While the Pharisees had approached Jesus with a critical spirit (Matthew 9:11–13), the question posed in Matthew 9:14 by the disciples of John the Baptist came from a place of humility, which is why Jesus’ answer to them in Matthew 9:15–17 is milder. The disciples of John were far more keen on fasting than the disciples of Jesus, and what incited this question was the fact that the day of the feast at Matthew’s house (Matthew 9:10) was a day of customary fasting for John’s disciples (Mark 2:18)
Like the Pharisees, the disciples of John the Baptist also approached Jesus following the feast held at Matthew’s home. While the Pharisees had approached Jesus specifically to criticize him (Matthew 9:11–13), the question posed here in Matthew 9:14 by the disciples of John the Baptist came from a place of humility, which is why Jesus’ answer to them in Matthew 9:15–17 is far more mild. The disciples of John were far more keen on fasting than the disciples of Jesus, and what incited this question was the fact that the day upon which the feast at Matthew’s house (Matthew 9:10) took place was a day that they happened to celebrate as a day of fasting (Mark 2:18).1
14 Alors les disciples de Jean vinrent auprès de Jésus, et dirent: Pourquoi nous et les pharisiens jeûnons-nous, tandis que tes disciples ne jeûnent point?