The Sermon on the Mount: Fasting
In the thirteenth of his series on the Sermon on the Mount, we examine what Jesus taught about the spiritual discipline of fasting. Click here for the recording of this 6/1/25 Service, and you can fast-forward to 27:07 to get to the start of the sermon.
Our text comes from Matthew Chapter 6.5-14
16 “Now whenever you fast, do not make a gloomy face as the hypocrites do, for they distort their faces so that they will be noticed by people when they are fasting. Truly I say to you, they have their reward in full.
17 But as for you, when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face, 18 so that your fasting will not be noticed by people but by your Father who is in secret; and your Father who sees what is done in secret will reward you.
Introduction…
Fasting is one of those issues in the NT that is often misunderstood, due to a lack of, or bad, teaching on the issue
Defined, fasting is the willful abstinence of food, sexual activity with one’s spouse, or other pleasures, for a time of prayer, intercession, and/or reflection
Why fast?
To humble yourself before the Lord
To intercede on behalf of someone/thing; i.e., sickness
As a sign of contrition before the Lord
At the sign of some threat
To commemorate an event
Length of fasts in the Bible- 3, 7, and 40 day fasts
What not to do…
Isaiah 58 speaks against a show of fasting, as does our text
Joel 2.13 calls for a rending of the heart, and not the garment- move beyond external show to internal change
We do not fast to be seen by people, but as a silent sign of contrition before the Lord
Fasting in church history
Jews and Pharisees fasted Mon and Thurs
The 2nd century church fasted wed and fri, and prior to baptisms
Demons could be cast out only by prayer and fasting, according to Jesus
Paul fasted after his Damascus road experience
The church fasted prior to sending Paul and Barnabas out on their first missionary journey
v16
The wording is such that Jesus assumes His followers will fast- “when” you fast…
Don’t make a gloomy face like the hupokrites do- the stage actor
They want to be noticed- why?
Their reward is just that- they have been seen, but that is as far as it goes
Why do people want to be seen for their devotional demonstrations?
It may be a sign of insecurity, wanting the affirmation of others
If you grew up in a church culture where that was practiced and affirmed, demonstration was culturally promoted
The opposite can be just as dysfunctional- refusing to be moved in some way so as to appear humble
Many external manifestations are nothing more than an emotional response to a spiritual event
*It is important that we not make value judgments on people’s spirituality based on externals- dress, worship style, etc.
v17
Again, Jesus assumes his audience will in fact fast- “when” you fast
Spruce up your appearance
v18
Your fasting is not to be noticed by people, but by God alone, who is in secret, kruptos
What he sees done in secret, will be rewarded
This is an assured statement, which can be relied upon
Practical application regarding fasting
When you fast, do it for the right reason; humbling yourself before God
When you fast, no one should know, except perhaps your spouse, when it involves sexual abstinence
Lean in to prayer and reflection while fasting- “Lord, what do you want to show me?”
Be sensitive to physical conditions when fasting- blood sugar levels, etc.; choose a different fast if need be- TV, social media, etc.
