Section 2:18–22

People asked Jesus about fasting

At the time when Jesus lived, Jewish people often went without eating food for one or more days. They did this to show they were sorry for their sins or to ask for favor from God. This is called “fasting.”

In this section people asked Jesus why he and his disciples did not fast. Jesus answered the question about fasting. Then he indicated that he was teaching a new way to live for God. His new way would not fit into the old traditions. To illustrate this point, Jesus used three comparisons:

(a) To explain why his disciples did not fast, Jesus compared himself to a bridegroom, and he compared his disciples to wedding guests. They could not fast while he was with them.

(b) To show that his way and the old traditions did not match, Jesus compared his new way to new cloth. The old traditional ways were like an old garment. No one would sew new cloth onto an old garment.

(c) Then Jesus compared his new way to new wine and the old way to old wineskins. When new wine was put into old wineskins, both were ruined.

This section can be difficult for people to understand because Jesus used comparisons to illustrate a point, but he did not make the point explicit. The point was that he was teaching a new way that was different from the old Jewish traditions. In some languages it may be necessary to include a footnote to explain this.

In this section there are some ideas that may not be familiar in certain cultures. For example:

(a) fasting

(b) Jewish wedding customs about bridegrooms

(c) sewing patches onto cloth

(d) new wine and old wineskins

Consider carefully how to translate each of these ideas in a meaningful way in your language. The Notes for this section will give suggestions.

Here are some other possible headings for this section:

Jesus taught that his new way was different from Jewish traditions
-or-
Jesus’ new way and the old ways

This story also occurs in Matthew 9:14–17 and Luke 5:33–39.

Paragraph 2:18–20

In this paragraph it is important for readers to know what “fasting” meant in the Jewish culture. In this context, “fasting” means to abstain from food for religious reasons. The Jewish people often fasted at times when they were very serious about praying to God. See 1 Samuel 7:5, Matthew 6:16–18, Luke 2:37, Acts 13:2. Often Jewish people would fast for some time to prepare for God to speak to them (see Exodus 24, Daniel 9:3, Matthew 4:2).

John the Baptizer’s disciples and the Pharisees followed these Jewish customs.

2:18a

This part of the verse is background information. It introduces a situation in which Jesus gave a new teaching. Translate this background information in a natural way in your language.

Now: The Greek conjunction that the Berean Standard Bible translates as Now here introduces background information. It is not a time word in this context.

John’s disciples: John had disciples, just as Jesus did. These disciples followed him, learned from him, and tried to obey his teachings. You should use the same word for “disciple” here as you use for Jesus’ disciples. See the note on 2:15b.

John: The name John refers here to John the Baptizer (John who baptized people). See the note on 1:4a. Since more than one John is mentioned in Mark, it may be necessary to make this explicit:

the disciples of John the Baptizer
-or-
the disciples of John, the one who baptized people

and the Pharisees:

There is a textual issue in 2:18a. (1) Some Greek manuscripts have “the disciples of John and the Pharisees.” For example, the NET Bible says: “John’s disciples and the Pharisees” (Berean Standard Bible, New International Version, Good News Bible, Revised Standard Version, New Jerusalem Bible, NET Bible, English Standard Version, New American Standard Bible, Revised English Bible, God’s Word, New Living Translation, Contemporary English Version, New Century Version). (2) Some Greek manuscripts have “the disciples of John and
those of the Pharisees.” For example, the Phillips’ New Testament in Modern English says: “The disciples of John and those of the Pharisees” (King James Version, Phillips’ New Testament in Modern English). Option (1) has better support from Greek manuscripts. However, the phrase “disciples of the Pharisees” occurs in 2:18c. So in some languages, it may be more natural to follow option (2) and use that phrase here as well.) The Pharisees were a Jewish religious group or party. They believed that it was very important to obey all of the Jewish religious laws very carefully and in detail. See the note on 2:16a.

fasting: In this context the Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as fasting means “deliberately abstain from eating for some time.” If fasting for religious reasons is not a familiar idea in your language, you may need to explain it in a footnote or in your translation. For example:

often gave up eating for a certain time (New Century Version)
-or-
going without food to pray/meditate
-or-
not eating food for a certain length of time to show that they were devoted to God

2:18b

So: In Greek, 2:18b begins with a common conjunction that the Berean Standard Bible translates as So. Mark used this conjunction to connect what the people saw in 2:18a with what they asked Jesus in 2:18b. Connect these two events in a natural way in your language.

