Matthew 9:14
New International Version
Then John’s disciples came and asked him, “How is it that we and the Pharisees fast often, but your disciples do not fast?”

New Living Translation
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?”

English Standard Version
Then the disciples of John came to him, saying, “Why do we and the Pharisees fast, but your disciples do not fast?”

Berean Standard Bible
At that time John’s disciples came to Jesus and asked, “Why is it that we and the Pharisees fast so often, but Your disciples do not fast?”

Berean Literal Bible
Then the disciples of John come to Him saying, "Why do we and the Pharisees often fast, but Your disciples do not fast?"

King James Bible
Then came to him the disciples of John, saying, Why do we and the Pharisees fast oft, but thy disciples fast not?

New King James Version
Then the disciples of John came to Him, saying, “Why do we and the Pharisees fast often, but Your disciples do not fast?”

New American Standard Bible
Then the disciples of John came to Him, asking, “Why do we and the Pharisees fast, but Your disciples do not fast?”

NASB 1995
Then the disciples of John came to Him, asking, “Why do we and the Pharisees fast, but Your disciples do not fast?”

NASB 1977
Then the disciples of John came to Him, saying, “Why do we and the Pharisees fast, but Your disciples do not fast?”

Legacy Standard Bible
Then the disciples of John came to Him, asking, “Why do we and the Pharisees fast, but Your disciples do not fast?”

Amplified Bible
Then the disciples of John [the Baptist] came to Jesus, asking, “Why do we and the Pharisees often fast [as a religious exercise], but Your disciples do not fast?”

Christian Standard Bible
Then John’s disciples came to him, saying, “Why do we and the Pharisees fast often, but your disciples do not fast? ”

Holman Christian Standard Bible
Then John’s disciples came to Him, saying, “Why do we and the Pharisees fast often, but Your disciples do not fast?”

American Standard Version
Then come to him the disciples of John, saying, Why do we and the Pharisees fast oft, but thy disciples fast not?

Aramaic Bible in Plain English
Then the disciples of Yohannan approached him, and they were saying, “Why are we and the Pharisees fasting much, and your disciples are not fasting?”

Contemporary English Version
Some followers of John the Baptist came and asked Jesus, "Why do we and the Pharisees often go without eating, while your disciples never do?"

Douay-Rheims Bible
Then came to him the disciples of John, saying: Why do we and the Pharisees fast often, but thy disciples do not fast?

English Revised Version
Then come to him the disciples of John, saying, Why do we and the Pharisees fast oft, but thy disciples fast not?

GOD'S WORD® Translation
Then John's disciples came to Jesus. They said, "Why do we and the Pharisees fast often but your disciples never do?"

Good News Translation
Then the followers of John the Baptist came to Jesus, asking, "Why is it that we and the Pharisees fast often, but your disciples don't fast at all?"

International Standard Version
Then John's disciples came to Jesus and asked, "Why do we and the Pharisees fast often, but your disciples don't fast?"

Literal Standard Version
Then the disciples of John come to Him, saying, “Why do we and the Pharisees fast much, and Your disciples do not fast?”

Majority Standard Bible
At that time John’s disciples came to Jesus and asked, “Why is it that we and the Pharisees fast so often, but Your disciples do not fast?”

New American Bible
Then the disciples of John approached him and said, “Why do we and the Pharisees fast [much], but your disciples do not fast?”

NET Bible
Then John's disciples came to Jesus and asked, "Why do we and the Pharisees fast often, but your disciples don't fast?"

New Revised Standard Version
Then the disciples of John came to him, saying, “Why do we and the Pharisees fast often, but your disciples do not fast?”

New Heart English Bible
Then John's disciples came to him, saying, "Why do we and the Pharisees fast often, but your disciples do not fast?"

Webster's Bible Translation
Then came to him the disciples of John, saying, Why do we and the Pharisees fast often, but thy disciples fast not?

