The Pulpit Commentary - Mark 2:18-20
On fasting. Weak brethren too often do the work of evil men. The disciples of John, who were not hostile to our Lord, were made on this occasion the tools of the Pharisees, whose great object was to damage our Lord's reputation amongst the people, and to weaken the allegiance of his followers. The Baptist had never forbidden his disciples to observe the customary fasts, and his own ascetic life had taught them such lessons of self-denial that they readily observed them, especially at a... read more
The Pulpit Commentary - Mark 2:18
The first sentence of this verse should be rendered thus: And the disciples of John and the Pharisees were fasting ( ἧσαν νηστεύοντες ) . In all the synoptic Gospels we find this incident following closely upon what goes before. It is not improbable that the Pharisees and the disciples of John were fasting at the very time when Matthew gave his feast. This was not one of the fasts prescribed by the Law; had it been so, it would have been observed by our Lord. There were, however,... read more