Verse 14-15

Jesus Questioned About Fasting (Mark 2:18-22- Luke 5:33-39)

Verse 14: “Then came to him the disciples of John, and said: Why do we and the Pharisees fast much and thy disciples fast not? “
Then the disciples of John came to Him, saying, "Why do we and the Pharisees fast often, but Your disciples do not fast?"

Who asked Lord this question?:

· As per the Gospel of St. Matthew it was "disciples of John” who approached Lord 
· But as per St. Mark - Disciples of John and Pharisees
· St. Luke "the scribes and Pharisees” ( Luke 5:33)
Maybe all of them could be there.

In this chapter the third allegation is raised. The disciples of John and Pharisees are fasting. His disciples are not!

"We and Pharisees" 
John called Pharisees "sons of serpent" ( Mat 3:7). We don’t know how John's disciples and Pharisees came together. It is probable that Pharisees made some of the disciples of John their associates for making their case.

The Gospel of Luke says those people are always "Ameeno-Is" ( fasting). From the prayer of Pharisees, we can see that they were fasting for two days a week (Luke 18:12). From this, we should not infer that Lord’s disciples did not fast at all. Since our Lord fasted for 40 days and importance of fasting was taught at the Sermon on the Mount, wouldn't His disciples fast? Apparently the disciples did not fast like Pharisees. Our Lord, who changed many other things, may have made a change in fasting days, too.

Verse 15: “’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.’” (KJV)

Lord did not try to argue, but tried to convince the point that His teaching is new and it can’t be mixed with old teachings. He taught with two examples: 1) A piece of new cloth and an old garment 2) New wine and old skin bags (old wineskins). 

"So long as the bridegroom is with them": The word "bridegroom" is used by John the Baptist to describe Lord (John 3:29). According the Jewish custom, when the bridegroom is nearby, it is a celebration time from his close friends. During those one week time, they do not fast either. Here our Lord is revealing his impending death by the usage “when the bridegroom will be taken away from them”. 

“Acts” testify to the fact that after our Lord’s ascension , everything they did was with prayers and fasting. Lord’s church ( Matthew 16:16-18) gives prime importance to fasting even today.