| Isa 58:6-7 | Is not this the fast that I choose: to loose the bonds of wickedness...? | God's chosen fast: justice, mercy. |
| Zech 7:5-6 | "When you fasted and mourned in the fifth and seventh months... was it for Me?" | Self-serving fasting. |
| Joel 2:12 | "Yet even now," declares the LORD, "return to me with all your heart, with fasting..." | Fasting as sincere repentance. |
| Jon 3:5 | The people of Nineveh believed God; they proclaimed a fast... | Corporate fasting for repentance. |
| Dan 9:3 | Then I turned my face to the Lord God, seeking him by prayer and pleas... | Daniel's fasting for wisdom, repentance. |
| Neh 9:1 | On the twenty-fourth day of this month the people of Israel assembled with fasting... | National day of repentance and fasting. |
| Psa 35:13 | But I, when they were sick, I put on sackcloth; I afflicted myself with fasting... | Fasting as personal mourning/intercession. |
| Luke 18:12 | The Pharisee: "I fast twice a week; I give tithes of all that I get." | Pharisaic boasting in outward practices. |
| Matt 6:16-18 | When you fast, do not look gloomy like the hypocrites... | Jesus' teaching on true vs. false fasting. |
| John 3:29 | He who has the bride, is the bridegroom; but the friend of the bridegroom... | John's self-understanding relative to Jesus. |
| Hos 6:6 | For I desire steadfast love and not sacrifice, the knowledge of God rather than... | Quoted by Jesus in Matt 9:13; context for mercy over ritual. |
| 2 Cor 3:6 | He has made us sufficient to be ministers of a new covenant... | New Covenant vs. Old Law. |
| Jer 31:31 | Behold, the days are coming, declares the LORD, when I will make a new covenant... | Prophecy of the New Covenant. |
| Heb 8:13 | In speaking of a new covenant, he makes the first one obsolete. | Old Covenant superseded by New. |
| Rom 14:17 | For the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking but righteousness... | Kingdom of God is spiritual, not ritual. |
| Col 2:16-17 | Therefore let no one pass judgment on you in questions of food and drink or with regard... | Warning against legalism and shadow practices. |
| Acts 13:2 | While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said... | Fasting as an appropriate practice in the NT for specific purposes. |
| Acts 14:23 | And when they had appointed elders for them in every church, with prayer and fasting... | Apostolic practice of fasting for ordination. |
Matthew 9 verses
Matthew 9 14 Meaning
Matthew 9:14 records an encounter between Jesus and the disciples of John the Baptist, who, along with the Pharisees, observed frequent fasting. Their question, "Why do we and the Pharisees fast oft, but thy disciples fast not?" expresses puzzlement and a subtle challenge regarding the apparent lack of ascetic discipline among Jesus' followers. It highlights a clash between established religious practices and the new reality introduced by the presence of Jesus Christ.
Matthew 9 14 Context
This verse occurs directly after Jesus calls Matthew (Levi) and then dines with tax collectors and "sinners" at Matthew's house (Matt 9:9-13). The Pharisees had already openly criticized Jesus for eating with such people (Matt 9:11). Jesus' response in verse 12-13, particularly His quotation of Hosea 6:6, "I desire mercy, not sacrifice," provides the immediate theological backdrop for the fasting question. John's disciples, possibly feeling adrift after John's imprisonment and execution, observe Jesus' disciples lacking traditional ascetic practices that were hallmarks of their own devotion and that of the strict Pharisees. The chapter itself opens with Jesus demonstrating His authority to forgive sins (Matt 9:1-8) and continues with Him performing various miracles, signaling a new era and the arrival of the Messiah, which implicitly challenges existing religious structures and expectations.
Matthew 9 14 Word analysis
- Then came to him: Implies a direct approach and an intention to engage Jesus directly.
- the disciples of John: Refers to followers of John the Baptist. John was known for his austere lifestyle and ascetic practices (Matt 3:4), which included fasting, and his disciples evidently continued these practices even after his ministry was curtailed. They represented a tradition rooted in repentance and preparation for the Messiah.
- saying: Indicates a direct inquiry or complaint.
- Why do we: Highlights their participation in and understanding of fasting as a necessary religious discipline. It reflects an observation of their own piety.
- and the Pharisees: An interesting alliance in the question. Despite John's own criticism of the Pharisees (Matt 3:7), his disciples find common ground with them in terms of outward religious observance, contrasting both groups with Jesus' followers. The Pharisees were known for their rigorous adherence to the Law and traditions, including voluntary fasts, typically twice a week (Mondays and Thursdays), in addition to the annual Day of Atonement.
- fast oft: The Greek word is polla (πολλά), meaning "many things" or "much," implying frequency or extent of their fasting. For John's disciples and the Pharisees, frequent fasting was a marker of devotion and piety.
- but thy disciples: Directly contrasts Jesus' followers with theirs and the Pharisees'.
- fast not?: This is the core observation and the source of their bewilderment. From their traditional perspective, the apparent absence of this vital religious practice suggested a lack of spiritual discipline or adherence to God's will.