Weymouth New Testament
At that time John's disciples came and asked Jesus, "Why do we and the Pharisees fast, but your disciples do not?"

World English Bible
Then John’s disciples came to him, saying, “Why do we and the Pharisees fast often, but your disciples don’t fast?”

Young's Literal Translation
Then come to him do the disciples of John, saying, 'Wherefore do we and the Pharisees fast much, and thy disciples fast not?'

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Questions about Fasting
13But go and learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy, not sacrifice.’ For I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.” 14At that time John’s disciples came to Jesus and asked, “Why is it that we and the Pharisees fast so often, but Your disciples do not fast?” 15Jesus replied, “How can the guests of the bridegroom mourn while He is with them? But the time will come when the bridegroom will be taken from them; then they will fast.…

Cross References
Matthew 9:15
Jesus replied, "How can the guests of the bridegroom mourn while He is with them? But the time will come when the bridegroom will be taken from them; then they will fast.

Mark 2:18
Now John's disciples and the Pharisees were often fasting. So people came to Jesus and asked, "Why don't Your disciples fast like John's disciples and those of the Pharisees?"

Luke 5:33
Then they said to Him, "John's disciples and those of the Pharisees frequently fast and pray, but Yours keep on eating and drinking."

Luke 18:12
I fast twice a week and pay tithes of all that I acquire.'


Treasury of Scripture

Then came to him the disciples of John, saying, Why do we and the Pharisees fast oft, but your disciples fast not?

the disciples.

Matthew 11:2
Now when John had heard in the prison the works of Christ, he sent two of his disciples,

John 3:25
Then there arose a question between some of John's disciples and the Jews about purifying.

John 4:1
When therefore the Lord knew how the Pharisees had heard that Jesus made and baptized more disciples than John,

Why.

Matthew 6:16
Moreover when ye fast, be not, as the hypocrites, of a sad countenance: for they disfigure their faces, that they may appear unto men to fast. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward.

Matthew 11:18,19
For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they say, He hath a devil…

Proverbs 20:6
Most men will proclaim every one his own goodness: but a faithful man who can find?

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Disciples Fast Food Frequently Jesus John John's Oft Often Pharisees Time Wherefore
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Disciples Fast Food Frequently Jesus John John's Oft Often Pharisees Time Wherefore
Matthew 9
1. Jesus heals a paralytic
9. calls Matthew from the receipt of custom;
10. eats with tax collectors and sinners;
14. defends his disciples for not fasting;
20. cures the sick woman;
23. raises Jairus' daughter from death;
27. gives sight to two blind men;
32. heals a mute man possessed of a demon;
36. and has compassion on the multitude.














(14) The disciples of John.--The passage is interesting as showing (1) that the followers of the Baptist continued during our Lord's ministry to form a separate body (as in Matthew 11:2; Matthew 14:12); and (2) that they obeyed rules which he had given them, more or less after the pattern of those of the Pharisees. They had their own days of fasting (the context makes it probable that the feast in Matthew's house was held on one of them), their own forms of prayer (Luke 11:1). They, it would seem, acting with the Pharisees, and perhaps influenced by them, were perplexed at conduct so unlike that of the master they revered, and came therefore with their question. But they were, at least, not hypocrites, and they are answered therefore without the sternness which had marked the reply to their companions.

