According to Matthew 9:14 the question is asked by the disciples of John, who point to the practice that they have in common with the Pharisees. Also in Luke (5:33) the questioners (who are unidentified here) first name John’s disciples and only then the disciples of the Pharisees. Many are of opinion that the reference to the “disciples of the Pharisees” (Luke 5:33; Mark 2:18) is an anomalous reading. Among the Pharisees there were scribes and their disciples, but the party as such did not have “disciples.” But it is apparent from Josephus that it is possible to speak about “disciples of the Pharisees” (Antiquities 13.289; 15.3.370). Why was this terminology chosen? Precisely because Jesus and his disciples were being addressed. They are being compared to what the disciples in the company of John and the company of the Pharisees do. They learned to observe days of fasting. But Jesus’ disciples only learn about eating and drinking! Mark gives the impression that both the disciples of John and those from the company of the Pharisees are asking the question. On the other hand, the question is not posed in the first-person plural and that gives the impression that third persons are raising the question on their behalf. Since the disciples who are mentioned and their spiritual sympathizers undoubtedly shared the same concern, the question could have been raised at the same time by various people. For Mark, posing the question is more important than the identity of the questioners. He shows that there is a broad basis for the question. It is not only the Pharisees who are faithful to the law, but also John’s disciples who keep the calendar of days of fasting faithfully!¹