Fasting and Jesus' Disciples

"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. But when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face, that 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."
- Jesus (Matthew 6: 16-18)

I haven't fasted in a while, so I begin this blog with personal repentance. I know I should fast, but I don't very often. What makes it even worse... eating a biscuit from Hardees while I am trying to write this blog :-P. Anyway, I will hope to learn something as I study and write... and eat my biscuit.

Jesus begins this section with "And when you fast". Not "if you fast"... "when you fast". So, clearly His expectation is that His followers, His disciples will fast. This isn't a television fast or a cell phone fast, this is about food. Specifically, this is setting aside a period of time to focus on something spiritual and demonstrating your seriousness by doing without food. There is something different about doing without food, some mental/ physical change that occurs. Back to fasting in minute...

In my favorite movie, Driving Miss Daisy, Hoke is hired by Boolie (Miss Daisy's son) to drive Miss Daisy. She is not happy and lets Hoke know it. At one point she asks how much her son is paying him. His reply is the same throughout the movie, "that's between him and me". It was a private matter and Hoke kept it that way. What does that have to do with fasting... read on.

Jesus is calling on His followers to be different than the religious leaders of His day. Evidently, when they fasted, they demonstrated outwardly what they were doing. He says they "disfigured their faces". I can imagine the grimaces and frowns that they used to show others how much pain they were in while not eating. The point of it all was to be seen by others as "holy" people. They were interested in what others thought and not focusing on the purpose of the fast. Jesus says they get their reward here and now... attention/ recognition by people.

He calls on His disciples to fast secretly. It is between them and Him. They were to wash their faces, fix their hair and act normally. No one else was to know, only their Father who is in secret. Fasting is meant to be done privately. It is not a Christian discipline that anyone else should ever see us do. Can a group join together and all do it "privately"? Sure, but make certain that the group understands the basic principle that it is between them and their Father. As with the other truths that He is teaching in the Sermon, Jesus is telling us that this is a heart issue. It is not about outward obedience, it is about a changed heart.  

He promises a reward for those that conduct themselves this way. I don't know what that is and neither do you. He doesn't say, but if it is a reward from God... I want it. If it is from the Giver of every good gift, bring it on!

There are many examples of fasting in the New Testament. Jesus fasted for forty days and nights (Matt 4: 1-9). The Antioch church fasted before they sent out missionaries. (Acts 13: 1-3) The Galatian church fasted before they selected elders. (Acts 14: 21-23) Fasting was a mark of Paul's ministry. (2 Cor 6: 4-10) And Paul taught that fasting was to be a part of our lives. (1 Cor 7: 5) In Luke 2, we meet Anna who was blessed through her fasting and in Acts 10 we learn that Cornelius was fasting when he was told to send for Peter. Fasting is found throughout the scriptures.

It was a part of the lives of the God's people in the Old and New Testament and it is to be part of the lives of His disciples now. Jesus calls on us to deprive ourselves of our desires to demonstrate our seriousness to the Father. There is something special that happens when we fast and pray. Something "supernatural"! We are more in touch with our spiritual side when we set aside the physical. Do you feel that your prayers lack passion and depth, try adding a time of fasting and see if God responds. Want to see a change in your own life, fast and pray. Want to see things change in other's lives, fast and pray. But, wash your face, fix your hair and put a smile on your face. ;-)

Fasting... that's between Him and me!