Fasting

 DEVOTION

THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO MATTHEW

FASTING

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 seems the main thrust is usually put on the word, when, which is used to make that point that our Lord indicated that it is a given that we would fast. He did not say, If you fast, but when, and that Greek word has that direct meaning of whenever, at the time. We have to conclude that there are times that we would fast, but what is missing in this instruction of our Lord is why would we fast, for what purpose would we fast, or what is the benefit of our fasting. When we look at all the examples of fasting in the bible, we find most references were in the Old Testament and it was the whole assembly of Israel fasting, or a prophet telling the people to fast. There were a few times individuals fasted, and a few times in the New Testament, but it was always before people, or groups fasting. Jesus implies here that our fasting should be as an individual and that not a single person would be able to detect that we are fasting. This cannot be a church fast, or a time when a Pastor tells the church that a certain day is a day of fasting and praying for then all of us would know each other is fasting and we would have already received our reward. Jesus is teaching us here that when we fast, that is when we are prompted by the Spirit to fast, that we cannot cover ourselves with sack cloth and ashes and go around with a foreloin look. In fact, whenever we are prompted by the Spirit and not by men, to fast, we are to appear as though we are not fasting. We attended a church years ago where the Pastor announced he was going to fast for a certain time. The truth is, his fast was useless, for he already received his reward, the praise of men, but non from God.  Then we also must deal with exactly what consists of fasting. In the past, the Catholic church instructed its people to fast on Fridays only by abstaining from fish, during the Lenten season. But again, the whole of the church knew everyone was fasting from fish on Friday, unless, of course, someone received special dispensation. This is not what Jesus was teaching. Again, if we are prompted to fast from all food for a day, a week, or simply prompted to fast from a certain type of food, say like, chocolate or however the Spirit prompts us, no one can know. Any fast at all must be done in absolute secrecy so that God is the only one who sees our fast. Perhaps it would be appropriate to fast for the purpose of seeking direction from God or when we are facing a very difficult time. But this has to be individual fasting only in the sight of God.