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Explanation for:
Matthew
9
:
14
Then came to him the disciples of John, saying: Why do we and the Pharisees fast often, but thy disciples do not fast?
10
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{"arr":[{"author-name":"Jerome of Stridon","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c88dcd3432c6dd41375498_Jerome%20of%20Stridon.png","category":"Holy Fathers and Teachers","century":4,"exegesis-text":"A query infused with arrogance and Pharisaical self-importance. Observe, expressing nothing further, they seemed to take pride in their fasting. The disciples of John, who spoke ill of him, cannot be considered innocent, as they were aware of him through the teachings of their master. However, they allied themselves with the Pharisees, whom they recognized as being denounced by John when he proclaimed: \\"Brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the coming wrath?\\" (Matthew 3:7)."},{"author-name":"John Chrysostom","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c88ea76859f9f8e2ffd3ee_John%20Chrysostom.png","category":"Holy Fathers and Teachers","century":4,"exegesis-text":"When Christ had entirely silenced the Pharisees with compelling evidence from the Scriptures and the natural order, they found themselves unable to refute Him. Since their accusations revealed their own guilt and opposition to the law of the Old Testament, they departed and began to target His disciples instead. Luke records that the Pharisees leveled accusations against them (Luke 5:17), while Matthew attributes this to the disciples of John. It is likely that both groups conspired against Christ's disciples. The Pharisees, seemingly at a loss, allied themselves with John's followers, much like they later did with the Herodians. The disciples of John had often been envious of Christ and opposed Him, only to humble themselves during John's imprisonment; even then, they returned to their previous jealousy. Their question, ‘Why do we and the Pharisees fast often, but Your disciples do not fast?’ reflects this troubling mindset, which Christ had addressed earlier by saying, ‘When you fast, anoint your head, and wash your face’ (Matthew 6:17). The intent behind the question from John’s disciples can be interpreted as: \\"As a healer, how can You allow Your disciples to feast instead of fasting?\\" To amplify their accusation, they exemplified their fasting practices, alongside the Pharisees, hoping to heighten the perceived fault of Jesus’ disciples. They claimed, \\"Both we and the Pharisees fast extensively.\\" Indeed, both groups did fast; John’s disciples were taught by him, while the Pharisees followed the law, just as the Pharisee boasted, ‘I fast twice a week’ (Luke 18:12).\\n\\nThrough these remarks, the Lord illustrates that His purpose was not mere indulgence, but to reveal something extraordinary. In addressing His adversaries, He also anticipates His suffering, instructing and preparing His disciples to brace for the challenging events ahead. Had He disclosed this directly to them, it would have been unsettling and burdensome, potentially causing confusion later. However, when shared with others, the impact was less distressing for them. Considering their probable admiration for the suffering of John, the Lord counters this arrogance with His words. He refrains from mentioning the resurrection at this point, for the time for such revelation had not yet arrived. It was expected for Him to suffer as a man, as perceived, yet rising from the dead transcended natural bounds."},{"author-name":"Hilarius of Poitiers","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c88cb92f12b3278598f946_Hilarius%20of%20Poitiers.png","category":"Holy Fathers and Teachers","century":4,"exegesis-text":"In response to their inquiries, Christ spoke in spiritual terms, unveiling to the disciples of John that He was indeed the Bridegroom. John had indicated that all hope for life resided in Christ, yet his followers could not approach the Lord while he was still preaching. The era of the law and the prophets preceded John, and until the fulfillment of the law, none could partake in the faith of the gospel. Christ’s statement that His disciples need not fast during His presence serves as a testament to the joy found in the presence of the Bridegroom, and highlights the sacred sacrament of spiritual nourishment, in which no one will find themselves wanting as long as they have Christ in their thoughts. However, once He is removed from them, they will fast, as Christ has declared, for those who do not believe in His resurrection will be unable to partake of the bread of life. The essence of the heavenly sustenance lies in faith in Christ’s resurrection, and those who find themselves apart from Him will inevitably thirst for that bread of life."