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“When you fast, do not look somber as the hypocrites do, for they disfigure their faces to show men they are fasting. I tell you the truth, they have received their reward in full.” (Matt 6:16 NIV84) [see these verses in their context below]
Why do people fast?
Fasting is an ancient activity often related to religious beliefs. It’s when a person or group of people forego food for a period of time for some purpose.
Breakfast (break-fast) is the meal eaten in the morning after a night’s sleep where we go without food. Unless, of course, you’re given to midnight snacks or raids on the refrigerator while everyone else is asleep.
Fasting is not just a new health trend like the current focus on intermittent fasting. I suppose all of us are fasting unintentionally when we pass up breakfast or any other meal to finish a project or work non-stop within a day or night.
But intentional fasting usually has a purpose. One person may fast for personal reasons as a sacrifice of some sort. Someone else may forego a meal or series of meals in a time of devotion to God.
A popular trend in churches called the Daniel Fast, reaches back to the time of Daniel the prophet and his three compatriots who were exiled in ancient Babylon. These Jewish men didn’t want to defile themselves with the royal diet of various meats and wine.
As exiles in training to serve in Nebuchadnezzar’s service, they were expected to comply with all the preparation that included eating certain foods not allowed under the Mosaic Law. So, they asked for and were granted an exception to eat only vegetables and drink water (Daniel 1:6-16).
Today, a local church or group of churches will commit to a Daniel fast for the purpose of unity and devotion to God for spiritual direction and blessing. Other similar fasts give the option for people to skip a meal within a day or eliminate certain foods from their diet just as people do when they observe the Lenten season.
So, the purpose of fasting may be different for various people but for most people, there is an expected or hoped-for outcome.
Insights to consider
Fasting can also become a religious expectation. Many religious groups hold to some form of fasting on a regular basis as a sign of commitment and devotion. This was true for the more devout Jews in the time of Jesus.
Sadly, it became more of a self-righteous activity for some Jews rather than personal devotion to God. While fasting, they made sure everyone else knew of their religious devotion. They walked around with sad and contorted faces so others could see their self-righteous suffering for God.
Jesus called such people hypocrites. They played the part of religious devotees but their hearts were far from God. Whatever reward they hoped for was set aside for the reward of people’s attention and praise.
This wasn’t a new problem. Centuries before Jesus came, God rebuked His people for their misguided purpose in fasting. He rebuked them for their selfishness and a false sense of righteousness (Isaiah 58:1-5).
God spoke through the prophet Isaiah what the Lord considered as an acceptable purpose for fasting. He reminded them of God’s purpose for the Jews as His people (Isaiah 58:6-9). Then rebuked them for their self-righteousness and hardness of heart (Isaiah 58:10-14).
God isn’t impressed with our attempts at being righteous nor our self-focused purposes for fasting. The Lord sees a different purpose for fasting. He desires us to deny ourselves for His purposes in devotion to Him and with a concern for others.
True Religion
The direction Jesus gave for fasting was simple. When you fast, don’t be obvious about it. We are to appear the same to others while fasting as if we were eating our usual meals.
Fasting is a commitment we make between ourselves and the Lord. It could be for various reasons and done in various ways. God will honor our commitment to fast. It is private in the sense of not being obvious about it with others but it’s not a top-secret mission.
Some people might get hung up on the privacy or secrecy of fasting but that’s not much different than how hypocrites handle fasting. When the emphasis is on secrecy, we end up making it more about ourselves and the proper way to fast rather than setting aside food and time to seek the Lord.
When a church body commits to a time of prayer and fasting, our concern isn’t about secrecy among one another. This should be obvious. By the same token, we don’t need to announce it to others or make a public announcement so everyone else knows how spiritual and righteous we are or think we are.
Jesus made it clear. The purpose of fasting isn’t to be noticed by others but to trust the Lord with our commitment to deny ourselves and seek the Lord.
What if someone discovers we are fasting? Will we lose our reward? Don’t worry about it! The Lord knows our heart and He knows our motives and purpose for fasting. Trust in Him.
I’ve spent time fasting and praying as I sought the Lord for specific direction, fresh vision, and while working on a project or preparing for some specific ministry. Each time the Lord has honored my commitment to Him in these experiences.
I’ve also joined with fellow believers in a church-wide commitment to pray and fast. Sometimes this was done at certain intervals throughout a day or week. At other times, it was for a set time and purpose in unity with others.
Fasting is encouraged by the Lord. Not as a religious obligation nor to become more righteous or spiritual. Fasting is a way of honoring the Lord as an expression of devotion to Him.
What is your experience with fasting?
How have you benefited from spiritual fasting?
Reflection—
Jesus made it clear. The purpose of fasting isn’t to be noticed by others but to trust the Lord with our commitment to deny ourselves and seek the Lord. Fasting is a commitment we make between ourselves and the Lord.
Prayer Focus—
When you consider taking time to fast and pray, ask the Lord for wisdom and guidance. Ask His help in keeping a clear sense of purpose, timing, and even how you commit to fast and pray. Above all, trust the Lord with your heart and mind focused on Him and His purposes for your life.
Devo Scripture Text
“Be careful not to do your ‘acts of righteousness’ before men, to be seen by them. If you do, you will have no reward from your Father in heaven. So when you give to the needy, do not announce it with trumpets, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and on the streets, to be honored by men. I tell you the truth, they have received their reward in full. But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your giving may be in secret. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.”
“And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by men. I tell you the truth, they have received their reward in full. But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.
And when you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words. Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him.”
“This, then, is how you should pray: ‘Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us today our daily bread. Forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.’”
“For if you forgive men when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.”
“When you fast, do not look somber as the hypocrites do, for they disfigure their faces to show men they are fasting. I tell you the truth, they have received their reward in full.
But when you fast, put oil on your head and wash your face, so that it will not be obvious to men that you are fasting, but only to your Father, who is unseen; and your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.”
(Matthew 6:1-18 NIV84)