The questioner's point isn't just about if Jesus' disciples fast, but why they don't. They're highlighting the stark contrast between Jesus' lifestyle and the expected religious discipline, implying Jesus is somehow lax or out of sync with piety.
And they said to him, “The disciples of John fast often and offer prayers, and so do the disciples of the Pharisees, but yours eat and drink.” And Jesus said to them, “Can you make wedding guests fast while the bridegroom is with them? The days will come when the bridegroom is taken away from them, and then they will fast in those days.”
English Standard Version (ESV)
The Pharisees and John the Baptist's disciples question Jesus because his own disciples aren't fasting, unlike theirs who observe regular fasts and prayers. This challenge arises just after Jesus has called Levi (Matthew) to follow him and has eaten with many tax collectors and sinners. Jesus responds by explaining that his presence is like a wedding celebration, implying that fasting isn't appropriate during this joyous time.
Why would the followers of John the Baptist team up with the Pharisees to question Jesus? It wasn't just a friendly inquiry about religious practice.
The question, 'Why do your disciples not fast?' came from both John's disciples and the Pharisees. This alliance is fascinating! The disciples of John, likely feeling a bit of jealousy as Jesus's ministry gained momentum, were accustomed to the ascetic lifestyle their teacher embodied. They joined forces with the Pharisees, who were known for their strict, often performative, adherence to religious laws, including frequent fasting. Their underlying question isn't just about fasting; it's about Jesus's legitimacy and the perceived lack of rigor in his movement compared to their own. They saw Jesus associating with 'sinners' and eating with them, which directly contrasted with their own strict religious observances. This highlights a common human tendency to evaluate others by our own standards, even when those standards might miss the bigger picture.
Jesus uses a striking analogy to explain why his disciples aren't fasting. It has everything to do with joy, presence, and a new covenant.
Jesus reframes the entire discussion with the powerful metaphor of a wedding. He asks, 'Can you make wedding guests fast while the bridegroom is with them?' He's declaring that his presence signifies a time of celebration, not mourning. The 'bridegroom' is Jesus himself, and his disciples are the guests at a spiritual wedding feast. This isn't just about food and drink; it's about the reality that the Messiah has arrived! The disciples of John and the Pharisees were operating under an older covenant, emphasizing repentance and separation through fasting. But with Jesus, the promised One is . His presence inaugurates a new era, one characterized by joy and the outpouring of God's grace. Fasting, in its traditional sense of mourning or seeking God from a distance, doesn't fit this season of divine celebration.
Ask a follow-up
Jesus warns that trying to pour 'new wine' into 'old wineskins' is a recipe for disaster. What does this mean for spiritual practice?
The analogy of new wine and old wineskins speaks to the fundamental difference between the old covenant and the new reality Jesus brings. Old wineskins, having grown brittle with age, would burst under the pressure and fermentation of fresh wine. Similarly, the rigid, external practices of the Pharisees and even some of John's disciples couldn't contain the radical, transformative power of Jesus's teaching and the Holy Spirit. Jesus isn't saying fasting is inherently bad; he's saying that the reason and context for it have changed. The disciples are being initiated into a new way of life, empowered by the Spirit, not just following external rules. When the time comes for hardship and suffering (when the bridegroom is taken away), they will fast, but it will be out of a response to their circumstances and a deep longing for God, not as a ritualistic duty.
Understand the original words
nēsteuō · Greek Verb
A religious practice of abstaining from food for a period to focus on prayer, humility, or seeking God's intervention. In Scripture, it is a response to distress, a sign of mourning, or a means of expressing total reliance on God.
nymphios · Greek Noun
A title used by Jesus to describe Himself, invoking the Old Testament imagery of God as the husband of Israel. It signifies a time of intimate fellowship, joy, and the inauguration of the messianic age.
This question arises from a period where increased religious observance, particularly fasting, had become common among devout Jews, partly as a response to historical exiles. The contrast between Jesus' inclusive, joy-filled meals and the rigorous fasting practices of John's followers and the Pharisees highlights a key tension in Jesus' ministry: his radical approach to God's kingdom versus established religious traditions.
c. 722 BC
Assyrian Exile Begins
The Northern Kingdom of Israel falls to the Assyrian Empire, leading to the deportation of many Israelites and the dispersion of the ten tribes. This event marked a significant disruption to Jewish religious and social life.
