And the disciples of John and of the Pharisees used to fast,.... Or "were fasting"; perhaps that very day, and so were the more displeased at this entertainment, Matthew had made for Christ and his disciples, and at their being at it; or fasting was usual with them: they fasted often, both John's disciples, and the disciples of the Pharisees, or the Pharisees themselves; so the Vulgate Latin reads: of their frequent fasting, Matthew 9:14,
and they came: both the disciples of John, Matthew 9:14, and the Scribes and Pharisees, Luke 5:30,
and say unto him, why do the disciples of John and of the Pharisees fast, but thy disciples fast not? Matthew 9:14.