A private matter

DEVOTION

THE GOSPEL OF MATTHEW

A PRIVATE MATTER

Matt 6:16-18

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. 17 But when you fast, put oil on your head and wash your face, 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

It should be noted Jesus used the words, “when you fast”. This is not a teaching on the principle of fasting, but on the concept of not wearing our fasting on our face. In fact, this is about not letting anyone know we are fasting, when we fast. If we were to look at the concept of fasting, the word used here means to abstain from food for religious reasons. There are times it would seem it is appropriate to abstain from food for a religious reason, or should we say a spiritual reason, for there may be many who fast for their religiosity, but it may not have anything to do with spiritual matters. Nevertheless, there is sufficient teaching in the scriptures to indicate there are times when fasting would or could enhance either our petitions before the Lord or our hearing from him concerning his will or purpose for our being. However, the time frame or length of such a fast is untaught. It could be for one meal, or for one day, or for a week, month or forty days. But it needs to be for the purpose of hearing from God, or showing God our commitment for some reason. Yet these words are not about this teaching, as we started with. Jesus is telling us that our fasting is completely a private matter between ourselves and God. We should not even admit to another person the fact we are fasting, unless as in one example the disciples were fasting together in prayer about anointing missionaries. Paul and Barnabas fasted together for the anointing of elders. But the point Jesus is making about keeping any fast from being a public display. We could extrapolate this to include any form of a public show of religiosity. That is not to say we should refrain from being spiritual or praying for the needs of others, whenever the opportunity arises. This is also not to say we should refrain from sharing the gospel message, quite the opposite, we should be open to share our faith, living it out loud, being a person who cares about those who are lost and being there with love, concern, mercy, compassion, and with Jesus. This is not about telling them all the things we do not do, or how much we attend church, or how spiritual we are, or that we fast and pray, or whatever else that would lift ourselves above others. It is about being a believer, doing that which the Lord has called us to do and doing it for him, not for ourselves or for a show to others. So back to fasting, only God should know when we fast. If we are fasting then do not put ourselves in situations we have to tell someone we are fasting. Don’t go out to a restaurant with friends then simply order water, telling them we are on a fast.  Don’t attend a church gathering when food is present, then not eat, making it known you are fasting. Simply put, keep it between ourselves and God, when we fast. Fasting is a private matter.