},{"author-name":"Peter Chrysologus","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c896c8505740d15218d3ed_Peter%20Chrysologus.png","category":"Christian Authors","century":5,"exegesis-text":"What common ground existed between the followers of John and the Pharisees? Perhaps it was jealousy that bonded those who were at odds in their teachings. In this scenario, jealousy takes on a different meaning; it brings together, even though it typically divides. The Jewish people could not place Moses beneath Christ, just as John's followers were unwilling to elevate Christ above John. Therefore, both groups harbored a deep jealousy towards Christ. They questioned, \\"Why do we and the Pharisees fast, but your disciples do not fast?\\" The answer lies in the fact that their fasting was rooted in obligation rather than genuine desire. Fasting does not pertain to the one who observes it, but rather to the one who enforces the fast. And what value does fasting hold if it is done begrudgingly?"},{"author-name":"Theophylact of Bulgaria","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c8989296bafed9104677d7_Theophylact%20of%20Bulgaria.png","category":"Holy Fathers and Teachers","century":11,"exegesis-text":"The disciples of John, envious of the splendor of Christ, criticized Him for not practicing fasting. They may have questioned how He could conquer desires without such an acts, which John was unable to achieve. Their misunderstanding stemmed from the lack of recognition that John was merely human and attained righteousness through virtuous actions, whereas Christ, being God, embodies virtue itself."},{"author-name":"Euthymios Zigabenos","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c96d263b8c22d9c467bdab_no-pic-theosis.png","category":"Christian Authors","century":11,"exegesis-text":"In the accounts of Mark (Mark 2:18) and Luke (Luke 5:33), it is noted that the scribes and Pharisees articulated these sentiments, indicating that they originated the remarks and subsequently provoked the disciples of John the Baptist, seemingly out of envy for the followers of Christ. Having silenced their criticisms, Christ’s adversaries redirected their animosity towards His disciples, accusing them with the insinuation, If you, as a healer, engage in these actions, why do you not instruct your disciples to fast and refrain from indulgence? They first extol their own virtues, boasting of their frequent fasting (some influenced by John, while others adhered to the law), only to then reproach His followers. Observe how Christ, in His humility, chose not to confront these arrogant individuals directly but instead gently defended Himself through a parable."},{"author-name":"Abbot Panteleimon about the Trinity","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c96d263b8c22d9c467bdab_no-pic-theosis.png","category":"Christian Authors","century":19,"exegesis-text":"When the Lord silenced the Pharisees, who criticized Him for associating with tax collectors and sinners, John's disciples approached Him. According to St. Chrysostom, these disciples were envious of Christ, feeling a rivalry with the honor brought by their teacher John, and only humbled themselves when John was imprisoned. John was known for his rigorous fasting, and he instructed his followers in the practice of strict abstinence. They had listened to John's prophesies about the arrival of the Messiah, which led them to question why the Messiah, as proclaimed by John, neither fasted nor required his disciples to fast. Blessed Theophylact notes that they were likely confused about how one could triumph over sinful desires without the discipline of asceticism, which John maintained. They may have overlooked the fact that John, a mere man, attained righteousness through his dedication, while Christ, being divine, embodies all virtue.\\n\\nMoreover, the disciples of John might have been puzzled as to why the followers of Jesus did not join in their fasting, particularly as an expression of sorrow for the imprisonment of John, who had even baptized their Lord. The holy Evangelist Luke indicates that the disciples of Christ faced accusations from the Pharisees, and as Chrysostom suggests, it is conceivable that the Pharisees, unable to find a solution, included the disciples of John in their inquiry against Jesus, similar to how they later allied with the Herodians. However, it raises the question of how John's disciples, who had openly condemned the Pharisees, came to collaborate with such hypocrites in questioning the Lord.