Sermon on the Mount: On Fasting

Sermon on the Mount – On Fasting

Matthew 6:16-18

Matthew 6:16–18 ESV

16 “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. 17 But when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face, 18 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.

1. Introduction – Today we come to the third act of righteousness that Jesus speaks about in Matthew 6.

a. Next week we are going to double back in the chapter to v.9 and we’ll begin an incredible journey through the Lord’s Prayer.

i. But this week…fasting – probably the least practiced act of the 3 mentioned here.

1. Fasting is all the rage these days in the dieting world.

a. People are constantly touting the benefits of intermittent fasting.

i. But this morning we are not talking about fasting from a physical or dieting perspective.

1. I’m the last person to give anyone any kind of dieting tips.

ii. We won’t touch on the physical side of fasting – instead we will look at fasting as a spiritual exercise.

1. We’ll look at the spiritual benefits and the spiritual reward we’ll receive from this act.

b. Here’s what we are going to do today.

i. We’re actually going to spend the bulk of our time today looking at the first 3 words of v.16…actually those same words repeat at the beginning of v.17 too…

1. Fasting isn’t a topic we look at very often…isn’t something that’s practiced very often…

a. So we’re going to look at what fasting is,

i. Why we should fast, how we should incorporate fasting into our lives…

1. And along the way we’ll look at biblical examples of fasting.

ii. After we’ve looked at fasting, we’ll examine how fasting was being abused in Jesus’ day…but what we’ll see is that fasting was an issue long before Jesus’ earthly ministry.

1. We’ll look at Jesus’ solution to showy and flashy fasting.

a. And we’ll look at the reward God’s gives his people when they fast – and worship him generally…in the proper way and with the proper motivation.

i. That’s our roadmap for today…Hear God’s Word – Matthew 6:16-18.

2. When You Fast – When you fast…that’s how this section starts.

a. When you fast…not IF you fast, but when.

i. Jesus assumes that fasting would be part of a well-balanced Christian life…he assumes that his followers would participate in fasting.

1. And if this is something that Jesus says his followers should practice…then it would serve us well to look into the subject….

a. And even put pasting into practice in our own lives.

b. If you did a quick word study…or looked up the word fasting in the concordance in the back of your Bible…

i. You will find that fasting is something that is taught and written about through the entire canon of Scripture…

1. It is not an obscure subject…it is actually quite prominent.

a. In the OT law – the ancient Israelites were commanded to fast once a year – around the Day of Atonement.

i. But as you read further on in the OT – the people made other additional fasts…

1. Fasts for national emergencies and for personal times of crisis.

ii. As we make our way in NT times – the Pharisees took that annual fast and multiplied it…

1. They fast twice a week on Mondays and Thursdays.

a. This is never commanded by God – but the Pharisees made it a vital part of their religion and devoutness.

i. We know that at the beginning of his earthly ministry, Jesus fasted in the wilderness for 40 days and nights.

1. The Apostle Paul fasted after his conversion on the Damascus Road.

a. And the early church fasting when they had important decisions to make.

2. As you can see – fasting is prominent throughout the Bible.

c. But what exactly is fasting? Remember we aren’t talking about fasting in regard to dieting or weight loss of any other health benefits…

i. Fasting is abstaining from food for spiritual purposes.

1. That’s the biblical notion of fasting – for certain spiritual reasons and purposes…God’s people decide to abstain from food.

a. However, we shouldn’t place a limit on fasting to food and only food. For some of you it would have adversely affect your health if you missed a meal…so we can fast from anything that is legitimate for spiritual reasons.

i. Fasting from a time waster like your phone – YouTube, Facebook, Instagram…

1. Fasting from those things in order to make spiritual gains is perfectly legit.

ii. Fasting is abstaining from something – a break from our normal…in order to spend more time with God.

d. The next thing we have to tackle in regard to fasting is why…why fast at all?

i. Jesus started out…when you fast…so that assumes his followers will…but why?

1. The first reason is this…because exceptional times call for exceptional actions.

a. Do you remember when we studied the book of Joel in the fall?

i. Twice in that book there is a call for fasting.

1. There was a time of national crisis – a locust plague whipped things out…

a. They couldn’t worship the way they were used to…

b. Corruption was setting in – leaders weren’t leading…

i. And God – through the prophet Joel – called for a national fast.

