2:18–22 Another issue surfaces between Jesus and his critics; in this case the question concerns why his disciples do not observe fasts like those of the other religious groups named. The fasting in question was a weekly exercise (for the Pharisees, on Mondays and Thursdays) and seems to have been intended as an expression of mourning over the sins of Israel and over the fact that the longed-for salvation of prophetic hope had not appeared (on fasting in Mark, see note). The fact that the question emerged indicates that these fasts were publicly known, and that they were probably intended as symbolic rebukes of the sinful among Israel and weekly reminders to all to participate in religious reform and repentance.

Matthew 6:16–18 criticizes this publicizing of fasts as all too prone to beco…