Matthew 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?”

Matthew 17:19

17:19 Then the disciples came ⁵  to Jesus privately and said, “Why couldn’t we cast it out?”

Matthew 19:27

19:27 Then Peter said ⁶  to him, “Look, ⁷  we have left everything to follow you! ⁸  What then will there be for us?”

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 Grk “coming, the disciples said.” The participle προσελθόντες (proselqontes) has been translated as a finite verb to make the sequence of events clear in English.

⁹ tn Grk “Then answering, Peter said.” This construction is somewhat redundant in contemporary English and has been simplified in the translation.

¹⁰ sn Peter wants reassurance that the disciples’ response and sacrifice have been noticed.

¹¹ tn Grk “We have left everything and followed you.” Koine Greek often used paratactic structure when hypotactic was implied.