Matthew the apostle shared, “And as Jesus passed forth from thence, he saw a man, named Matthew, sitting at the receipt of custom: and he said unto him, Follow me. And he arose, and followed him. And it came to pass, as Jesus sat at meat in the house, behold, many publicans and sinners came and sat down with him and his disciples. And when the Pharisees saw it, they said unto his disciples, Why eats your Master with publicans and sinners? But when Jesus heard that, he said unto them, They that be whole need not a physician, but they that are sick. But go you and learn what that means, I will have mercy, and not sacrifice: for I am not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.” In chapter nine and verse fourteen of his book, Matthew shared how the disciples of John asked Jesus, “why do we and the Pharisees fast often, but your disciples fast not?” where we read:
Then came to him the disciples of John, saying,
Why do we and the Pharisees fast often, but your disciples fast not?
The verse reads, “Then came to him the disciples of John, saying, ...” Matthew began with the word, “then” or “at that time and moment” “came to him” which means “arose and appeared to Jesus” “the disciples” or “the students, pupils and attendants” “of John” which refers to “John the Baptist who was a cousin to Jesus and was the son of Zachariah and Elisabeth and the forerunner of Christ”, “saying” which means “uttering, declaring, proclaiming and questioning”. Matthew shared how the “disciples of John” came to Jesus and asked Him the following question.
The verse goes on to say, “... Why do we and the Pharisees fast often, but your disciples fast not?” Matthew continued with the word, “why do we” or “by what grounds, reason and account do we the disciples of John” “and the Pharisees” which means “and the sect that seems to have started after the Jewish exile. In addition to Old Testament books the Pharisees recognized in oral tradition a standard of belief and life. They sought for distinction and praise by outward observance of external rites and by outward forms of piety, and such as ceremonial washings, fasting, prayers, and alms giving; and, comparatively negligent of genuine piety, they prided themselves on their fancied good work” “fast often” or “many times abstain as a religious exercise from food and drink either entirely, if the fast lasted but a single day, or from customary and choice nourishment, if it continued several days”, “but” which means “nevertheless, moreover and” “your disciples” or “Jesus' students, pupils and attendants” “fast not” which means “do not abstain as a religious exercise from food and drink either entirely, if the fast lasted but a single day, or from customary and choice nourishment, if it continued several days”. Matthew shared how John's “disciples and the Pharisees” asked Jesus why they “fasted” frequently and yet Jesus' “disciples” did not “fast” at all.
When we meditate upon Matthew's words in this verse, we see how there was a question in the minds of “John's disciples” concerning the spiritual exercise of “fasting”. John's disciples wondered why they and the religious “Pharisees” “abstained from food and drink” frequently, and Jesus' “disciples” did not. There is almost a prideful “air” from John's disciples as they questioned the “spirituality” of His “disciples”. God knows the spiritual practices He gave to men, and He knows when and how they should use them. Those who are wise will realize spiritual practices like “fasting” have a place and purpose, and Jesus knows the most about their timing and use.
Next time Matthew shares how Jesus asked John's disciples, “can the children of the bride-chamber mourn, as long as the bridegroom is with them?”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.
Until
tomorrow…there is more…
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Sermon on the Mount” and the new poetry book "Random Mushrooms
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