Joy of Fasting

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Fasting was a habit

All the Fasts in the Bible The Pharisees and Disciples of John Fast as a Discipline

The Pharisees and Disciples of John Fast as a Discipline

All the Fasts in the Bible Anna Fasts in Anticipation of the Messiah

Anna Fasts in Anticipation of the Messiah

All the Fasts in the Bible Paul Fasts After Being Struck on the Damascus Road

Paul Fasts After Being Struck on the Damascus Road

All the Fasts in the Bible Church Teachers Fast for Guidance from the Holy Spirit

Church Teachers Fast for Guidance from the Holy Spirit

All the Fasts in the Bible Paul and Barnabas Fast Before Appointing Elders

Paul and Barnabas Fast Before Appointing Elders

Examples of Fasting in the NT,
Matthew 9:14–17 “Then the disciples of John came to him, saying, “Why do we and the Pharisees fast, but your disciples do not fast?” And Jesus said to them, “Can the wedding guests mourn as long as the bridegroom is with them? The days will come when the bridegroom is taken away from them, and then they will fast. No one puts a piece of unshrunk cloth on an old garment, for the patch tears away from the garment, and a worse tear is made. Neither is new wine put into old wineskins. If it is, the skins burst and the wine is spilled and the skins are destroyed. But new wine is put into fresh wineskins, and so both are preserved.””
Luke 5:33–39 “And they said to him, “The disciples of John fast often and offer prayers, and so do the disciples of the Pharisees, but yours eat and drink.” And Jesus said to them, “Can you make wedding guests fast while the bridegroom is with them? The days will come when the bridegroom is taken away from them, and then they will fast in those days.” He also told them a parable: “No one tears a piece from a new garment and puts it on an old garment. If he does, he will tear the new, and the piece from the new will not match the old. And no one puts new wine into old wineskins. If he does, the new wine will burst the skins and it will be spilled, and the skins will be destroyed. But new wine must be put into fresh wineskins. And no one after drinking old wine desires new, for he says, ‘The old is good.’ ””
Faithlife Study Bible
2:18 fasting was a characteristic of the Pharisees’ piety.

The Bible views the piety that it inculcates from several complementary standpoints. The OT calls it ‘the *FEAR of God’, or ‘the Lord’ (over 30 times), thus showing that true piety is rooted in an attitude of reverence, submission and obedience towards God.

Luke 18:11–12 “The Pharisee, standing by himself, prayed thus: ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other men, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week; I give tithes of all that I get.’”

The Bible views the piety that it inculcates from several complementary standpoints. The OT calls it ‘the *FEAR of God’, or ‘the Lord’ (over 30 times), thus showing that true piety is rooted in an attitude of reverence, submission and obedience towards God.

2:19 fast
Mourning or penitential activity would be inappropriate at a joyous occasion such as a wedding.
Christ’s ministry, and companion is like a wedding, banquet. A joyful moment!!

BRIDEGROOM (חָתָן, chathan; νυμφών, nymphōn). Frequently a symbolic term in the Bible, but also used literally (e.g.,

2:20 is taken away from them Jesus’ remark foreshadows His own future- his betrayal, arrest, and execution.
2:21 the new from the old
parables of the cloths and wineskins (Meaning)? Matt 9:16
Matthew 9:16 ESV
No one puts a piece of unshrunk cloth on an old garment, for the patch tears away from the garment, and a worse tear is made.

New, Newness. That the second part of the Bible is called the New Testament indicates how fundamental the idea of “new” is to biblical revelation. Many key theological expressions incorporate the idea: new creation (

5:39 The old is just fine This saying is found only in Luke. Jesus’ point seems to be that those who are content with the current way of doing things tend to resist anything new—even when it involves God’s work of salvation

For I desire steadfast love and not sacrifice,

the knowledge of God rather than burnt offerings.

History of Fasting - Baler Encyclopedia of the Bible

In the

Such as incoming, immediate calamity or trouble.

calamity (Jgs 20:26;

Throughout the OT, fasting is associated with a

In general, in the OT, fasting was abused. Instead of a sincere act of self-renunciation and submission to God, fasting became externalized as an empty ritual in which a pretense of piety was presented as a public image. Hence, the prophets cry out against the callousness of such hypocrisy. Jeremiah records Yahweh as saying, “Though they fast, I will not hear their cry” (14:12; see

Is Jesus criticizing the Pharisees, and the ritual use of fasting?

The setting for the NT understanding of fasting lies in the development of the rabbinic tradition that grew out of the period between the Testaments, during which fasting became the

Jesus’ understanding of fasting

Jesus teaching about fasting in the Sermon on the Mount
Matthew 6:16–18 ““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.”

His temptation was born out of the context of struggle. Immediately after his baptism, he was cast out into the wilderness by the Spirit to face as the Second Adam the temptation of Satan. In the midst of his temptation, he fasted and prayed, quoting from

Jesus’ words about fasting in the Sermon on the Mount constitute a radically different approach to voluntary fasting. In condemning the type of fasting which seeks favor with men by an ostentatious display of outward piety, Jesus taught instead a robust faith that sought genuineness of relation to God through a pure heart. Jesus does not condemn fasting as such, nor does he forbid it. He does, however, give it a new meaning. Fasting is service to God.

Jesus wants to point out the original meaning of fasting

This new understanding of fasting is set within the context of the dawning of the time of salvation. The bridegroom is here. It is a time of joy, not of sorrow. Consequently, the prevailing mood of fasting as mournful stress and pretended piety is inconsistent with the mood of the new age that has begun.

There is a place for fasting, properly understood. Fasting must be done within the context of the joyful thanksgiving of the new life in Christ.

The context of fasting is prayer. It should conform to the same conditions as prayer: unostentatious quietness before God, arising out of gratitude, expressing thanksgiving, grounded in faith, as a means of spiritual growth.

Mark 2:18–22 “Now John’s disciples and the Pharisees were fasting. And people came and said to him, “Why do John’s disciples and the disciples of the Pharisees fast, but your disciples do not fast?” And Jesus said to them, “Can the wedding guests fast while the bridegroom is with them? As long as they have the bridegroom with them, they cannot fast. The days will come when the bridegroom is taken away from them, and then they will fast in that day. No one sews a piece of unshrunk cloth on an old garment. If he does, the patch tears away from it, the new from the old, and a worse tear is made. And no one puts new wine into old wineskins. If he does, the wine will burst the skins—and the wine is destroyed, and so are the skins. But new wine is for fresh wineskins.””
Application:
Rejoice always,
Jesus wants us to take part in the joy of salvation.
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