Mark 2:18

‘And John's disciples and the Pharisees were fasting, and they come and say to him, “Why do John's disciples and the disciples of the Pharisees fast, and yet your disciples do not fast?”.'

The incident begins with this question about fasting. With the stricter Jews fasting was a regular practise. While the Day of Atonement was the only day on which fasting was actually compulsory (according to the general interpretation of Leviticus 16:29 in those days), they also fasted on other occasions such as at the Feasts of Dedication and Purim, and the fasts of the fourth, fifth, seventh and tenth months (Zechariah 8:19). And this included fasting on two days every week, (probably on Mondays and Thursdays), for the whole day until sunset (compare Luke 18:12). They felt that somehow this fasting would help them to achieve a higher standard of covenant life and give them credit with God (compare how David hoped that his fasting would move God - 2 Samuel 12:16; 2 Samuel 12:21). Within the idea of fasting there may well have been that of mourning over sin and of a greater determination to seek God unhindered by earthly restraints. And this could only be for the good. But sadly some of those who fasted had other ideas in mind. They made sure that it was brought to people's attention. They whitened their faces and dishevelled their clothes, ‘that they might appear to men to fast' (Matthew 6:16). And it thus made them self-righteous and did them great harm. But as men always will, others admired them for their self-sacrifice.

This would appear to have been a recognised fast when all pious men could be expected to fast, made even more potent for the disciples of John because of their master's imprisonment or martyrdom. This last fact would make Jesus remarks all the more telling, as does His warning that one day His disciples will need to fast because of what will happen to Him. In the case of the Pharisees and that of John's disciples, the fasting was clearly noted and admired by many.

Thus the failure of Jesus' disciples to fast brought comment. Those who claimed to be extra-religious and to claim a special dedication to God were expected to fast at certain times, and to show that they were doing so. Why then did they not? Was there something lacking in their genuine dedication and mourning over sin? Jesus' reply contains the idea that when fasting we must always consider what the purpose is. But it went further than that, for He seized the opportunity of further revelation concerning Himself.

‘The disciples of the Pharisees.' An expression only used here but the same idea is conveyed by Matthew 22:16 and possibly also by Matthew 12:27; Luke 11:19. Perhaps they are mentioned especially because it was the learners who made the greatest efforts to make sure that people (and their own mentors) knew that they were fasting.