people: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as people is literally “they.” In some languages you may need to identify more explicitly who “they” refers to. If that is true in your language, it is probably best to use a general subject, as the Berean Standard Bible does.

came to Jesus and asked: The people who observed the disciples of John the Baptizer and the Pharisees fasting came to Jesus to ask him a question. The New Living Translation, 1996 edition has another way to say this:

One day some people came to Jesus and asked

came: In some languages it is more natural to use a verb like “went” here instead of came. (Some languages prefer to express verbs of motion from the viewpoint of the source rather than the destination.) For example:

On one occasion some people went to Jesus…

asked: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as asked is a general verb of speech that is often translated as “said.” Because the people asked a question, the Berean Standard Bible uses the English word “asked.” Use the verb of speech that is most natural in your language.

Jesus: The Greek text refers to Jesus here with a pronoun (“him” in English). Refer to him in a natural way in your language for this context.

2:18c–d

Why don’t Your disciples fast like John’s disciples and those of the Pharisees?: The question in 2:18c–d is actually both a statement and a question. The people told Jesus that John’s disciples and the disciples of the Pharisees were fasting. They also asked him why his disciples were not fasting. In some languages it may be more natural to use two sentences to express these ideas. For example:

John’s disciples and the disciples of the Pharisees fast often. Why do your disciples not fast?

Why don’t Your disciples fast like John’s disciples and those of the Pharisees?: Scholars do not agree about the function of the question in this verse. There are two views:

(1) It is a rhetorical question. It functions as an indirect rebuke. The people were critical of Jesus because he did not make his disciples follow the traditional religious practices of the Jews.

(2) It is a real question. The people observed the disciples of Jesus not fasting, and they wondered why they did not fast.

In English (and in Greek) the same words would be used here for a real question or a rhetorical question, so the versions are ambiguous. It is recommended that you follow interpretation (1). In Luke 5:33, where this same story occurs, it is clearer that the people who spoke were criticizing Jesus.

There are at least three ways to translate this rhetorical question:

• As a question. For example, the Revised Standard Version says:

Why do John’s disciples and the disciples of the Pharisees fast, but your disciples do not fast?

• As a statement. For example:

John’s disciples and the disciples of the Pharisees fast. Your disciples should also fast.

• As a statement with a tag question. For example:

John’s disciples and the disciples of the Pharisees fast. Your disciples should fast, too, shouldn’t they?

Use whichever form is most natural in your language to indicate that the people who spoke to Jesus were indirectly criticizing Jesus.

2:18c

fast: There are two ways to interpret the verb fast in this part of the verse:

(1) It refers to a general practice of fasting. For example, the New Century Version says:

Why do John’s followers and the followers of the Pharisees often give up eating, but your followers don’t?

(Berean Standard Bible, Good News Bible, Contemporary English Version, New Century Version, Revised Standard Version, New Living Translation, NET Bible, New American Standard Bible, God’s Word, King James Version, New Jerusalem Bible)

(2) It refers to a specific time when the disciples were fasting and people observed them. For example, the Revised English Bible says:

Why is it that John’s disciples and the disciples of the Pharisees are fasting, but yours are not?

(New International Version, Revised English Bible)

It is recommended that you follow interpretation (1). Use a general expression that refers to the practice of fasting.

2:18d

those of the Pharisees: In this context the phrase those of the Pharisees refers to people who followed/obeyed the teachings of the Pharisees.

There are at least two options for translating the term in this context:

• Use the same term for disciples as you used for the disciples of Jesus and of John. See the note on disciples at 2:15b. See also disciple in the Glossary. This is probably best unless your term for “disciple” would not be possible to use with a group like the Pharisees.

• Use a different expression or term for disciples of the Pharisees than you used for disciples of Jesus. For example:

people who obeyed the Pharisee-group teachings

If you use the first option, you may want to include a footnote to explain how the word disciples is used in this context.

General Comment on 2:18c–d

In some languages it may be more natural to change the order of 2:18c and 2:18d. For example:

18dThe disciples of John and the Pharisees fast. 18cShouldn’t your disciples fast as well?
-or-
18dHow is it that John?s disciples and the disciples of the Pharisees are fasting, 18cbut yours are not? (New International Version)

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