New King James Version
Matthew 9:14
14Then 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 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 Living Translation (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?”
Context of Matthew 9:14
12When Jesus heard that, He said to them, “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. 13But go and learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy and not sacrifice.’ For I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners, to repentance.” Then the disciples of John came to Him, saying, “Why do we and the Pharisees fast often, but Your disciples do not fast?” 15And Jesus said to them, “Can the friends of the bridegroom mourn as long as the bridegroom is with them? But the days will come when the bridegroom will be taken away from them, and then they will fast. 16No one puts a piece of unshrunk cloth on an old garment; for the patch pulls away from the garment, and the tear is made worse.
Read all of Matthew 9Matthew 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 11:2And when John had heard in prison about the works of Christ, he sent two of his disciples
- John 3:25Then there arose a dispute between some of John’s disciples and the Jews about purification.
- John 4:1Therefore, when the Lord knew that the Pharisees had heard that Jesus made and baptized more disciples than John
- Matthew 6:16“Moreover, when you fast, do not be like the hypocrites, with a sad countenance. For they disfigure their faces that they may appear to men to be fasting. Assuredly, I say to you, they have their reward.
- Matthew 11:18For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they say, ‘He has a demon.’
- Proverbs 20:6Most men will proclaim each his own goodness, But who can find a faithful man?
- Mark 2:18The 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?”
- Luke 5:33Then they said to Him, “Why do the disciples of John fast often and make prayers, and likewise those of the Pharisees, but Yours eat and drink?”
- Luke 18:9Also He spoke this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and despised others:
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
In the dictionaries
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
New King James Version — © 1982 Thomas Nelson, Inc
Commentaries