Matthew 9:14

Matthew 9:14 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)Then came to him the disciples of John, saying, Why do we and the Pharisees fast oft, but thy disciples fast not?
• New International Version (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?”
• English Standard Version (ESV)Then the disciples of John came to him, saying, "Why do we and the Pharisees fast, but your disciples do not fast?"
• New King James Version (NKJV)Then the disciples of John came to Him, saying, “Why do we and the Pharisees fast often, but Your disciples do not fast?”

Context of Matthew 9:14

12But when Jesus heard this, He said, “Those who are healthy have no need for a physician, but [only] those who are sick. 13Go and learn what this [Scripture] means: ‘I desire compassion [for those in distress], and not [animal] sacrifice,’ for I did not come to call [to repentance] the [self-proclaimed] righteous [who see no need to change], but sinners [those who recognize their sin and actively seek forgiveness].” 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?” 15And Jesus replied to them, “Can the guests of the bridegroom mourn while the bridegroom is with them? The days will come when the bridegroom is taken away from them, and then they will fast. 16But no one puts a piece of unshrunk (new) cloth on an old garment; for the patch pulls away from the garment, and a worse tear results.

Matthew 9:14 word by word

Τότε προσέρχονται αὐτῷ οἱ μαθηταὶ Ἰωάννου λέγοντες· διὰ τί ἡμεῖς καὶ οἱ Φαρισαῖοι νηστεύομεν πολλά, οἱ δὲ μαθηταί σου οὐ νηστεύουσιν;¶Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• ·ὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
• Thenτότεtote · thenG5119
• came toπροσέρχομαιproserchomai · to come near/agreeG4334
• himαὐτόςautos · it/s/heG846
• the disciplesμαθητήςmathētēs · discipleG3101
• of JohnἸωάννηςIōannēs · JohnG2491
• sayingλέγωlegō · to sayG3004
• ·διάdia · through/because ofG1223
• Whyτίςtis · which?G5101
• doνηστεύωnēsteuō · to fastG3522
• weἐγώegō · I/weG1473
• andκαίkai · andG2532
• the PhariseesΦαρισαῖοςPharisaios · PhariseeG5330
• oftπολύςpolus polos · muchG4183
• butδέde · thenG1161
• thyσύsu · youG4771
• notοὐou · noG3756

Cross-references for Matthew 9:14

• Matthew 11:2Now when John [the Baptist] in prison heard about the activities of Christ, he sent word by his disciples
• John 3:25Therefore there arose a controversy between John’s disciples and a Jew in regard to purification (ceremonial washing).
• John 4:1So when the Lord learned that the Pharisees had been told that Jesus was making and baptizing more disciples than John
• 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 11:18For John came neither eating nor drinking [with others], and they say, ‘He has a demon!’
• Proverbs 20:6Many a man proclaims his own loyalty and goodness, But who can find a faithful and trustworthy man?
• Mark 2:18Now 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?”
• 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.”
• Luke 18:9He also told this parable to some people who trusted in themselves and were confident that they were righteous [posing outwardly as upright and in right standing with God], and who viewed others with contempt:

Commentaries on Matthew 9:14

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 14Thy disciples fast not? - Probably meaning that they did not fast so frequently as the others did, or for the same purposes, which is very likely, for the Pharisees had many superstitious fasts. They fasted in order to have lucky dreams, to obtain the interpretation of a dream, or to avert the evil import of a dream. They also fasted often, in order to obtain the things they wished for. The tract, Taanith is full of these fasts, and of the wonders…Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 14-17Verses 14-17 Then came the disciples of John … - This narrative is found also in Mark 2:18-22; Luke 5:33-39. The reference here is to John the Baptist. It is probable that they had understood that John was the forerunner of the Messiah; and if such was the case, they could not account for the fact that there was such a difference between them and the disciples of Jesus. The Pharisees fasted often - regularly twice a week besides the great national days of…Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 14-17Verses 14-17 John was at this time in prison; his circumstances, his character, and the nature of the message he was sent to deliver, led those who were peculiarly attached to him, to keep frequent fasts. Christ referred them to John's testimony of him, Joh 3:29. Though there is no doubt that Jesus and his disciples lived in a spare and frugal manner, it would be improper for his disciples to fast while they had the comfort of his presence. When he is…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 14Fast: Fasting was a way to show humility and repentance before God (2 Samuel 12:16–23; Daniel 9:3). It also reminded the nation of their need to repent (Leviticus 16:29–31; Nehemiah 9:1). Some believed fasting would help bring the Messiah more quickly by purifying God’s people. Jesus and his disciples did not fast (Matthew 11:18–19) This was a quiet but clear message: the Messiah had already come (see also 6:16).Read the comment

Topics related to Matthew 9:14

• Capernaum
• Disciple
• Fasting
• Jesus, the Christ
• Pharisees

In the dictionaries

• Bridechamber
• Capernaum
• Cheer
• Comfort
• Daughter
• Disciple
• Eat
• Garment
• Harvest
• Hem

Commentaries on Matthew 9

• 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