\\n\\nIt is plausible that those among John's followers did not grasp the core message of their teacher's admonitions on fasting, and the Pharisees were eager to recruit anyone to join them in their effort to mock Jesus, alleging that neither He nor His followers adhered to the same standards of temperance as others. So, perhaps the disciples of John, hesitant to approach Christ directly with the query, “Why do You not fast?” instead directed their remarks towards the Lord’s followers, asking, “Why do we and the Pharisees fast often, but Your disciples do not fast? You, as a healer, may choose to do so, but why do Your disciples, having abandoned fasting, engage in such feasts?” This is a concern that Christ had addressed previously when He instructed, “When you fast, anoint your head and wash your face” (Matthew 6:17). This flaw, which He identified, is vanity, which undermines the value of good deeds in the sight of God. Even the proud Pharisee fell into this trap, as he boasted, “I fast twice a week” (Luke 18:12)."},{"author-name":"Michail (Lusin)","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c89550c567e172d15b3055_Michail%20(Lusin).png","category":"Christian Authors","century":19,"exegesis-text":"The followers of John, referring specifically to John the Baptist, questioned why they, along with the Pharisees, engaged in frequent fasting. The Pharisees were known to fast regularly, sometimes twice a week, in addition to the established national fasts, as noted in Luke 18:12. John himself adhered to rigorous fasting practices and instilled this discipline in his disciples. They were likely aware from John's own declarations that he served as the precursor to the Messiah, yet they struggled to understand why the disciples of the Messiah did not partake in fasting, or why the Messiah allowed them to abstain from this practice. At that point, it is likely that John was already imprisoned by Herod, as referenced in Matthew 4:12; thus, his disciples may have felt an even stronger urge to fast as a means of expressing their sorrow. They might have been perplexed as to why the followers of Jesus did not join them in their acts of mourning for the imprisonment of their revered teacher, who had even baptized their Lord. The Lord addressed their inquiry by offering three parables or illustrations."},{"author-name":"Gladkow B.I.","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c88bf0ceef8c96e09a6521_Gladkow%20B.I..png","category":"Christian Authors","century":19,"exegesis-text":"After their initial attempts failed, the Pharisees turned their criticism toward the disciples of Jesus, chastising them for their lack of fasting. The inquiry posed by the disciples of John regarding why Jesus' followers did not engage in fasting led to various accounts. In the Gospel of Luke, it is the Pharisees and scribes who express this criticism (Luke 5:33), whereas Matthew and Mark attribute it to the disciples of John and, in Mark’s case, also to the Pharisees (Mark 2:18). It is likely that both groups, the Pharisees and the disciples of John the Baptist, were present. John was known for his strict adherence to fasting and had instilled this practice in his followers. Conversely, the disciples of Jesus did not observe fasting rituals. The disciples of John were envious of the growing renown of Jesus; they still regarded their own teacher as being superior, which bred a sense of hostility toward Jesus. Consequently, it was easy for the Pharisees to direct the attention of John's followers to the absence of fasting among Jesus and his disciples. This observation sparked discussions on fasting, likely initiated by the Pharisees and echoed by John's disciples, leading to repeated questions about the topic. This explanation helps to resolve the apparent inconsistencies among the Gospel accounts. Matthew and Peter—whose words informed Mark's writing—focused more on the concern of John's disciples and thus omitted the Pharisees' comments, while Luke, drawing from diverse eyewitness accounts, reported solely on the Pharisaical query, which continued their earlier line of questioning."},{"author-name":"Paul Matwejewski","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c8969f5be0d592d5a10576_Paul%20Matwejewski.png","category":"Christian Authors","century":19,"exegesis-text":"Certain disciples of John and members of the Pharisee group inquired of Jesus, “Why is it that His disciples do not practice fasting?” In His response, the Lord employed three analogies that resonated with the cultural understanding of His listeners. \\n\\nFor the first illustration, He referred to the bridegroom, symbolizing Himself as one who is ‘uniting with a new community (i.e., the Church) in place of the former synagogue that had perished’ (Bl. Theophylact). This is the very title given to the Lord by both Himself and His predecessor John (John 3:29). “Can the companions of the bridegroom,” He asked, “mourn and fast while the bridegroom is present with them? But there will come days when the bridegroom will be taken away from them; then they will fast in those days.” He characterized His disciples as the companions of the bridegroom—faithful friends and participants in the celebration. There will come a time of His suffering and ascension, during which they, facing persecution, will experience hunger and thirst and engage in fasting."}]}
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