Bible Strands
Luke 5:33
Then they said to Him, “John’s disciples and those of the Pharisees frequently fast and pray, but Yours keep on eating and drinking.”
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — Unnamed questioners address Jesus directly, contrasting the frequent fasting and praying of John’s followers and the Pharisees with the constant eating and drinking of His disciples. This exchange occurs immediately after Jesus declares His mission to call sinners to repentance.
The words — The supplied Greek includes εἶπαν (eipan, “they said”) and τί (ti, “why”), which frame the inquiry as a direct challenge to Jesus regarding His followers’ conduct. These terms anchor the dialogue in a pointed question about spiritual discipline.
The thread — The same complaint about Jesus’ disciples not fasting appears in Matthew 9:14 and Mark 2:18, while Luke 18:12 records a Pharisee boasting of his own frequent fasting. These parallels show a recurring tension between established religious practices and Jesus’ new ministry.
Why it lands — The text forces a reader to confront the difference between ritual observance and the reality of Jesus’ presence. It demands a choice between defending traditional piety or accepting the unvarnished nature of His call to sinners.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Greek words
King James Version
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?
Cross-references
- Matthew 9:14 Then John’s disciples came to Jesus and asked, “Why is it that we and the Pharisees fast so often, but Your disciples do not fast?”
- Mark 2:18 Now 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?”
- Luke 18:12 I fast twice a week and pay tithes of all that I acquire.’
- Luke 20:47 They defraud widows of their houses, and for a show make lengthy prayers. These men will receive greater condemnation.”
- John 3:25 Then a dispute arose between John’s disciples and a certain Jew over the issue of ceremonial washing.
- Romans 10:2 For I testify about them that they are zealous for God, but not on the basis of knowledge.
- Isaiah 1:15 When you spread out your hands in prayer, I will hide My eyes from you; even though you multiply your prayers, I will not listen. Your hands are covered with blood.
- Isaiah 58:3 “Why have we fasted, and You have not seen? Why have we humbled ourselves, and You have not noticed?” “Behold, on the day of your fast, you do as you please, and you oppress all your workers.
- Zechariah 7:6 And when you were eating and drinking, were you not doing so simply for yourselves?
- Matthew 6:5 And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites. For they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by men. Truly I tell you, they already have their full reward.