What Does The Bible Say?
Question - Are we supposed to fast? If so, how, when, why?
Answer - The Bible deals a lot with this subject. Let’s notice several passages. Acts 10:30- “So Cornelius said, “Four days ago I was fasting until this hour; and at the ninth hour I prayed in my house, and behold, a man stood before me in bright clothing,” Acts 14:23, “So when they had appointed elders in every church, and prayed with fasting, they commended them to the Lord in whom they had believed.” 1 Corinthians 7:5, in speaking about marriages deals with fasting- “Do not deprive one another except with consent for a time, that you may give yourselves to fasting and prayer; and come together again so that Satan does not tempt you because of your lack of self-control.” 2 Corinthians 6:5, Paul speaking about all that he had gone through, mentions “in stripes, in imprisonments, in tumults, in labors, in sleeplessness, in fastings;” So we see that fasting does have a significant place in the New Testament. What were the reasons for fasting? We have some of the reasons from the passages we have just looked at.
There are many reasons found in the Bible for fasting. Sorrow for and confession of sin (Lev 16:2934; Num 29:7-11; Deut 9:18; Dan 9:3,4). Lamentation and grief (Jdgs. 20:26; 2 Sam 1:12; Esther 4:3; 9:31). Earnestness of the prayer request (Acts 10:30). This is usually the connection that we see in the New Testament when talking about prayer and fasting. Fasting was thought to strengthen prayer by demonstrating how serious the person praying was.
There is also sometimes a question about what fasting is. What is eaten and what is not eaten. From what I can tell, the Greeks understood fasting as total abstinence from food for a certain time. So, this apparently did not include liquids. Fasting would seem to refer then to total abstinence from food, and this is the implication we receive when reading of Jesus fasting in the wilderness in Matthew 4:2. It says there that Jesus was hungry. If fasting entailed eating fish and vegetables and other foods, then why was Jesus hungry?
The question asks, is it commanded? I cannot find any place where fasting is commanded. It was commanded under the Law of Moses in connection with the day of atonement. But the new covenant has no such requirements. We see many examples of fasting and telling how to do it. (Matthew 6:1618). The Pharisees fasted to impress men. In Luke 18:12, it was their custom to fast twice a week. These Pharisees were using fasting and tithing as ways of self-righteousness before God. But notice more information that Jesus gives in Matthew 6:18; this is an individual matter for each person to deal with. From these passages, it would appear it is up to each person to use his or her discretion as to when to fast and for how long. Fasting can be used to refocus oneself upon the spiritual things and meditation on God. Just as we sometimes get down on one knee to pray to show our earnest desire in prayer, so fasting can have the same symbol in prayer. I believe that fasting should be treated like a prayer position. We see people praying on their knees, standing, and sitting. We see people praying and fasting. We are given the choice by appropriateness as to how we make our appeals to God. Sometimes we choose to pray in bed, sometimes we pray on our knees. Sometimes we pray without fasting, sometimes we pray while fasting. We need to remember that this is another way to approach God. Fasting helps some in their dedication and humility, but it is not essential for us to be more pleasing to God.
Please join us also from Oct. 5-9 at 7 p.m. each night and at regular times on Sunday for a week of gospel preaching with Jessie Flowers from Tennessee. We hope you can come.
Please address all questions and comments to What Does the Bible Say> C/O Maple St. Church of Christ, PO Box 3086, Liberty, TX 77575 and visit our website, maplestreetliberty.org.