We’ve been studying Jesus’ famous Sermon on the Mount for the last 12 weeks or so. It’s called the Sermon on the Mount because Jesus went up on top of a mount to teach these lessons. Notice in the picture here: The water is the Sea of Galilee. The church on top of the “Mount” may be the place Jesus gave the Sermon on the Mount. In this sermon, Jesus lays out His vision for God’s people—who they are and how they live.
However, Jesus was clear that when His followers give, pray, and fast, they shouldn’t be like hypocrites. A hypocrite is an actor who puts on a show for people. Jesus says, “Don’t be like that. Because if you practice your religion to impress people, that’s the only reward you will ever get.” Instead, Jesus said to give, pray, and fast privately. That way only God will know what you’re doing and He will reward you.
Today, I want to read Matthew
6:16-18. Jesus said:
Matthew 6:16-18
16 “And when you fast, don’t
make it obvious, as the hypocrites do, for they try to look miserable and
disheveled so people will admire them for their fasting. I tell you the truth,
that is the only reward they will ever get. 17 But when you fast, comb your hair and wash your face. 18 Then no one will
notice that you are fasting, except your Father, who knows what you do in
private. And your Father, who sees everything, will reward you.
Fasting is going without food for a set period of time. Sometimes people fast if they have a medical procedure—like a colonoscopy or an annual checkup where they do blood work. But the kind of fast Jesus is talking about is a religious fast. It is a fast done out of devotion to God.
And I need to be clear, a religious fast is not a way to lose weight or et ready for the doctor…
We know Jesus fasted for at least
two reasons. First of all, Jesus was an
obedient Jew who followed the Jewish Law prescribed in the Old Testament. And the Law commands all Jews to fast at
least once a year for the religious holiday Yom Kippor—the Day of
Atonement.
So we know Jesus would have observed this annual fast for the Day of Atonement.
But the Gospels of Matthew, Mark, and Luke all tell how Jesus—at the very
beginning of His ministry—went into the wilderness and fasted for 40 days. 40 days is an extreme fast that Jesus was
able to complete as a miracle. It’s not
something that we should attempt to duplicate.
If
done with the right attitude, fasting can remind us of our utter dependence on
God. We need God even more than we need food.
You may think,
“I already know that. I don’t need to go
without food to realize it.” That may be
true. But, it is one thing to know something in your head intellectually. It is another thing to know it in reality—to have your stomach grumbling and
every physical fiber of your hungry body screaming: “Give me food to eat!” and
to remain spiritually disciplined to say, “No. I’m not eating today because I need God more
than I need food.” When we fast, it can change the spiritual chemistry of our physical body. It’s something that goes deeper than your
conscious thought—something that reaches down into your unconsciousness. When you fast, your hunger becomes a form of
continuous prayer. Every groan of your stomach is a cry to God for spiritual sustenance.
Although typically, fasting means
going without food, there are other ways to fast as well. You can give up something else besides food that is very important to you. Such as: going without coffee, not watching TV, abstaining from social media, not
listening to music, or spending time alone without any social interaction. The point is to give up something that is as
important to you as food (and that could be different for each different people
depending on your personality).
Jesus said, “When you fast…” So when should you fast? (Or when could you fast?) First of all, I should say Christians have freedom. We are not slaves to laws and rules and traditions. God grants us grace. So if and when we fast, it is for our benefit and not to fulfill some obligation. But fasting can be a great spiritual benefit.
You can fast anytime. There is no hard and fast rules about it. I have found that consistency is better than extremity. What I mean is it is better to fast a little bit regularly and consistently than it is to do one big, long extreme fast. It's kind of like physical exercise. It is better to exercise 30 minutes a day, every day for a year than it is to exercise for 12 hours only once a month. Consistency is the key to exercise and fasting.
Christians have two seasons when fasting is very appropriate. The season of Lent (the 40 days prior to Easter) is an excellent time for a fast as we prepare to celebrate the ressurection of Christ. Another season when fasting is very appropriate is the season of Advent, as we prepare to celebrate Christmas and prepare for the Second coming of Christ.
Fasting can be very helpful before you make a big decision or start something new. Jesus fasted before He started His public ministry. If it was good enough for Jesus, it's good enough for you. Fasting can help clear your mind, align you with the Holy Spirit, and give you clarity as your start a new job, move to a new home, or make a big life decision.
You can also fast on behalf of others. People have become accustomed to saying and hearing, “I’ll pray for you.” What if you said instead in some very important situations, “I’ll be fasting for you while I’m praying.” Now that tells someone, you are really committed to seeking divine help for them.
In closing, I want to remind you of the warnings Jesus gave about fasting. He said in Matthew 6:16 , “And when you fast, don’t make it obvious, as the hypocrites do, for they try to look miserable and disheveled so people will admire them for their fasting.”
So Jesus gave at least 3 warnings. Don’t try to impress people. If you do, that's the only benefit your fast will bring (and what a cheap reward that is). Second, don’t look miserable as you fast. That's just a way to get sympathy from people or try to impress them. So, don't do that. Do your fast in private. Don't even let others know you're doing it. That way, God in heaven (who see what you do in secret) will reward you.
