Mark 2 · Verse 18

Mark 2:18

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?
Mark 2:18, King James Version

Mark 2:18 in other translations

BSBNow 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?”
WEBJohn’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?”
ASVAnd 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?
YLTAnd the disciples of John and those of the Pharisees were fasting, and they come and say to him, ‘Wherefore do the disciples of John and those of the Pharisees fast, and thy disciples do not fast?'
DARBYAnd 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?
BBEAnd John's disciples and the Pharisees were taking no food: and they came and said to him, Why do John's disciples and the disciples of the Pharisees go without food, but your disciples do not?
WebsterAnd the disciples of John, and of the Pharisees, used to fast: and they come, and say to him, Why do the disciples of John, and of the Pharisees fast, but thy disciples fast not?

What does Mark 2:18 mean?

Barnes' Notes
Verse 18. And the disciples of John and of the Pharisees used to fast. Were accustomed often to fast. Compare Lk 5:33, 18:12.

Albert Barnes, 1834 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 18 Why do the disciples of John and of the Pharisees fast - See this largely explained on Mat 9:14 (note), etc. 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 Mat 6:16; Mat 9:15.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Mark 2:18-22
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 willing to bear them, as well as careful not to deserve them; but should attend to every part of our duty in its proper order and season.

Matthew Henry, 1706 · public domain

Mark 2:18 in the original Greek

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

ΚαὶKaiAndG2532
ἦσανēsanwereG1510
οἱhoitheG3588
μαθηταὶmathētaidisciplesG3101
ἸωάννουIōannouof JohnG2491
καὶkaiandG2532
οἱhoitheG3588
τῶνtōnof theG3588
ΦαρισαῖοιPharisaioiPhariseesG5330
νηστεύοντεςnēsteuontesfastingG3522
καὶkaiAndG2532
ἔρχονταιerchontaithey comeG2064
καὶkaiandG2532
λέγουσινlegousinthey sayG3004
αὐτῷ·autōto Him;G846
διὰdiaBecause ofG1223
τίtiwhyG5101
οἱhoitheG3588
μαθηταὶmathētaidisciplesG3101
ἸωάννουIōannouof JohnG2491
καὶkaiandG2532
οἱhoitheG3588
τῶνtōnof theG3588
ΦαρισαίωνPharisaiōnPhariseesG5330
νηστεύουσιν,nēsteuousinfast,G3522
οἱhoi<the>G3588
δὲdebutG1161
σοὶsoiYourG4771
μαθηταὶmathētaidisciplesG3101
οὐounotG3756
νηστεύουσιν;¶nēsteuousinfast?G3522

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for Mark 2:18

  • Luke 18:12

    I fast twice in the week, I give tithes of all that I possess.

  • Matthew 6:18

    That thou appear not unto men to fast, but unto thy Father which is in secret: and thy Father, which seeth in secret, shall reward thee openly.

  • Matthew 9:14-17

    Then came to him the disciples of John, saying, Why do we and the Pharisees fast oft, but thy disciples fast not? And Jesus said unto them, Can the children of the bridechamber mourn, as long as the bridegroom is with them? but the days will come, when the bridegroom shall be taken from them, and then shall they fast. No man putteth a piece of new cloth unto an old garment, for that which is put in to fill it up taketh from the garment, and the rent is made worse. Neither do men put new wine into old bottles: else the bottles break, and the wine runneth out, and the bottles perish: but they put new wine into new bottles, and both are preserved.

  • Matthew 6:16

    Moreover when ye fast, be not, as the hypocrites, of a sad countenance: for they disfigure their faces, that they may appear unto men to fast. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward.

  • Luke 5:33-39

    And they said unto him, Why do the disciples of John fast often, and make prayers, and likewise the disciples of the Pharisees; but thine eat and drink? And he said unto them, Can ye make the children of the bridechamber fast, while the bridegroom is with them? But the days will come, when the bridegroom shall be taken away from them, and then shall they fast in those days. And he spake also a parable unto them; No man putteth a piece of a new garment upon an old; if otherwise, then both the new maketh a rent, and the piece that was taken out of the new agreeth not with the old. …

  • Romans 10:3

    For they being ignorant of God’s righteousness, and going about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God.

  • Matthew 23:5

    But all their works they do for to be seen of men: they make broad their phylacteries, and enlarge the borders of their garments,

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
the disciples.
Mt 9:14-17; Lu 5:33-39
Why.
Mt 6:16,18; 23:5; Lu 18:12; Ro 10:3

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

  • Mark 2:17

    When Jesus heard it, he saith unto them, They that are whole have no need of the physician, but they that are sick: I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.

  • Mark 2:18

    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?

  • Mark 2:19

    And Jesus said unto them, Can the children of the bridechamber fast, while the bridegroom is with them? as long as they have the bridegroom with them, they cannot fast.

Read all of Mark 2

Mark 2:18 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909
Y los discípulos de Juan, y de los Fariseos ayunaban; y vienen, y le dicen: ¿Por qué los discípulos de Juan y los de los Fariseos ayunan, y tus discípulos no ayunan?
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885
Et les disciples de Jean et les pharisiens jeûnaient; et ils viennent et lui disent: Pourquoi les disciples de Jean et ceux des pharisiens jeûnent-ils, mais tes disciples ne jeûnent pas?
German
Elberfelder 1871
Und die Jünger Johannes und die Pharisäer fasteten; und sie kommen und sagen zu ihm: Warum fasten die Jünger Johannes und die Jünger der Pharisäer, deine Jünger aber fasten nicht?
Latin
Clementine Vulgate
Et erant discipuli Joannis et pharisæi jejunantes: et veniunt, et dicunt illi: Quare discipuli Joannis et pharisæorum jejunant, tui autem discipuli non jejunant?