FASTING - IS IT BIBLICAL FOR TODAY?
(Matthew 6:17-18)
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SCRIPTURAL REQUIREMENTS CONCERNING FASTING:
In Matthew 6:16-17, Jesus condemned the Pharisees because they fasted in a way that showed everyone that they were doing it. Those Pharisees in Jesus’ time would "disfigure their faces" to accomplish this. For that reason, Jesus said that "they have received their reward in full", their reward being the attention of other people.
Today’s Pharisees do not "disfigure their faces", but have more clever ways that accomplish the same goal. They gain people’s attention by giving public fasting testimonies ("bragimonies" is a much better word), writing articles and books about their fasting experiences (this gets them not only attention, but money!!!), and holding organized fasting events (e.g. conferences, a church or national "day of fasting").
What does the Bible, particularly the New Testament passages to the Church, say about fasting?
1. Jesus stated that fasting is be a private matter between a believer and God. No one else should be aware that the believer is fasting.
Matt 6:16 "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. (NIV)
Matt 6:17 But when you fast, put oil on your head and wash your face, (NIV)
Matt 6:18 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. (NIV)
2. In the gospels, Jesus Christ clearly states that He did not expect His disciples to fast. Jesus states that the "guests of the bridegroom" should not fast while the bridegroom (Christ) is with them, but that when the bridegroom is taken away from them, they will fast in those days.
Matt 9:14 Then John’s disciples came and asked him, "How is it that we and the Pharisees fast, but your disciples do not fast?" (NIV)
Matt 9:15 Jesus answered, "How can the guests of the bridegroom mourn while he is with them? The time will come when the bridegroom will be taken from them; then they will fast. (NIV)
Mark 2:18 Now John’s disciples and the Pharisees were fasting. Some people came and asked Jesus, "How is it that John’s disciples and the disciples of the Pharisees are fasting, but yours are not?"
Mark 2:19 Jesus answered, "How can the guests of the bridegroom fast while he is with them? They cannot, so long as they have him with them. (NIV)
Mark 2:20 But the time will come when the bridegroom will be taken from them, and on that day they will fast. (NIV)
Luke 5:33 They said to him, "John’s disciples often fast and pray, and so do the disciples of the Pharisees, but yours go on eating and drinking." (NIV)
Luke 5:34 Jesus answered, "Can you make the guests of the bridegroom fast while he is with them?
Luke 5:35 But the time will come when the bridegroom will be taken from them; in those days they will fast." (NIV)
3. The believer during the Church Age is indwelt by Jesus Christ Himself, is positionally in permanent union with Christ, and is part of the body of Christ, His Church. Believers are not "guests of the bridegroom", but are the Bride of Christ, His Church. Therefore, the prophecy that "when the bridegroom will be taken from them; then they will fast" can not apply to believers in the Church, since the bridegroom is not taken from us. It can only apply to believers during the Age of Israel, which is before Pentecost and after the Rapture.
Col 1:27 To them God has chosen to make known among the Gentiles the glorious riches of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory. (NIV)
Eph 2:6 And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus,
1 Cor 12:13 For we were all baptized by one Spirit into one body--whether Jews or Greeks, slave or free--and we were all given the one Spirit to drink. (NIV)
4. After a few occurrences in the Book Of Acts, there is no mention of fasting by any New Testament writer. It is not required nor even recommended. The King James Bible translation of (2 Cor. 6:5 and 11:27) inaccurately uses the English word "fastings" to refer to the Apostle Paul’s description in the Greek of "hunger". Another inaccurate translation in the King James includes the word "fasting" in (1 Cor. 7:5), when this word is not found in earlier more reliable manuscripts.
5. Even if fasting were a valid function for a believer in the Church today, which the Bible clearly shows it is not, many believers would still be in violation of clear Scriptural mandates by:
- Fasting while out of fellowship with God through unconfessed sin;
- Fasting in a way that is not just between the believer and God, but rather in a public manner, so that others know what is being done (the second paragraph of this page lists several examples of this);
- Fasting with the wrong mental attitude, such as with the attitude that God is more likely to answer my prayers if I engage in some type of self-denial;
- For something which is not God’s will;
- For selfish motives;
- As a ritual;
- Lack of spiritual discernment to differentiate between Israel as a nation and the Church as the Body Of Christ.
6. Any spiritual benefit of fasting never resulted from the simple giving up of some physical thing such as food. Rather, the spiritual value came from what the believer in fellowship with God did INSTEAD of meeting those physical needs or desires --- prayer and study of God’s word.
7. If you fast in a way that lets people know you are doing it, you might as well enjoy the attention and praise. Jesus clearly states that this is all you are going to get (Matt. 6:16-17).
Copyright (c) 2000, Frank J. Gallagher
Abiding In The Word
http://members.aol.com/abidingitw
All materials are written by me and are copyrighted. These materials may be freely copied and distributed for the purpose of study and teaching, so long as they are made available to others free of charge, and my copyright is included. These materials may not, in any manner, be sold nor used to solicit "donations" from others, nor may they be included in anything you intend to copyright, sell, or offer for a fee. God the Holy Spirit freely provides this knowledge in grace, and so do I. My copyright is exercised to keep these materials freely available to all.
