There seem to be only two main issues concerning
fasting in the gospels. One is the complaint, recorded in Matthew 9, Mark
2, and Luke
5, that the disciples of John and of the Pharisees “fast often,” but Jesus’ disciples do not. There were
apparently set times when observant Jews practiced at least partial fasting;
eating only one meal, or eating very simply, or even taking only water. This
was (and sometimes still is) seen as a way of gaining merit or “attaining
atonement.” Jesus said when the Bridegroom is around it is a time for feasting
and celebrating, not fasting.
The second passage concerning fasting is found
in the Sermon on the Mount, in Matthew
6. Jesus is talking about spiritual disciplines in general. He says not to
give alms in such a way as to be noticed and admired, or to pray in such a way
as to try to show off how holy we are. The same holds for fasting. “When you
fast, anoint your head and wash your face so that your fasting will not be
noticed by men, but by your Father who is in secret; and your Father who sees
what is done in secret will reward you.” (Matt.
6:17-18)
Jesus must be talking about other fasts than the
one on Yom Kippur, when everyone is fasting together, or the ones such as those
Esther and Ezra called for, where a group are fasting together for some
purpose. He clearly assumes that there are times when some may fast for their
own reasons. We may privately choose to fast for reasons that are between us
and God. This kind of fasting should not be held up as an example of superior
spirituality. There are rewards for this kind of fasting that will be as
individual as the reasons for fasting in the first place.
In the epistles, there are several interesting
teachings concerning fasting. It is quite possible the 120 disciples were
fasting in the Upper Room, although it is not mentioned. In Acts
13:2-3, the apostles were “serving God and fasting” when the Holy Spirit
set apart Barnabas and Saul (still a new enough apostle, not yet identified as Paul)
“for the work to which I have called them.” Paul received his call to the
Gentile missions direct from the Holy Spirit, during a time of fasting. And he
was not alone. We may not read that much about Barnabas or other disciples, but
they all had their part to play. For one thing, we would likely not have the
gospel of Mark had it not been for Barnabas pouring oil on troubled waters and
encouraging John Mark when Paul had given up on him.
In Acts
14:23 there is a very interesting passage which reports that the early
Christian churches chose elders with fasting and prayer. Today, we should
choose our church officers with earnest prayer, although sometimes we are
tempted to fill offices with any warm body that will accept them. But we do not
fast over these decisions. What might happen if we did?
In 1 Cor. 7:5 we
have the first clear indication that fasting could be about other things than
food. Here Paul is counseling married couples that they may abstain from sexual
relations for a period of time, “so that you may devote yourselves to prayer,”
but not to let it last too long, because it would simply give the devil another
tool to use to undermine their relationship. There are honest Christians who
have fallen into the error that sex was somehow the original sin, or mixed up
with it, and seem to feel basically that something so pleasant can’t be God’s
will. This clear biblical counsel will be a safety for us against fanaticism,
if we let it. God invented sex, and it is holy and undefiled (Heb.
13:4). It was the first blessing expressed to Adam and Eve, and we do well
to keep it in proportion, not allowing it to be dirtied by the confused culture
in which we live.
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