Matius 9:14

The Superiority of the New

9:14 Then John’s ¹  disciples came to Jesus ²  and asked, “Why do we and the Pharisees ³  fast often, ⁴  but your disciples don’t fast?”

Matius 13:28

13:28 He said, ‘An enemy has done this.’ So ⁵  the slaves replied, ‘Do you want us to go and gather them?’

Matius 20:7

20:7 They said to him, ‘Because no one hired us.’ He said to them, ‘You go and work in the vineyard too.’

¹ sn John refers to John the Baptist.

² tn Grk “him”; the referent (Jesus) has been supplied in the translation for clarity.

³ sn See the note on Pharisees in 3:7.

⁴ sn John’s disciples and the Pharisees followed typical practices with regard to fasting and prayer. Many Jews fasted regularly (Lev 16:29-34; 23:26-32; Num 29:7-11). The zealous fasted twice a week on Monday and Thursday.

⁵ tn Here δέ (de) has been translated as “so” to indicate the implied result of the owner’s statement.