586 BC
Babylonian Exile
The Southern Kingdom of Judah falls to the Babylonian Empire. Jerusalem and the Temple are destroyed, and a large portion of the population is exiled to Babylon. This exile deeply impacted Jewish identity and religious practices.
538 BC
Return from Exile
The Persian king Cyrus the Great allows the Jewish exiles to return to Jerusalem and rebuild the Temple. This marked the beginning of the Second Temple period and a resurgence of Jewish religious observance.
c. 5th-1st century BC
Development of Additional Fasts
Following the return from exile, the practice of fasting became more prominent, with additional fast days established beyond the single annual Day of Atonement. These fasts became common among devout Jews.
Early 1st century AD
Ministry of John the Baptist
John the Baptist begins his ministry, preaching repentance and baptizing people in the Jordan River. His ascetic lifestyle and emphasis on repentance influenced his followers, who continued his practices.
c. AD 28-30— this verse
Jesus' Ministry Begins
Jesus begins his public ministry, calling disciples (including former tax collectors like Levi/Matthew) and interacting with various groups, including Pharisees and followers of John the Baptist.
This passage presents the same question asked of Jesus, directly comparing the fasting practices of John's disciples and the Pharisees with Jesus' disciples, setting the stage for Jesus' explanation about the bridegroom.
Mark 2:18-20Similar to Luke, Mark records the question about fasting and Jesus' response, emphasizing the 'bridegroom' analogy and the distinct nature of His ministry compared to the established religious practices.
Isaiah 58:3-7This prophetic passage challenges the emptiness of ritualistic fasting without a corresponding heart of justice and compassion, mirroring Jesus' critique of the Pharisees' fasting and highlighting the true purpose of religious observance.
Zechariah 7:5-7The prophet questions the sincerity of fasts observed after the exile, revealing that God was not pleased with mere outward acts of fasting that lacked genuine contrition and a changed heart, paralleling the spiritual disconnect Jesus points out.
John 3:29John the Baptist himself points to Jesus as the 'bridegroom,' aligning with Jesus' analogy in Luke 5 and underscoring the unique relationship Jesus has with His followers, which naturally leads to different expressions of joy and worship.
barnesLuke 5:33: "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?"
See this passage illustrated in the notes at Matthew 9:14-17 .
pulpitLuke 5:33: "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?"
Verses 33-39. - The teaching of the Lord concerning fasting. Verse 33. - 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? We learn from the parallel passage in St. Mark that "they" who asked the Lord this question were the discip…
The questioner's point isn't just about if Jesus' disciples fast, but why they don't. They're highlighting the stark contrast between Jesus' lifestyle and the expected religious discipline, implying Jesus is somehow lax or out of sync with piety.
The Pharisees and John the Baptist's disciples question Jesus because his own disciples aren't fasting, unlike theirs who observe regular fasts and prayers. This challenge arises just after Jesus has called Levi (Matthew) to follow him and has eaten with many tax collectors and sinners. Jesus responds by explaining that his presence is like a wedding celebration, implying that fasting isn't appropriate during this joyous time.
The Pharisees and John the Baptist's disciples question Jesus because his own disciples aren't fasting, unlike theirs who observe regular fasts and prayers. This challenge arises just after Jesus has called Levi (Matthew) to follow him and has eaten with many tax collectors and sinners. Jesus responds by explaining that his presence is like a wedding celebration, implying that fasting isn't appropriate during this joyous time.
"And they said to him, “The disciples of John fast often and offer prayers, and so do the disciples of the Pharisees, but yours eat and drink.” And Jesus said to them, “Can you make wedding guests fast while the bridegroom is with them? The…" — The questioner's point isn't just about if Jesus' disciples fast, but why they don't. They're highlighting the stark contrast between Jesus' lifestyle and the expected religious discipline, imp…
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Last reviewed October 2026