1. Exceptional times called for exceptional action.

ii. And maybe in your own life – if you are facing a time of crisis…

1. Or looking a new career path…or facing a touch decision or a health problem…

a. When you are facing a time of personal crisis…fasting from something will help clear the distractions in your life.

iii. Another reason for fasting is for discipline.

1. Fasting is often referred to as a spiritual discipline or spiritual exercise.

a. Prayer, silence, solitude, Bible reading…along with many others are all called spiritual disciplines.

i. And these exercises are utterly important for our training as Christians.

2. Paul compares the Christian life to an athlete who is training for a race or competition.

a. Athletes must be disciplined.

i. They have to train…lift weights, do cardio, practice their sport.

1. They have to eat properly…hydrate.

a. Musicians must also be disciplined to practice their instruments so as to progress in their proficiency.

b. And so do Christians. The Christian life is not a natural life – it is not a life lived by the power of the flesh, but lived in step with the Spirit.

i. And as we’ve seen in previous weeks – it is not natural to turn the other cheek, to go the extra mile; it is not natural to love your enemies…

1. We have to train ourselves in the ways of God.

a. We have to be disciplined.

3. We must discipline ourselves to spend time reading and studying God’s Word. We must discipline ourselves to spend time in silence and prayer – those things aren’t natural.

a. And we must discipline ourselves in fasting…

iv. Bonhoeffer in the Cost of Discipleship talks about fasting as a way for Christians to put to death the deeds of the body.

1. If we are always giving rein to our fleshly desires…then those desire will always rule us.

a. However, if we deny ourselves, if we deny what our flesh natural wants…then we give room for our spirit…for the Holy Spirit…to move and work in our lives.

e. And here’s the last thing to know about fasting…

i. It is always paired with something else.

1. In the Bible fasting is often paired with penitence….repentance, contrition and confession.

a. When people were deeply distressed over sin and guilt…they would both weep and fast.

i. Again, think of Joel 2:12-13 – return to me says the Lord…give me your heart.

1. Come to me with weeping and…fasting.

2. After a time of waywardness, God was calling his people home, and the appropriate actions for the people was weeping and fasting.

a. Nehemiah assembled the people with fasting and sackcloth and they stood and confessed their sins.

i. The people of Nineveh repented because of Jonah’s preaching – and proclaimed a fast.

1. Daniel sought God by prayer and supplication with fasting and sackcloth.

a. Saul of Tarsus fasted for 3 days and nights after his conversion.

ii. Exceptional times called for exceptional actions.

ii. But if penitence and fasting are often paired together…prayer and fasting are even more so.

1. Moses on Mt. Sinai prayed and fasted

a. King Jehoshaphat, seeing armies advance towards him sought the Lord and proclaimed a fast.

i. Queen Esther…remember when we looked at Esther…prayed and fasted along with the whole Jewish community, before she went into the king’s chamber.

1. Ezra proclaimed a fast before leading exiles back to Jerusalem.

f. The biblical evidence is clear – special enterprises need special prayer…and special prayer may well involve fasting.

3. Don’t – However, the right thing can be done in the wrong way.

a. Which is exactly what was happening in Jesus’ day. When the hypocrites fasting…they let everyone know.

i. They moaned and groaned on the street corner…they made themselves look miserable and disheveled.

1. They did this so people would admire them for their devoutness.

a. But the truth of it is this…vanity in fasting was an issue long before Jesus’ earthly ministry.

i. Look at these verses from Isaiah 58:3-5.

Isaiah 58:3–5 ESV

3 ‘Why have we fasted, and you see it not? Why have we humbled ourselves, and you take no knowledge of it?’ Behold, in the day of your fast you seek your own pleasure, and oppress all your workers. 4 Behold, you fast only to quarrel and to fight and to hit with a wicked fist. Fasting like yours this day will not make your voice to be heard on high. 5 Is such the fast that I choose, a day for a person to humble himself? Is it to bow down his head like a reed, and to spread sackcloth and ashes under him? Will you call this a fast, and a day acceptable to the Lord?

