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32 I have not come[a] to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.”[b]

The Superiority of the New

33 Then[c] they said to him, “John’s[d] disciples frequently fast[e] and pray,[f] and so do the disciples of the Pharisees,[g] but yours continue to eat and drink.”[h] 34 So[i] Jesus said to them, “You cannot make the wedding guests[j] fast while the bridegroom[k] is with them, can you?[l]

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Footnotes

  1. Luke 5:32 sn I have not come is another commission statement by Jesus; see 4:43-44.
  2. Luke 5:32 sn Though parallels exist to this saying (Matt 9:13; Mark 2:17), only Luke has this last phrase but sinners to repentance. Repentance is a frequent topic in Luke’s Gospel: 3:3, 8; 13:1-5; 15:7, 10; 16:30; 17:3-4; 24:47.
  3. Luke 5:33 tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “then” to indicate the implied sequence of events within the narrative.
  4. Luke 5:33 tc Most mss (א*,2 A C D Θ Ψ ƒ1,13 M latt sy) read διὰ τί (dia ti, “Why do John’s…?”) here, turning the statement into a question. But such seems to be a motivated reading, assimilating the text to Mark 2:18 and Matt 9:14. The reading represented in the translation is supported by P4 א1 B L W Ξ 33 892* 1241 sa.sn John refers to John the Baptist.
  5. Luke 5:33 sn John’s disciples and the disciples of 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.
  6. Luke 5:33 tn Grk “and offer prayers,” but this idiom (δέησις + ποιέω) is often simply a circumlocution for praying.
  7. Luke 5:33 sn See the note on Pharisees in 5:17.
  8. Luke 5:33 tn Grk “but yours are eating and drinking.” The translation “continue to eat and drink” attempts to reflect the progressive or durative nature of the action described, which in context is a practice not limited to the specific occasion at hand (the banquet).
  9. Luke 5:34 tn Here δέ (de) has been translated as “so” to indicate that Jesus’ pronouncement is a result of their statements about his disciples.
  10. Luke 5:34 tn Grk “the sons of the wedding hall,” an idiom referring to guests at the wedding, or more specifically, friends of the bridegroom present at the wedding celebration (L&N 11.7).
  11. Luke 5:34 sn The expression while the bridegroom is with them is an allusion to messianic times (John 3:29; Isa 54:5-6; 62:4-5).
  12. Luke 5:34 tn Questions prefaced with μή () in Greek anticipate a negative answer. This can sometimes be indicated by using a “tag” at the end in English (here it is “can you?”).

32 I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.”(A)

Jesus Questioned About Fasting(B)

33 They said to him, “John’s disciples(C) often fast and pray, and so do the disciples of the Pharisees, but yours go on eating and drinking.”

34 Jesus answered, “Can you make the friends of the bridegroom(D) fast while he is with them?

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