Fasting in Jesus’ Ministry and the early church

Key scripture: Matthew 6:16-18 

Jesus fasted to express reliance on God before Jesus began his public ministry he withdrew in preparation and fasted for forty days, and forty nights and Jesus overcame the devil’s temptations (Matthew 4:1-11).  

Jesus expects his followers to fast but if you do fast you need to do it with proper motives as Jesus criticizes those who fast to attract attention like the pharisees did. He tells people to give alms, pray, and fast in ways that are visible only to God and then God will reward (Matthew 6:16-18). 

Fasting isn’t a practice that Jesus introduced in the New Testament, fasting has been a spiritual practice for centuries. Moses first went forty days and forty nights without food and water at Mount Sinai (Exodus 34:28-35), followed by the command for all of Israel to fast on the day of Yom Kippur, the day of atonement. This is still celebrated today by Jews. It’s a day of prayer and fasting to seek God to expiate their sins and achieve reconciliation with God.  

Many major bible characters fasted, for example Moses, David, Samuel, Esther, and the prophets. Fasting is a response to God. Jonah called a city- wide fast (Jonah 3) and God spared destruction on Nineveh. Esther tells the Jews to fast for three days (Esther 4) - the Jews were saved and not destroyed. Daniel fasted for 21 days and at the end God gave him a revelation into important aspects of Israel’s future (Daniel 10).  

The early church took fasting seriously; they would fast two days per week from sunrise to sundown. They would practice fasting on Wednesday’s as it was the day Jesus was betrayed and on Friday’s because that was the day Jesus was crucified.  

Why do we fast today?  

Jesus assumes that his followers would fast, as Jesus says, ‘when you fast’ (Matthew 6:16) he didn’t give any details about how long or how frequently. This means it’s up to you to hear from God and discern the type of fast, the timing and length of your fast.  

Some of the reasons that you might consider to fast today is to offer yourself to God, to draw near to him, to seek guidance, deliverance, or healing.  

Selah… 

 — Brooke Dissaneyeke

Reflection: The Hebrew text used for fast is ‘anah’ which is often translated as ‘deny yourself’. What will you deny yourself and offer to God?  I invite you to pray and have a quiet moment with God and ask God what it is that you need to deny yourself and offer over to God.  

Together Prayer: Spiritual Growth - for you and for the church