Anchor My Faith

Fasting

Scripture: Matthew 6:16-18

In our previous lesson we looked at our heart in relationship to prayer; are we praying to be noticed or are we praying in secret, doing the work of God? In this lesson we will look at the topic of fasting and its connection to prayer. Jesus continues his teaching by saying: ^{Mt 6:16} “And when you fast, do not look gloomy like the hypocrites, for they disfigure their faces that their fasting may be seen by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward. ¹⁷ But when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face, ¹⁸ that your fasting may not be seen by others but by your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.”

In Old testament times, various kinds of fasts were commonly practiced, but the law required only one fast per year, on the Day of Atonement. We see this in Leviticus 16:29 and 31, the phrase “you shall afflict yourselves” can be translated “shall fast”. During those fast, in addition to abstaining from food, one was to humble themselves by praying, mourning, and wearing sackcloth. As we saw, when we studied giving and praying, fasting was to be a matter of the heart between the one fasting and God.

When you fast, like when you give and when you pray, Jesus assumes that you will do these things. How well are we responding to his assumption? Are we giving our tithe? Do we consider prayer to be important enough to make time for it each? And now we are faced with the importance and the sacrifice of fasting. Many people can’t go between meals without something to eat. For them to go a day or more without food would truly be a sacrifice and to add a season of prayer with the fast would require the presence of God to accomplish.

Again like previous lessons, Jesus draws a relationship with the heart. Is what we are doing for others to be notice or is it done in secret, only for God to notice. Jesus begins with the external by pointing out that we are not to look gloomy, like the hypocrites, for they disfigure their faces that their fasting may be seen by others. Don’t put on an appearance, or do anything, or say anything that draws attention to your fast because if you do, then that recognition is all that your fast will accomplish. By doing so you have removed the power of God from accomplishing the work of God, which should have been the reason for the fast.

Jesus then tells those who are listening to him what they should do when they fast. They and we are to prepare our bodies as we normally would, so that we would appear no different to others. We are not to let others know that we are fasting; only our Father who sees in secret and will in secret reward us.

Prayer

Father, fasting could be used in so many ways today to help us identify with those who have so much less than we do, who suffer from hunger, health conditions without medicines, lack of proper living conditions, and persecutions of various kinds. Fasting could also be a benefit to help us in our walk with the Lord. Father, we need the attitude of heart today that accompanies an effective fast.