Is Fasting Biblical? (Part 3)

We have begun looking at the subject of fasting. Yesterday, we defined fasting and showed a number of examples in the Bible when it was practiced. Today, we answer the question, “Is it Biblical?”

Is Fasting a Biblical Command?

This is really the question we want answered. If I have never fasted in my life, have I been living in sin? Is it a sin to not fast? If I fast, am I following the Lord in obedience? In Matthew 6:16, Jesus talks about fasting and He says, “… When you fast, do not be like the hypocrites, with a sad countenance. For they disfigure their faces that they may appear to men to be fasting. Assuredly, I say to you, they have their reward.”

What does that phrase “When you fast …” imply? That implies fasting should be a practice (“not if you fast, but when you fast”). On other occasions, Jesus said, “When you give … When you pray …” (Matt 6:2-7).

Fasting is a discipline just as giving to others or praying. Jesus expects His followers to fast; it is to be a reality in our life. The real question shouldn’t be, “Must I fast?” The real question should be, “Does God get glory from my fasting?” And the answer to that question is “Yes.”

He even promises to reward those who do – “So that you do not appear to men to be fasting, but to your Father who is in the secret place; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly” (Matt 6:18). The Father promises to reward those who fast humbly. Jesus was addressing the Pharisees who were fasting in a way that men were seeing them do it. They were hypocritically fasting, because they were full of pride and wanted people to see them as being holy. And let me just warn you that if you choose to fast with that motive, people will notice you and you will get admiration. You will get the praise of men but that’s it; you won’t God’s praise.

Tomorrow, we will simply address the question, “What period of time should we fast?”