Mat 9:14 | TNotes | STEP | 9:14 fast: Fasting expressed personal humility and repentance (2 Sam 12:16-23 ; Dan 9:3 ). It called attention to the national need for repentance (Lev 16:29-31 ; Neh 9:1 ) and probably sought to hasten the arrival of the Messiah through purification. The fact that Jesus and his disciples did not fast (Matt 11:18-19 ) subtly proclaimed that the Messiah had already arrived (see also 6:16 ).

b2 Sam 12:16-23►

cDan 9:3►

dLev 16:29-31►

eNeh 9:1►

fMatt 11:18-19►

‏ Matthew 9:14

9:14 ^a fast: Fasting expressed personal humility and repentance (2 Sam 12:16-23 ^b; Dan 9:3 ^c). It called attention to the national need for repentance (Lev 16:29-31 ^d; Neh 9:1 ^e) and probably sought to hasten the arrival of the Messiah through purification. The fact that Jesus and his disciples did not fast (Matt 11:18-19 ^f) subtly proclaimed that the Messiah had already arrived (see also 6:16 ^g).