Living In The Kingdom 15 Series

Living in the Kingdom 15

Scripture: Matthew 6:16-18; 17:14-21; Isaiah 58:2-6; Psalms 35:13

This is a continuation of my series, “Living in the Kingdom.” This morning we will examine what Jesus says about fasting and riches in His Sermon on the Mount. We will look at verses sixteen through twenty-four which read, “Moreover when you 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. 17. But you, when you fast, anoint your head, and wash your face; 18. that you appear not unto men to fast, but unto your Father Who is in secret: and your Father, Who sees in secret, shall reward you openly.” (Matthew 6:16-18)

In the first three verses Jesus tells His followers how they are to fast. The point He is making is that fasting is personal and private and should not be done as a means to demonstrate to others how “holy” you are. First and foremost, fasting, from a Scriptural viewpoint means to “abstain from food and/or water (fast) for the period in which the abstinence takes place (fasting).” I know it is common today to say we are fasting from watching TV, playing video games, etc., but this type of fast, while useful, is not what scripture is talking about. And to be perfectly honest, it is not scriptural. In the Bible, fasting always deals with bringing the body into subjection by depraving it of food. To understand why Jesus gave this instruction we must take a step back and examine how fasting was done when Jesus walked the earth. Fasting in Scripture was often accompanied by the putting on of sackcloth and ashes. This self-affliction (wearing sackcloth and ashes was not easy on the skin) and said to God, “I am repenting; I am not high and mighty. You need not afflict me further.”

The word “fast” literally signifies to abstain from food and drink, whether from necessity or as a religious observance. The first meal of the day is call “breakfast” which means to break a fast. In the Bible fasting was an expression of grief or sorrow and we all know when people are in deep despair they often tend to eat very little, and sometimes they begin to lose weight and become sickly if the despair is not addressed quickly. Fasting, then, is the natural expression of grief. It is not random; it is what every person in sorrow naturally does. Therefore it was natural during biblical times to demonstrate the appropriate grief and/or despair when one chose to fast and this is what Jesus was addressing. The Jews had multiple occasions in which they were commanded to fast and it was customary for the Pharisees to fast twice a week. Fasting became a show of religious grieving with the desire for others to witness their commitment to God. Traditionally some of the Jews would disfigure their faces when they fasted. They would not anoint or wash themselves as usual and they were uncombed, filthy, and tired looking. It is said that they were often in the habit of throwing ashes on their heads and faces; and this mixing with their tears, seemed still farther to disfigure their faces. While it was common to make a show of it, Jesus said the disciple’s fasting was to be private. He instructed them not to be like the hypocrites who were seeking the praise of men in their outward show of fasting. The hypocrites were known to fast when there was nothing of that contrition or humiliation of soul motivated the fast – it was all for show. What is important to understand is this: Jesus does not tell us how often we must fast, but how to do it appropriately when we do fast. Jesus said, “…when you fast” which tells us that we are to fast and there is a real purpose for fasting.

Do you remember the story the story where Jesus’ disciples could not cast out a demonic spirit? Matthew 17:14-21 records the following, “And when they came to the multitude, there came to him a certain man, kneeling down to him, and saying, 15. ‘Lord, have mercy on my son: for he is epileptic, and is very ill: for often he falls into the fire, and often into the water. 16. And I brought him to your disciples, and they could not cure him.’ 17. Then Jesus answered and said, ‘O faithless and perverse generation, how long shall I be with you? How long shall I endure you? Bring him here to Me.’ 18. And Jesus rebuked the demon; and he departed out of him: and the child was cured from that very hour. 19. Then came the disciples to Jesus apart, and said, ‘Why could not we cast him out?’ 20. And Jesus said unto them, ‘Because of your unbelief: for verily I say unto you, if you have faith as a grain of mustard seed, you shall say unto this mountain, remove from here to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you. 21. But this kind goes not out but by prayer and fasting.” In this story the disciples could not cast out a demonic spirit and asked Jesus why they could not do it. Jesus said it was because of their lack of faith and then He added in what really clinches it – that “this kind goes not out but by prayer and fasting.” In these verses we often focus on the faith as a grain of mustard seed, but the true reason as to why they could not cast this demon out is because they were not “prayed” up or had fasted. And not just prayed up and fasted for this instance, but as a lifestyle. This story tells us that there are different kinds of demonic spirits and different degrees of power to cast them out. I want you to see that in this story the fasting had nothing to do with sin and grief per se, but one of the most important reasons why Christians today should fast – to build their faith so that they can walk in a level of power needed to handle God’s business here on earth. Turn with me to Isaiah 58 and we will begin reading at verse two.