Matthew 9:14Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

When Christ had entirely silenced the Pharisees with compelling evidence from the Scriptures and the natural order, they found themselves unable to refute Him. Since their accusations revealed their own guilt and opposition to the law of the Old Testament, they departed and began to target His disciples instead. Luke records that the Pharisees leveled accusations against them (Luke 5:17), while Matthew attributes this to the disciples of John. It is likely that both groups conspired against Christ's disciples. The Pharisees, seemingly at a loss, allied themselves with John's followers, much like they later did with the Herodians.

The disciples of John, envious of the splendor of Christ, criticized Him for not practicing fasting. They may have questioned how He could conquer desires without such an acts, which John was unable to achieve. Their misunderstanding stemmed from the lack of recognition that John was merely human and attained righteousness through virtuous actions, whereas Christ, being God, embodies virtue itself.

A query infused with arrogance and Pharisaical self-importance. Observe, expressing nothing further, they seemed to take pride in their fasting. The disciples of John, who spoke ill of him, cannot be considered innocent, as they were aware of him through the teachings of their master. However, they allied themselves with the Pharisees, whom they recognized as being denounced by John when he proclaimed: "Brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the coming wrath?" (Matthew 3:7).

In the accounts of Mark (Mark 2:18) and Luke (Luke 5:33), it is noted that the scribes and Pharisees articulated these sentiments, indicating that they originated the remarks and subsequently provoked the disciples of John the Baptist, seemingly out of envy for the followers of Christ. Having silenced their criticisms, Christ’s adversaries redirected their animosity towards His disciples, accusing them with the insinuation, If you, as a healer, engage in these actions, why do you not instruct your disciples to fast and refrain from indulgence? They first extol their own virtues, boasting of their frequent fasting (some influenced by John, while others adhered to the law), only to then reproach His followers. Observe how Christ, in His humility, chose not to confront these arrogant individuals directly but instead gently defended Himself through a parable.

In response to their inquiries, Christ spoke in spiritual terms, unveiling to the disciples of John that He was indeed the Bridegroom. John had indicated that all hope for life resided in Christ, yet his followers could not approach the Lord while he was still preaching. The era of the law and the prophets preceded John, and until the fulfillment of the law, none could partake in the faith of the gospel. Christ’s statement that His disciples need not fast during His presence serves as a testament to the joy found in the presence of the Bridegroom, and highlights the sacred sacrament of spiritual nourishment, in which no one will find themselves wanting as long as they have Christ in their thoughts.

What common ground existed between the followers of John and the Pharisees? Perhaps it was jealousy that bonded those who were at odds in their teachings. In this scenario, jealousy takes on a different meaning; it brings together, even though it typically divides. The Jewish people could not place Moses beneath Christ, just as John's followers were unwilling to elevate Christ above John. Therefore, both groups harbored a deep jealousy towards Christ. They questioned, "Why do we and the Pharisees fast, but your disciples do not fast?" The answer lies in the fact that their fasting was rooted in obligation rather than genuine desire. Fasting does not pertain to the one who observes it, but rather to the one who enforces the fast. And what value does fasting hold if it is done begrudgingly?

When the Lord silenced the Pharisees, who criticized Him for associating with tax collectors and sinners, John's disciples approached Him. According to St. Chrysostom, these disciples were envious of Christ, feeling a rivalry with the honor brought by their teacher John, and only humbled themselves when John was imprisoned. John was known for his rigorous fasting, and he instructed his followers in the practice of strict abstinence. They had listened to John's prophesies about the arrival of the Messiah, which led them to question why the Messiah, as proclaimed by John, neither fasted nor required his disciples to fast. Blessed Theophylact notes that they were likely confused about how one could triumph over sinful desires without the discipline of asceticism, which John maintained.

After their initial attempts failed, the Pharisees turned their criticism toward the disciples of Jesus, chastising them for their lack of fasting. The inquiry posed by the disciples of John regarding why Jesus' followers did not engage in fasting led to various accounts. In the Gospel of Luke, it is the Pharisees and scribes who express this criticism (Luke 5:33), whereas Matthew and Mark attribute it to the disciples of John and, in Mark’s case, also to the Pharisees (Mark 2:18). It is likely that both groups, the Pharisees and the disciples of John the Baptist, were present. John was known for his strict adherence to fasting and had instilled this practice in his followers. Conversely, the disciples of Jesus did not observe fasting rituals.

The followers of John, referring specifically to John the Baptist, questioned why they, along with the Pharisees, engaged in frequent fasting. The Pharisees were known to fast regularly, sometimes twice a week, in addition to the established national fasts, as noted in Luke 18:12. John himself adhered to rigorous fasting practices and instilled this discipline in his disciples. They were likely aware from John's own declarations that he served as the precursor to the Messiah, yet they struggled to understand why the disciples of the Messiah did not partake in fasting, or why the Messiah allowed them to abstain from this practice.

Certain disciples of John and members of the Pharisee group inquired of Jesus, “Why is it that His disciples do not practice fasting?” In His response, the Lord employed three analogies that resonated with the cultural understanding of His listeners.

For the first illustration, He referred to the bridegroom, symbolizing Himself as one who is ‘uniting with a new community (i.e., the Church) in place of the former synagogue that had perished’ (Bl. Theophylact). This is the very title given to the Lord by both Himself and His predecessor John (John 3:29). “Can the companions of the bridegroom,” He asked, “mourn and fast while the bridegroom is present with them?