Jesus on Fasting, pt 2

(This series follows a series on Ramadan – the Muslim month of fasting.  Click here to read those posts). 

The bible doesn’t record a whole of about what Jesus says about fasting.  In the last post, we saw an example of Jesus fasting.  In this post, I want to look at the first passage where Jesus talks about fasting directly. 

Setting:  Jesus is giving his famous “Sermon on the Mount”.  In this chapter (and the chapter before), there are a lot of teachings, including commands to love our enemies, giving to the needy, and how to pray.  In the middle of all of this, Jesus talks about fasting.

The Verse:  Matthew 6:16-19
 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. ¹⁷But when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face, ¹⁸that 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.

Here are three points Jesus is trying to make:

1.       We should fast.  Jesus assumes that people are fasting when he says “And when you fast…”.  Israelites fasted before Jesus came, and the Christians fasted after Jesus came.   This isn't as strong as a command as, say, "Love your enemies, and pray for those who persecute you."  But I would assert that there is an expectation from Jesus that his followers spend time fasting. 

2.       Don’t fast for the praise of people.  If we fast for other people, we may get their attention.  Maybe even their praise.  But that is all we will get.  I wonder what it is that we do that will be seen by others?  Maybe we tell people we are fasting.  Maybe we act very hungry and extra unhappy at work and home. 

3.       God rewards those who fast for God.  Jesus doesn’t say what that reward is.  But I suspect that one reward is that we hear God more clearly in our hearts.  Personally, when I fast, I find myself more clearly able to distinguish between my own feelings and desires and the leading of the Holy Spirit.

To be honest, there’s not a lot here.  Conspicuously missing are the guidelines for when to fast (once a week?  A whole month once a year? 40 days?) and how to fast (just during the day? drink only water? Abstain from meat?)  But those things aren't the point of the passage.  They are secondary.  Rather, any fasting - whatever form it takes - should be done for God and not for man.  Even if there is a "right" way to fast, if our hearts are in the wrong place, our right method means nothing.