1. False worship has always been an issue for God’s people.

ii. Look at what was happening in Isaiah’s day –

1. Fasting…yet still oppressing workers…fasting but still quarreling and fighting.

a. Fasting…but going through the motions of penitence.

i. Going through the motions of worship…going through the motions of fasting…fasting for the wrong reasons and the wrong motivations….

1. It was an issue in Isaiah’s day…in Jesus’ day…and continues to be one in our day too.

a. The warning is always clear…do the right things in the right way and for the right reasons.

iii. Don’t fast for show…so others will pity you…

1. When you fast, don’t stand on the street corner and moan and groan while holding your stomach…

a. Don’t go without a shower for the duration of your fast.

b. Jesus says once again…if what you are after is the praise of your fellow humans…you’ll get it.

i. The fleeting praise of humanity…that will be the only benefit you receive.

1. No putting to death the flesh, no deeper communion with God, no deeper times of prayer and confession.

a. But human praise…here today and gone tomorrow…

i. What a cheap reward.

4. Instead – But when you fast, Jesus says…far from looking miserable and disheveled…

a. Jesus says, comb your hair, wash your face. Shower, put on your make up…your deodorant.

i. In other words…don’t put on a show for others. Like giving and prayer let your fasting be done in secret.

1. Let it be done so only God knows what you are doing.

a. Now understand this…Jesus isn’t calling us from one hypocritical action to another.

i. He isn’t telling us to act happy when you are miserable…to put on a happy fact.

1. The issue here is motivation…

ii. Which spectators matter more to you? The earthly or the heavenly? Humanity or God?

1. Like the other actions we looked act – we would do well to forget about others…to forget about ourselves an focus solely on God.

5. Reward – And as this section follows a similar pattern to the previous 2 – Jesus finishes by talking about God’s reward.

a. And, the Father knows what we are doing when no one else does.

i. He sees what we in secret and he reward us.

1. Now…what kind of reward are we talking about here?

a. Well, in order to answer that question, I want to go back to Isaiah 58 and look at Isaiah 58:6-12. Listen for the rewards of proper worship and proper fasting.

Isaiah 58:6–12 ESV

6 “Is not this the fast that I choose: to loose the bonds of wickedness, to undo the straps of the yoke, to let the oppressed go free, and to break every yoke? 7 Is it not to share your bread with the hungry and bring the homeless poor into your house; when you see the naked, to cover him, and not to hide yourself from your own flesh? 8 Then shall your light break forth like the dawn, and your healing shall spring up speedily; your righteousness shall go before you; the glory of the Lord shall be your rear guard. 9 Then you shall call, and the Lord will answer; you shall cry, and he will say, ‘Here I am.’ If you take away the yoke from your midst, the pointing of the finger, and speaking wickedness, 10 if you pour yourself out for the hungry and satisfy the desire of the afflicted, then shall your light rise in the darkness and your gloom be as the noonday. 11 And the Lord will guide you continually and satisfy your desire in scorched places and make your bones strong; and you shall be like a watered garden, like a spring of water, whose waters do not fail. 12 And your ancient ruins shall be rebuilt; you shall raise up the foundations of many generations; you shall be called the repairer of the breach, the restorer of streets to dwell in.

b. The whole chapter is about true and false worship...

i. False worship will result in the praise of humanity and nothing else…

1. But did you hear what God said about the benefits of proper worship?

a. Did you catch them?

i. Salvation will come like the dawn.

2. Wounds will heal quickly.

a. Godliness will lead you forward and God’s gory will protect from behind.

i. Fasting…and general overall worship – giving and praying…that isn’t done for show, for the praise of man…

1. Fasting that is done in secret – in the right way and for the right reasons… has this promise attached to it…

3. When we call on the Lord, he will hear us and answer us.

6. Conclusion – When you fast…

a. Jesus assumes his followers will…

i. In times of crisis, in times of repentance and contrition…

1. In deep times of prayer…to discipline their habits.

a. When you fast…don’t put on a show

b. When you worship don’t do so with the wrong motivations…that will do you no good.

b. Instead, worship God in the splendor of his holiness.

i. When you fast – shower, shave, clean yourself up…look like you always do.

1. And do so, so that only God will know what you are doing.

a. And do this…not for the fleeting praise of humanity – but for God’s heavenly rewards that he longs to give his people.

c. Next week, we’ll jump back to 6:9 and being our journey through the Lord’s Prayer.