Expositor's Bible Commentary Commentary Matthew 9:14

"Then come to him the disciples of John, saying, Why do we and the Pharisees fast oft, but thy disciples fast not?" — Matthew 9:14 (ASV)

Probably while they were at dinner, some of John the Baptist’s disciples showed up with criticism (possibly with some Pharisees; cf. 2:18–22). The Baptist himself showed a noble freedom from jealousy when Jesus’ ministry began to supersede his own (cf. esp. Jn 3:26-31). But some of John’s disciples felt differently now that he was in prison (4:12); and because they kept up their leader’s asceticism (11:18), not heeding his strong witness to Jesus, they saw an occasion for criticism about the conduct of Jesus’ disciples.