When was the last time you thought about “fasting”? During this time of year, we observe that certain Christian denominations are beginning a 40-day fast, in the weeks leading up to the so-called Easter Sunday. Elsewhere in the religious world, we observe Muslims fasting from sunrise to sunset during the Ramadan. However, I am willing to guess that we do not think about “fasting” very often, if at all. Are you hungry to know more about fasting? Let us see five points from the Bible on this topic!
#1 – Fasting in the Bible meant to completely abstain from food
In the Old Testament, the Hebrew word “tsoom” is translated as “fast”. This word literally means “to cover the mouth,” that is, to abstain from food. In the New Testament, the corresponding Greek word is “nesteuo,” which means to abstain from food as a religious exercise.
And Jesus being full of the Holy Ghost returned from Jordan, and was led by the Spirit into the wilderness, Being forty days tempted of the devil. And in those days he did eat nothing: and when they were ended, he afterward hungered (Luke 4:1-2)
#2 – The Jews were commanded to fast under the Old Law.
The tenth day of the seventh month was to be a “Day of Atonement,” when the people were to “afflict their souls” and they were to observe a “sabbath of rest” (Leviticus 16:29:34; 23:26-32). “Afflicting their souls” was synonymous with fasting, as seen in the book of Isaiah, when God was rebuking Israel for their hypocrisy:
Wherefore have we fasted, say they, and thou seest not? wherefore have we afflicted our soul, and thou takest no knowledge? Behold, in the day of your fast ye find pleasure, and exact all your labours (Isaiah 58:3)
#3 – Fasting is not commanded under the New Testament.
The Law of Moses has been “nailed to the cross” and is no longer in effect. Thus, we cannot look to the Old Testament for authority in spiritual matters, including fasting. Whatever we do in our lives today must be based on what Christ has authorized, and although the New Testament discusses the action of fasting (which we will see in a later point), nowhere do we read of it being bound on Christians as a mandatory action.
Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross (Colossians 2:14)
And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him (Colossians 3:17)
#4 – The purposes of fasting.
Fasting is often mentioned in conjunction with prayer. Perhaps, fasting has the effect of focusing one’s mind on the pressing issue that is being prayed for, without being distracted by a sated stomach and feelings of fullness.
For example, the church at Antioch fasted and prayed before dispatching Saul and Barnabas on their missionary journey.
Now there were in the church that was at Antioch certain prophets and teachers; as Barnabas, and Simeon that was called Niger, and Lucius of Cyrene, and Manaen, which had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch, and Saul. As they ministered to the Lord, and fasted, the Holy Ghost said, Separate me Barnabas and Saul for the work whereunto I have called them. And when they had fasted and prayed, and laid their hands on them, they sent them away (Acts 13:1-3)
Paul stated that there might be times when a married couple might mutually agree to temporarily abstain from sexual intercourse, in order that they might focus on fasting and prayer.
Defraud ye not one the other, except it be with consent for a time, that ye may give yourselves to fasting and prayer; and come together again, that Satan tempt you not for your incontinency (1 Corinthians 7:5)
Fasting can also be a way to demonstrate one’s penitent and remorseful heart before God (Note: this is not to say that fasting alone can result in the forgiveness of sins; cf. 1 John 1:8-9). For example, the people of Nineveh listened to the preaching of Jonah, and they proclaimed a fast after realizing the extent of God’s anger towards them (Jonah 3:4-5ff). Jesus said that fasting was to be done “unto the Father”, and not unto men (Matthew 6:16-18) – as we will discuss further below.
#5 – Wrong reasons for fasting.
It is wrong if we fast, or impose a fast on others, because of some misguided belief that it is mandated under the New Testament. Fasting is an optional matter under the Law of Christ,
Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of an holyday, or of the new moon, or of the sabbath days (Colossians 2:16)
It is wrong if we fast, thinking that our sins can be forgiven through that action. It is true that fasting can demonstrate a remorseful attitude, but fasting itself does not cause our sins to be forgiven. Saul fasted for three days (Acts 9:9), and yet Ananias told him that he still needed to be baptized for the forgiveness of sins (Acts 22:16). As a Christian, if we sin, we need to confess our sins to God in our prayers and ask for forgiveness.
If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness (1 John 1:8-9)
It is wrong if we fast in order to show off to people how religious or spiritual we are. Jesus spoke a parable about a Pharisee and the publican, and the Pharisee was condemned for boasting about “fasting twice in the week” – not because fasting was wrong, but because he was being self-righteous and arrogant.
And he spake this parable unto certain which trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and despised others: Two men went up into the temple to pray; the one a Pharisee, and the other a publican. The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, God, I thank thee, that I am not as other men are, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican. I fast twice in the week, I give tithes of all that I possess. And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner. I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other: for every one that exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted (Luke 18:9-14)
We must remember that fasting must not be an occasion to show off our spirituality before men, for that is hypocrisy. Rather, it should be an occasion to draw closer to God with a remorseful attitude and penitent heart.
Moreover when ye fast, be not, as the hypocrites, of a sad countenance: for they disfigure their faces, that they may appear unto men to fast. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward. But thou, when thou fastest, anoint thine head, and wash thy face; That thou appear not unto men to fast, but unto thy Father which is in secret: and thy Father, which seeth in secret, shall reward thee openly (Matthew 6:16-18)
Conclusion
Hopefully, you have learned a little bit more today about what the Bible has to say about fasting. May you be ever hungry to know more about God’s Word, to hear it and do it each day. God bless!
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