The Purpose of Fasting

“Then came to Him the disciples of John, saying, Why do we and the Pharisees fast oft, but Thy disciples fast not?  And Jesus said unto them, Can the children of the bridechamber mourn, as long as the bridegroom is with them? but the days will come, when the Bridegroom shall be taken from them, and then shall they fast.”  Matthew 9:14-15

To understand fasting, we need to look back at the origins of the observance of abstaining from food.  In ancient times, there was no guarantee of having what we term “three square meals” a day.  People fasted because their crops failed or their attempts at hunting for meat were unsuccessful.   Everyone has been instilled with a desire to worship something or someone.  Fasting became a religious duty in an effort to appease or placate the gods that people worshipped, much like unsaved people try to use “good works” to win God’s favor.  The term “fasting” is not mentioned in scripture until the book of Judges 20 which describes how the people of Israel went up against one of their own, the tribe of Benjamin, because of a very sinful evil that the people of Benjamin had committed.  The rest of the tribes were very zealous about ridding the land of evil at this time and went before the LORD twice to seek counsel but were defeated by Benjamin both times.  The third time, they fasted and offered burnt and peace offerings to the LORD.  This time they were victorious.

Prior to the book of Judges, fasting was expressed as “afflicting one’s soul” (Leviticus 16:29).  It was commanded to be observed on the Day of Atonement, the day set aside for the priest to sacrifice one goat, confess the sins of the people over another goat and send it out into the wilderness, the “scapegoat”.  This was the only day each year when fasting was commanded to be observed by the people.  Fasting became a common observance whenever times became tough and people needed answers (I Samuel 1:7).  Fasting eventually became a ritual among the Pharisees with required fasts on the second and fifth day of each week (Luke 18:12) in order to present an outward show of their so-called pious acts of self-righteousness.  The religious leaders of Jesus’ day were all about image, prestige, making impressions upon others, and flaunting their power.  Their outward show of fasting did not impress Jesus for He knew that their hearts were not right before God.

The true expression of fasting is to be so mortified or ashamed over one’s own sins that all desire for food is gone or to be concerned about a situation that can only be solved with God’s intervention, so concerned that prayer takes the place of food.  There is nothing that we can do to win God’s favor, not fasting or any other effort.  To the Pharisees and also to John’s disciples, fasting had become a habitual ritual which they subjected themselves to believing that this would please God.  While some of them were just putting on a show, others probably were very sincere and wanted to be a righteous servant of the Lord.  John’s disciples, in all probability, were fasting for that reason.  That’s likely why they asked Jesus as to why His disciples did not fast.  Since they felt it was what God required, they were puzzled.  That’s what happens when people begin to follow traditions and rituals rather than being led by the Spirit of God.

Jesus answered John’s disciples, being careful not to condemn them for their twice-weekly fasting.  They were likely following John’s instructions as a way to honor God and show dependence upon Him.  Jesus used an analogy of a wedding feast to show that there are times when fasting was not called for.  At the happy occasion of a wedding, people celebrate.  Everyone is gathered together for the momentous day of joy.  Why would anyone fast?  In Matthew 25:1-10, Jesus referred to Himself as the Bridegroom.  In Ephesians 5:22-33, Paul expounds upon marriage as being symbolic of Christ’s relationship to the church, the body of believers.  Jesus’ point to John’s disciples was that His disciples had Him present with them, a cause for celebration.  There was no need to fast at that time.  However, there would come a time when He would be taken from them, and then they would fast.  John’s disciples were already in that place.  John was in prison awaiting execution for condemning Israel’s ruler, Herod, for adultery.  Jesus was aware of that and thus did not condemn John’s disciples.  They had a reason to fast, but Jesus’ disciples had not yet come to the time when they would need to fast.

When we feel condemned, we turn serving, fasting, and even worshipping into duties we feel we must observe in order to be a “good” Christian, rather than allowing the Spirit of Christ to work through us, giving us the desire to serve Him in Spirit and in truth.  Man brings condemnation; the Holy Spirit brings conviction.  Conviction brings about true repentance and a desire to obey.  Condemnation brings discouragement and hopelessness.  When we are in the throes of discouragement and despair, then that is when fasting and prayer can provide the opportunity for God to work in our lives.  Fasting is not a self-appointed ritual, but a time of desperately seeking God’s help and comfort.  Jesus’ departure would bring the disciples to this hour of prayer and fasting.