Why Do We Fast?

Text: Matthew 9:14-17

Place Preached - (Mississauga International Baptist Church)

Date Preached - (09/23/01)

Introduction:   

ILLUS: My ’64 Ford Thunderbird with rust bubbling through the paint.

ILLUS: Rust in the cooling system – “We could flush the system, but it wouldn’t do any good!”

ILLUS: RC man – Witnessed to him, but he was not interested in changing, said it would disrupt his family life.  I asked him “If you were on the wrong road and discovered it, would you turn around, or would you be to proud to admit you were wrong?”

I have a problem with a gospel watered down and presented in such a way that it requires no more commitment than changing the brand of soap you use.

When someone is on the wrong road, a different fuel or an oil change will do them no good whatsoever, they simply need a new road.

The practice at issue in our text is fasting.

Feasting Vs. Fasting

Explain context – Christ visits a banquet held by Matthew where many publican’s and sinners are present.

Many of John the Baptist’s former disciples were now following Christ.

The question of John the Baptist’s Disciples is two-fold.

Christ will answer the second part; the first they must answer for themselves.

It is good to ask questions about our practice…

Fasting is good and proper in the right context (explain) but,….

Why do we ……….. fast?

Fasting is but one example of a practice to which the principles taught by Christ in this passage will apply.

Why do we do what we do?

We must consider our own practice.

There is an attitude which views anything different as if to say, “We’ve never done it that way before!”  Rather than is it appropriate and consistent with Biblical principles?

Did the Pharisees know why they fasted?  Did they fast for other than ritualistic reasons?

They fasted often….

Luke 18:12  I fast twice in the week, I give tithes of all that I possess.

They however lost the value of fasting in their ritual and legalistic adherence to the discipline.

The disciples of John the Baptist were following the same path of legalistic tradition.

Christ used three illustrations to explain why his disciples did not fast.

1. The Bridegroom

ILLUS: The Jewish wedding (briefly describe the difference to our western marriage ceremonies).

It is not fitting to be fasting in the presence of the Bridegroom, this is a great time of rejoicing.

The time would come when they would fast, Christ would be taken from them.

NOTE: The time for fasting – When we know not the Lord’s presence.

Joel 2:13  And rend your heart, and not your garments, and turn unto the LORD your God: for he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness, and repenteth him of the evil.

2. The New Cloth and the Old Garment

EXPLAIN: Unfulled and unwashed cloth (Esp. wool) is subject to shrinkage and as it does so will only serve to deepen the tear and the defect in a older garment.

3. The Wineskins (Bottles)

These were usually sheepskins or goatskins that were cleansed, inverted and then sewn together for the purposes of containg liquids.  The neck or one of the leg cavities was kept as an opening for the “bottle”.

Over time the animal skin would become dried and brittle and unfit for storage of any beverage.

All three illustrations drive home the point that for whatever reason we do things it must be fitting, appropriate and spiritually consistent.

There is to be a spiritual propriety to every aspect of our lives.

They are also all picture of mixtures or compromises.

The old and the new, the flesh and the spirit, do not mix.

The OLD speaks of the law or OT, and individually of the Old Man.

Matthew 5:17  Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil.

Nevertheless He ushered in a new era from that which John the Baptist was born under.  John was a transitional figure.

The transition from law is marked in…

John 1:17  For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ.

Ephesians 4:22  That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts;

The NEW speaks of the NT, and the Spirit of the new man imparted by Christ.

Ephesians 4:24  And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.

John 10:10  The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.

APPLICATIONS:

I. The Old Garment & The Old Bottles are not Sufficient

People say, “I’m okay, & you’re okay”,

Judges 21:25  In those days there was no king in Israel: every man did that which was right in his own eyes.

Proverbs 18:17  He that is first in his own cause seemeth just; but his neighbour cometh and searcheth him.

It is not enough to simply repair the old garment.

Christ did not come to bring religion to this world.  It already had plenty of religion, and it has a lot today. 

ILLUS: People claim to be members of such and such church, I’ve wanted to say to them, “I’ve been by your church and if you ever all show up, you’ll need a football stadium to fit every one in!”

Christ came “to seek and to save that which was lost!!!

People all over this world today are caught up in systems of religion, but they are empty, devoid of hope and life!!!

Jeremiah 2:13  For my people have committed two evils; they have forsaken me the fountain of living waters, and hewed them out cisterns, broken cisterns, that can hold no water.

II. Mixing the New with the Old brings Disastrous Results

Romans 11:6  And if by grace, then is it no more of works: otherwise grace is no more grace. But if it be of works, then is it no more grace: otherwise work is no more work.

Mixing grace and works, religion and self a man is worse off than he was before.

This has application in at least two areas of our Christian life…

A. Assurance

2 Peter 1:10  Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall:

John 5:39  Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me.

B. Evangelism

Matthew 12:43-45  When the unclean spirit is gone out of a man, he walketh through dry places, seeking rest, and findeth none.

44  Then he saith, I will return into my house from whence I came out; and when he is come, he findeth it empty, swept, and garnished.

45  Then goeth he, and taketh with himself seven other spirits more wicked than himself, and they enter in and dwell there: and the last state of that man is worse than the first. Even so shall it be also unto this wicked generation.

ILLUS: Men have been vaccinated with the gospel and never saved.

III. The Only Answer is New Garments and New Vessels

1. Christ had not raised His band of disciples to repair the rent in the garment of legalistic and ritualistic religion.

He came to make a new garment.

2. Christ is not interested in patching up our old religious (outwardly self-righteous) self.

He wants to make a new man.

3. We accomplish little in our witness by attempting to repair another’s old garment.

They must be born again.  Clothed in Christ’s righteousness.

Conclusion:     (Review)

A is not an option (OK the way I am); B is not helpfiul (I’ll add religion to my life) C is the only viable alternative.

2 Corinthians 5:17  Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.