Verses 14-17. - Christ's care for the free-dora of his disciples from ceremonial bondage. He teaches that the standpoint of the Baptist was preparatory (ch. 3.), and was not intended to be a permanent resting-place. Observe that of the three accounts St. Matthew's points out the most clearly that the objection originated with the disciples of John the Baptist. Perhaps St. Matthew found these possessing special influence in the part for which his Gospel was primarily intended. So also St. John thought it desirable to recall the teaching of the Master, that while he himself was the Bridegroom, the Baptist was only subordinate (John 3:29). On the survival of the teaching of John the Baptist, and the greater importance of its professed adherents during the apostolic age than is usually supposed, vide Bishop Lightfoot, 'Colossians,' p. 163, edit. 1875. Verse 14. - Then (τότε). In this case the close chronological connexion with the preceding incident is confirmed by the parallel passages (especially Luke). Came (come, Revised Version) to him. They move forward among the crowd, and draw near to him (προσέρχονται αὐτῷ). The disciples of John (vide supra), saying, Why (cf. ver. 11) do we and the Pharisees fast? (cf. Matthew 6:16, note, Schurer, II. 2. p. 118). Oft (πολλά); Textus Receptus, and Westcott and Hort margin, with all the versions and the great mass of the authorities. Yet probably to be omitted, with Westcott and Host, on the evidence of the Vatican manuscript, and the original hand of the Sinaitic. It may have arisen from a gloss on the πυκνά of Luke. But thy disciples fast not. The feast given by St. Matthew was evidently at the time of some fast observed by the stricter Jews.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Greek
At that time,
Τότε (Tote)
Adverb
Strong's 5119: Then, at that time. From ho and hote; the when, i.e. At the time that.

John’s
Ἰωάννου (Iōannou)
Noun - Genitive Masculine Singular
Strong's 2491: Of Hebrew origin; Joannes, the name of four Israelites.

disciples
μαθηταὶ (mathētai)
Noun - Nominative Masculine Plural
Strong's 3101: A learner, disciple, pupil. From manthano; a learner, i.e. Pupil.

came
προσέρχονται (proserchontai)
Verb - Present Indicative Middle or Passive - 3rd Person Plural
Strong's 4334: From pros and erchomai; to approach, i.e. come near, visit, or worship, assent to.

to [Jesus]
αὐτῷ (autō)
Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Dative Masculine 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 846: He, she, it, they, them, same. From the particle au; the reflexive pronoun self, used of the third person, and of the other persons.

[and] asked,
λέγοντες (legontes)
Verb - Present Participle Active - Nominative Masculine Plural
Strong's 3004: (a) I say, speak; I mean, mention, tell, (b) I call, name, especially in the pass., (c) I tell, command.

“Why is it that
Διὰ (Dia)
Preposition
Strong's 1223: A primary preposition denoting the channel of an act; through.

we
ἡμεῖς (hēmeis)
Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Nominative 1st Person Plural
Strong's 1473: I, the first-person pronoun. A primary pronoun of the first person I.

and
καὶ (kai)
Conjunction
Strong's 2532: And, even, also, namely.

the
οἱ (hoi)
Article - Nominative Masculine Plural
Strong's 3588: The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.

Pharisees
Φαρισαῖοι (Pharisaioi)
Noun - Nominative Masculine Plural
Strong's 5330: Of Hebrew origin; a separatist, i.e. Exclusively religious; a Pharisean, i.e. Jewish sectary.

fast
νηστεύομεν (nēsteuomen)
Verb - Present Indicative Active - 1st Person Plural
Strong's 3522: To fast, abstain from food. From nestis; to abstain from food.

so often,
πολλά (polla)
Adjective - Accusative Neuter Plural
Strong's 4183: Much, many; often.

but
δὲ (de)
Conjunction
Strong's 1161: A primary particle; but, and, etc.

Your
σου (sou)
Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive 2nd Person Singular
Strong's 4771: You. The person pronoun of the second person singular; thou.

disciples
μαθηταί (mathētai)
Noun - Nominative Masculine Plural
Strong's 3101: A learner, disciple, pupil. From manthano; a learner, i.e. Pupil.

{do} not
οὐ (ou)
Adverb
Strong's 3756: No, not. Also ouk, and ouch a primary word; the absolute negative adverb; no or not.

fast?”
νηστεύουσιν (nēsteuousin)
Verb - Present Indicative Active - 3rd Person Plural
Strong's 3522: To fast, abstain from food. From nestis; to abstain from food.


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NT Gospels: Matthew 9:14 Then John's disciples came to him saying (Matt. Mat Mt)
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