Mark 2:18

Mark 2:18 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)And the disciples of John and of the Pharisees used to fast: and they come and say unto him, Why do the disciples of John and of the Pharisees fast, but thy disciples fast not?
• New International Version (NIV)Now John’s disciples and the Pharisees were fasting. Some people came and asked Jesus, “How is it that John’s disciples and the disciples of the Pharisees are fasting, but yours are not?”
• English Standard Version (ESV)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?"
• New King James Version (NKJV)The disciples of John and of the Pharisees were fasting. Then they came and said to Him, “Why do the disciples of John and of the Pharisees fast, but Your disciples do not fast?”

Context of Mark 2:18

16When the scribes [belonging to the sect] of the Pharisees saw that Jesus was eating with the sinners [including non-observant Jews] and tax collectors, they asked His disciples, “Why does He eat and drink with tax collectors and sinners?” 17When Jesus heard this, He said to them, “Those who are healthy have no need of a physician, but [only] those who are sick; I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners [who recognize their sin and humbly seek forgiveness].” Now John’s disciples and the Pharisees were fasting [as a ritual]; and they came and asked Jesus, “Why are John’s disciples and the disciples of the Pharisees fasting, but Your disciples are not doing so?” 19Jesus answered, “The attendants of the bridegroom cannot fast while the bridegroom is [still] with them, can they? As long as they have the bridegroom with them, they cannot fast. 20But the days will come when the bridegroom is [forcefully] taken away from them, and they will fast at that time.

Mark 2:18 word by word

Καὶ ἦσαν οἱ μαθηταὶ Ἰωάννου καὶ οἱ Φαρισαῖοι νηστεύοντες καὶ ἔρχονται καὶ λέγουσιν αὐτῷ· διὰ τί οἱ μαθηταὶ Ἰωάννου καὶ οἱ μαθηταὶ τῶν Φαρισαίων νηστεύουσιν, οἱ δὲ σοὶ μαθηταὶ οὐ νηστεύουσιν;¶Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• ·ὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
• Andκαίkai · andG2532
• the disciplesμαθητήςmathētēs · discipleG3101
• of JohnἸωάννηςIōannēs · JohnG2491
• of the PhariseesΦαρισαῖοςPharisaios · PhariseeG5330
• usedεἰμίeimi · to beG1510
• to fastνηστεύωnēsteuō · to fastG3522
• they comeἔρχομαιerchomai · to come/goG2064
• sayλέγωlegō · to sayG3004
• unto himαὐτόςautos · it/s/heG846
• Whyδιάdia · through/because ofG1223
• Whyτίςtis · which?G5101
• butδέde · thenG1161
• thyσόςsos · yourG4674
• notοὐou · noG3756

Cross-references for Mark 2:18

• Matthew 9:14Then 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?”
• Luke 5:33Then they said to Him, “The disciples of John [the Baptist] often practice fasting and offer prayers [of special petition], and so do the disciples of the Pharisees; but Yours eat and drink.”
• Matthew 6:16“And whenever you are fasting, do not look gloomy like the hypocrites, for they put on a sad and dismal face [like actors, discoloring their faces with ashes or dirt] so that their fasting may be seen by men. I assure you and most solemnly say to you, they [already] have their reward in full.
• Matthew 23:5They do all their deeds to be seen by men; for they make their phylacteries (tefillin) wide [to make them more conspicuous] and make their tassels long.
• Luke 18:12I fast twice a week; I pay tithes of all that I get.’
• Romans 10:3For not knowing about God’s righteousness [which is based on faith], and seeking to establish their own [righteousness based on works], they did not submit to God’s righteousness.

Commentaries on Mark 2:18

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 18Why do the disciples of John and of the Pharisees fast - See this largely explained on Matthew 9:14; (note), etc. The following vices are very common to Pharisees. They are more busied in censuring the conduct of others than in rectifying their own. They desire that every one should regulate his piety by theirs; and embrace their particular customs and forms of devotion. They speak of and compare themselves with other people, only that they may have an…Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 18And the disciples of John and of the Pharisees used to fast - Were accustomed often to fast. Compare Luke 5:33; Luke 18:12. And they come and say - The disciples of John come, Matthew 9:4.Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 18-22Verses 18-22 Strict professors are apt to blame all that do not fully come up to their own views. Christ did not escape slanders; we should be willing to bear them, as well as careful not to deserve them; but should attend to every part of our duty in its proper order and season.Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 18-22This controversy deals with fasting, which Jesus did not practice with his disciples. The Pharisees regularly fasted two days a week, on Mondays and Thursdays (Luke 18:12). Jews often fasted when mourning or specially seeking the Lord's favor (Leviticus 16:29–31; 1 Samuel 31:13; 2 Samuel 1:12; 12:21–23; Ezra 8:23; Esther 4:3; Matthew 6:16).Read the comment

Topics related to Mark 2:18

• Fasting
• Jesus, the Christ

In the dictionaries

• Blaspheme
• Blasphemy
• Press
• Abstinence
• Disciple
• Feasts and Fasts
• Joy
• Mark, the Gospel According to
• Salvation
• Washing of Feet

Commentaries on Mark 2

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
• Tyndale Open Study Notes
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
• Calvin’s Commentaries
• John Wesley’s Notes
• Catena Aurea
• Illustrated New Testament
• Burkitt’s Expository Notes
• Darby Translation Notes
• Family Bible Notes
• Geneva Bible Translation Notes
• Kingcomments
• John Lightfoot Commentary
• Luther’s Commentary on Selected Bible Passages
• Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
• Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
• The People’s New Testament
• Robertson’s Word Pictures
• Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
• The Fourfold Gospel and Commentary on Acts
• Original Douay–Rheims Annotations
• Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
• EGW Writings