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Mark 2:18

John
Fasting

16 When the scribes who were Pharisees saw Jesus eating with these people, they asked His disciples, “Why does He eat with tax collectors and sinners?”

17 On hearing this, Jesus told them, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.”

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?”

19 Jesus replied, “How can the guests of the bridegroom fast while He is with them? As long as He is with them, they cannot fast.

20 But the time will come when the bridegroom will be taken from them; then they will fast.

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Here the Bible tells a story about someone else. Ask yourself what it can say to us today. Do read the surrounding verses too, because the context often says more than a single verse.

Compare

BSB
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?”
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?
WEB
John’s disciples and the Pharisees were fasting, and they came and asked him, “Why do John’s disciples and the disciples of the Pharisees fast, but your disciples don’t fast?”
ASV
And John`s disciples and the Pharisees were fasting: and they come and say unto him, Why do John`s disciples and the disciples of the Pharisees fast, but thy disciples fast not?
DARBY
And the disciples of John and the Pharisees were fasting; and they come and say to him, Why do the disciples of John and [the disciples] of the Pharisees fast, but thy disciples fast not?
BLB
And the disciples of John and the Pharisees were fasting. And they come and say to Him, “Why do the disciples of John and the disciples of the Pharisees fast, but Your⁺ disciples do not fast?”
ÅB
Og Johannes' og fariseernes disipler holdt faste, og de kom og sa til ham: Hvorfor faster Johannes' disipler og fariseernes disipler, men dine disipler faster ikke?
OTB
Nå fastet Johannes' disipler og fariseerne. Noen mennesker kom og spurte Jesus: "Hvorfor faster Johannes' disipler og fariseernes disipler, men dine disipler gjør det ikke?"
B1930
Og Johannes' og fariseernes disipler holdt faste, og de kom og sa til ham: Hvorfor faster Johannes' disipler og fariseernes disipler, men dine disipler faster ikke?

Study notes (Tyndale)

Original text and word study

Cross references

  • Luke 18:12

    I fast twice a week and pay tithes of all that I acquire.’

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  • Matthew 6:18

    so that your fasting will not be obvious to men, but only to your Father, who is unseen. And your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.

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  • Matthew 9:14–17

    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?”

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  • Matthew 6:16

    When you fast, do not be somber like the hypocrites, for they disfigure their faces to show men they are fasting. Truly I tell you, they already have their full reward.

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  • Luke 5:33–39

    Then they said to Him, “John’s disciples and those of the Pharisees frequently fast and pray, but Yours keep on eating and drinking.”

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  • Romans 10:3

    Because they were ignorant of God’s righteousness and sought to establish their own, they did not submit to God’s righteousness.

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  • Matthew 23:5

    All their deeds are done for men to see. They broaden their phylacteries and lengthen their tassels.

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