Luke 5:33

And they said unto him, Why do the disciples of John fast often, and make prayers, and likewise [the disciples] of the Pharisees; but thine eat and drink?

And {G1161} they said {G2036} unto {G4314} him {G846}, Why {G1302} do {G3522} the disciples {G3101} of John {G2491} fast {G3522} often {G4437}, and {G2532} make {G4160} prayers {G1162}, and {G2532} likewise {G3668} the disciples {G3588} of the Pharisees {G5330}; but {G1161} thine {G4674} eat {G2068} and {G2532} drink {G4095}?

Next they said to him, "Yochanan's talmidim are always fasting and davvening, and likewise the talmidim of the P'rushim; but yours go on eating and drinking."

Then they said to Him, “John’s disciples and those of the Pharisees frequently fast and pray, but Yours keep on eating and drinking.”

And they said unto him, The disciples of John fast often, and make supplications; likewise also the disciples of the Pharisees; but thine eat and drink.

Commentary

Luke 5:33 records a direct challenge to Jesus and His disciples from those observing traditional religious practices. The questioners, likely scribes and Pharisees mentioned in the preceding verses, contrast the fasting and prayer habits of John the Baptist's disciples and their own with the apparent lack of such practices among Jesus' followers.

Context

This verse immediately follows the account of Jesus calling Levi (Matthew) and then dining with "publicans and sinners" at Levi's house (Luke 5:29-30). This act of fellowship with those considered religiously unclean was highly controversial for the Pharisees, who prided themselves on their strict adherence to the law and separation from sinners. Fasting was a common and revered spiritual discipline in Judaism, practiced regularly by devout individuals and groups like the Pharisees (Luke 18:12) and John the Baptist's ascetic disciples (Matthew 3:4). The question highlights a tension between established religious customs and Jesus' innovative approach to ministry, which often involved feasting and fellowship rather than strict asceticism.

Key Themes

  • The Nature of Jesus' Ministry: The question reveals a misunderstanding of Jesus' mission. His ministry was not about reforming the old religious system but introducing a radically new reality centered on His presence.
  • Joy vs. Mourning: Jesus' answer in the subsequent verses (Luke 5:34-35) directly addresses this by comparing Himself to a bridegroom. A wedding feast is a time of celebration, not fasting or mourning. His presence brings joy and fulfillment, making traditional expressions of repentance or longing less appropriate for His immediate followers.
  • New Wine, New Wineskins: This verse sets the stage for Jesus' famous parables about new cloth on an old garment and new wine in old wineskins (Luke 5:36-39). These parables emphasize that the Kingdom of God, ushered in by Jesus, cannot be contained by or merely patched onto the rigid structures and legalistic interpretations of the old covenant. It requires a fundamental shift in understanding and practice.

Linguistic Insights

The Greek word for "fast" is nēsteuō, meaning to abstain from food, typically for religious reasons. The "prayers" mentioned (Greek: deēseis) refer to supplications or earnest petitions. The questioners' emphasis on these outward observances highlights their focus on external religious duties rather than the internal spiritual transformation or the unique nature of Jesus' presence.

Practical Application

This passage encourages believers to examine the motivation behind their spiritual disciplines. While fasting and prayer are valuable tools for drawing near to God (Matthew 6:16-18), their purpose is not to fulfill a legalistic requirement or to impress others. Rather, they should flow from a heart devoted to God and an understanding of His will. Jesus' presence brings a profound joy that redefines our spiritual walk. True devotion is about relationship with Him, which may manifest differently in various seasons of life. It also cautions against judging others based on their outward religious practices, reminding us that the spirit of the law often outweighs the letter.

Note: If the commentary doesn’t appear instantly, please allow 2–5 seconds for it to load. It is generated by Gemini 2.5 Flash using a prompt focused on Biblical fidelity over bias. While the insights have been consistently reliable, we encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit.

Please note that only the commentary section is AI-generated — the main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are from trusted and verified sources.

Cross-References

  • Matthew 9:14 (6 votes)

    ¶ Then came to him the disciples of John, saying, Why do we and the Pharisees fast oft, but thy disciples fast not?

  • Matthew 9:17 (6 votes)

    Neither do men put new wine into old bottles: else the bottles break, and the wine runneth out, and the bottles perish: but they put new wine into new bottles, and both are preserved.

  • Mark 2:18 (5 votes)

    ¶ And the disciples of John and of the Pharisees used to fast: and they come and say unto him, Why do the disciples of John and of the Pharisees fast, but thy disciples fast not?

  • Mark 2:22 (5 votes)

    And no man putteth new wine into old bottles: else the new wine doth burst the bottles, and the wine is spilled, and the bottles will be marred: but new wine must be put into new bottles.

  • Luke 20:47 (3 votes)

    Which devour widows' houses, and for a shew make long prayers: the same shall receive greater damnation.

  • Luke 18:12 (3 votes)

    I fast twice in the week, I give tithes of all that I possess.

  • Luke 11:1 (2 votes)

    ¶ And it came to pass, that, as he was praying in a certain place, when he ceased, one of his disciples said unto him, Lord, teach us to pray, as John also taught his disciples.