SF004 - BIBLICAL FASTING (Matthew 6 16-18)
Matthew 6:16-18
Introduction
In this section of the Sermon on the Mount our Lord is dealing with the question of personal righteousness.
His summary statement is found in 6:1.
Our Christian lives can be divided into three main sections.
1. Our relationship with others – our giving (6:1-4).
2. Our relationship with God – our prayer life (6:5-15).
3. Our personal discipline – our fasting (6:16-18).
In the text before us our Lord deals with fasting. Fasting has been practiced for various reasons throughout history.
Ø Ancient pagans believed demons could enter the body through food so they would fast to prevent demonic invasion.
Ø Most eastern religions fast in order to receive mystical visions and insights.
Ø In America fasting is often used as a means of weight loss.
Ø Fasting has been practiced by OT and NT believers as well as many great Christians in history.
Ø The only fast commanded in Scripture is connected with the Day of Atonement (Lev. 16:29)
Fasting is therefore to be completely voluntary.
1A. Jesus’ Prohibitions Concerning Fasting (6:16)
1B. Do not make fasting a ritual - “whenever you fast”
Jesus assumes we will fast.
Fast, “nesteia” means not to eat, to abstain from food.
Three types of fasts
Ø Normal, liquids only
Ø Absolute, nothing but water
Ø Partial, withhold certain types of food
2B. Do not fast in order to impress God.
Fasting does not obligate God to bless us.
“The moment we begin to say, ‘Because I do this, I get that,’ it means that we are controlling the blessing. That is to insult God and violate the great doctrine of His final and ultimate sovereignty.” (Lloyd-Jones, 40)
3B. Do not fast in order to impress men.
Jewish views toward eating
Ø Because food was a gift from God, it should never be denied.
Ø Fasting should be practiced often and openly.
The Pharisees fasted on Monday and Thursday, which were also the primary market days, thus insuring them a large audience.
2A. Jesus’ Principles For Fasting (6:17-18)
1B. Fasting is normal and acceptable in the Christian life.
Ø Fasting is mentioned some thirty times in the New Testament.
Ø But because the Day of Atonement is not longer necessary (Hebrews 10:10) fasting is not longer a requirement.
Ø When we fast it should not be outwardly obvious.
2B. Fasting is appropriate in times of sorrow.
Ø David fasted when Bathsheba’s child was sick (2 Samuel 12:16).
Ø David fasted when Abner died (2 Samuel 3:31-35).
3B. Fasting is appropriate in times of danger.
Ø King Jehoshaphat proclaimed a fast when threatened by the Moabites and Ammonites (2 Chronicles 20:1-4).
Ø Ezra declared a fast prior to the journey from Babylon to Jerusalem (Ezra 8:21).
4B. Fasting is appropriate in times of repentance.
Ø Daniel fasted when he prayed for God to forgive the sins of his people (Daniel 9:1-19)
Ø The people of Nineveh fasted and repented. (Jonah 3:5, 7)
5B. Fasting is appropriate in times of dedication and consecration to God’s work.
Ø Jesus fasted forty days at the beginning of His ministry (Matthew 4:1-11).
Ø The church at Antioch prayed and fasted prior to sending out Paul and Barnabas (Acts 13:2-3).
6B. Fasting is always linked with prayer.
Ø You can pray without fasting but you cannot fast biblically without praying.
7B. Fasting is always linked with a pure heart and an obedient walk
Zechariah 7:5, 9-10 “Say to all the people of the land and to the priests, ‘When you fasted and mourned in the fifth and seventh months these seventy years, was it actually for Me that you fasted?’ Thus has the LORD of hosts said, ‘Dispense true justice and practice kindness and compassion each to his brother; and do not oppress the widow or the orphan, the stranger or the poor; and do not devise evil in your hearts against one another.’”
Ø There can be no right fasting apart from a right heart, right living, and a right attitude.
Application