Matthew 9:14 — Community Reflections

MATTHEW 9:14 — KING JAMES VERSION 0

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

Then the disciples of John came to him, saying, Why do we and the Pharisees fast, but your disciples do not fast? A different questioner with a related question: John's disciples and the Pharisees both practice regular fasting; Jesus' disciples do not. The question comes from a different place than the Pharisaic objection — John's disciples are genuinely curious rather than accusatory. Their question reflects the real discontinuity between John's movement and Jesus' movement: John's was a movement of preparation and mourning; Jesus' is a movement of fulfillment and celebration.

Church Fathers on Matthew 9:14

When He had replied to them respecting eating and converse with sinners, they next assault Him on the matter of food; 'Then came to him the disciples of John, saying, Why do we and the Pharisees fast often, but thy disciples fast not?'
Gloss (Glossa Ordinaria) · medieval compilation · ap. Anselm

O boastful enquiry and ostentation of fasting much to be blamed, nor can John’s disciples be excused for their taking part with the Pharisees who they knew had been condemned by John, and for bringing a false accusation against Him whom they knew their master had preached.
Jerome · 4th century

What they say come to this, Be it that you do this as Physician of souls, but why do your disciples neglect fasting and approach such tables? And to aug ment the weight of their charge by comparison, they put themselves first, and then the Pharisees. They fasted as they learnt out of the Law, as the Pharisee spoke, 'I fast twice in the week;' [Luke 18:12] the others learnt it of John.
Chrysostom · 4th century

Read all 23 entries in the readerCatena Aurea · St. Thomas Aquinas, tr. J. H. Newman · public domain

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