Why do your disciples not fast

Verily I say unto you, They have their reward. Matthew ,19 For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they say, He hath a devil…. Proverbs Most men will proclaim every one his own goodness: but a faithful man who can find?

Context Crossref Comment Greek. Verse Click for Chapter. In that second response Jesus uses analogies to tell us that He is doing something completely new and so, by analogy, the old covenant practices of ritual sacrifice and fasting need to be viewed in a new light.

In Matthew's Gospel Jesus makes the point explicitly when He responds to the criticism of the Pharisees that He and His disciples are picking grain on the Sabbath, in violation of the rules about doing work on that day, by reminding the Pharisees of the words of the prophet Hosea: "I desire mercy, not sacrifice. Perhaps fasting and other physical practices can lead us to the characteristics of the heart that truly matter-- or, put more accurately, can help us remove obstacles that stand in the way of God's working within us to develop those characteristics, attitudes and behaviors that truly matter.

So, if today we hear His voice, harden not our hearts! Social Justice. Overcoming Inequality. Southeast Asia. East Timor. East Asia. South Korea. Hong Kong. Video Stories. Catholic Dioceses in Asia. Our Voices. About us. Contact us. Privacy Policy. Support UCA News. All rights reserved. Except for any fair dealing permitted under the Hong Kong Copyright Ordinance, no part of this publication may be reproduced by any means without prior permission.

We fast and the Pharisees fast, but Your disciples do not fast! Then John's disciples came to Jesus. Why do your disciples not do the same? Then the disciples of John came to him, and said [Then the disciples of John came nigh to him, saying], Why we and the Pharisees fast oft, but thy disciples fast not? Previous Matthew Top. All rights reserved. Used by Permission.