SEV Biblia, Chapter 2:18
¶ Y los discípulos de Juan, y de los fariseos ayunaban; y vienen, y le dicen: ¿Por qu los discípulos de Juan y los de los fariseos ayunan, y tus discípulos no ayunan?
Clarke's Bible Commentary - Mark 2:18
Verse 18. Why do the disciples of John and of the Pharisees fast] See this largely explained on Matt. ix. 14, &c. The following vices are very common to Pharisees. 1. They are more busied in censuring the conduct of others than in rectifying their own.
2. They desire that every one should regulate his piety by theirs; and embrace their particular customs and forms of devotion.
3. They speak of and compare themselves with other people, only that they may have an opportunity of distinguishing and exalting themselves.
On the nature, times, and duration of fasting, see Matt. vi. 16; ix. 15.
John Gill's Bible Commentary
Ver. 18. And the disciples of John and of the Pharisees used to fast , etc..] Or were fasting; perhaps that very day, and so were the more displeased at this entertainment, Matthew had made for Christ and his disciples, and at their being at it; or fasting was usual with them: they fasted often, both John's disciples, and the disciples of the Pharisees, or the Pharisees themselves; so the Vulgate Latin reads: of their frequent fasting, (see Gill on Matthew 9:14), and they came : both the disciples of John, ( Matthew 9:14), and the Scribes and Pharisees, ( Luke 5:30,33), and say unto him, why do the disciples of John and of the Pharisees fast, but thy disciples fast not ? (see Gill on Matthew 9:14).
Matthew Henry Commentary
Verses 18-22 - Strict professors are apt to blame all that do not fully come up to their own views. Christ did not escape slanders; we should be willin to bear them, as well as careful not to deserve them; but should atten to every part of our duty in its proper order and season.
Greek Textus Receptus
και 2532 CONJ ησαν 2258 5713 V-IXI-3P οι 3588 T-NPM μαθηται 3101 N-NPM ιωαννου 2491 N-GSM και 2532 CONJ οι 3588 T-NPM των 3588 T-GPM φαρισαιων 5330 N-GPM νηστευοντες 3522 5723 V-PAP-NPM και 2532 CONJ ερχονται 2064 5736 V-PNI-3P και 2532 CONJ λεγουσιν 3004 5719 V-PAI-3P αυτω 846 P-DSM δια 1223 PREP τι 5101 I-ASN οι 3588 T-NPM μαθηται 3101 N-NPM ιωαννου 2491 N-GSM και 2532 CONJ οι 3588 T-NPM των 3588 T-GPM φαρισαιων 5330 N-GPM νηστευουσιν 3522 5719 V-PAI-3P οι 3588 T-NPM δε 1161 CONJ σοι 4674 S-2NPM μαθηται 3101 N-NPM ου 3756 PRT-N νηστευουσιν 3522 5719 V-PAI-3P
Vincent's NT Word Studies
18. And of the Pharisees. But the of is wrong. Read as Rev., John's disciples and the Pharisees. Used to fast (hsan nhsteuontev). The A.V. refers to the fact as a custom; but Mark means that they were observing a fast at that time. Hence the use of the participle with the finite verb. Rev., correctly, were fasting. The threefold repetition of the word fast is characteristic of Mark. See Introduction.
Robertson's NT Word Studies
2:18 {John's disciples and the Pharisees were fasting} (esan hoi maqetai iwanou kai hoi farisaioi nesteuontes). The periphrastic imperfect, so common in Mark's vivid description. Probably Levi's feast happened on one of the weekly fast-days (second and fifth days of the week for the stricter Jews). So there was a clash of standpoints. The disciples of John sided with the Pharisees in the Jewish ceremonial ritualistic observances. John was still a prisoner in Machaerus. John was more of an ascetic than Jesus (#Mt 18f.; Lu 7:33-35), but neither one pleased all the popular critics. These learners (maqetai) or disciples of John had missed the spirit of their leader when they here lined up with the Pharisees against Jesus. But there was no real congeniality between the formalism of the Pharisees and the asceticism of John the Baptist. The Pharisees hated John who had denounced them as broods of vipers. Here the disciples of John and the disciples of the Pharisees (hoi maqetai iwanou kai hoi maqetai twn farisaiwn) join in criticizing Jesus and his disciples. Later we shall see Pharisees, Sadducees, and Herodians, who bitterly detested each other, making com- mon cause against Jesus Christ. So today we find various hostile groups combining against our Lord and Savior. See on Mt 9:14-17 for comments. Matthew has here followed Mark closely.
