New wine into fresh wineskins

John the Baptist’s disciples compare themselves with Jesus’ own disciples on the matter of fasting.

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John lives an austere life, “neither eating nor drinking” (Mt 11:18), that is, eating sparingly, and this robs on his disciples who fast more than is required in the Torah. But fasting is a mark of repentance, an act of petition to God to deliver people from whatever oppresses them.