Fasting:Is this a New

Testament Practice?

Scripture Reading:Matthew 6:16-21

Matthew 6:16-2116 “Moreover, when you fast, do not be like the hypocrites, with a sad countenance. For they disfigure their faces that they may appear to men to be fasting. Assuredly, I say to you, they have their reward.

Matthew 6:16-2117 But you, when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face, 18 so that you do not appear to men to be fasting, but to your Father who is in the secret place; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly.

Matthew 6:16-2119 “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal;

Matthew 6:16-2120 but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. 21 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

DefinitionsFasting - is from the Hebrew word sum, meaning "to cover" the mouth, or from the Greek word nesteuo , meaning "to abstain." For spiritual purposes, it means to go without eating and drinking.

Is this a NT Practice?Jesus fasted

Mark 4:1,21 Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. 2 And when He had fasted forty days and forty nights, afterward He was hungry.

Luke 4:1,21 Then Jesus, being filled with the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan and was led by the Spirit into the wilderness, 2 being tempted for forty days by the

devil. And in those days He ate nothing, and afterward, when they had ended, He was hungry.

Is this a NT Practice?Jesus fastedJesus taught on fasting

Matthew 6:16-1816 “Moreover, when you fast, do not be like the

hypocrites, with a sad countenance. For they disfigure their faces that they may appear to men to be fasting. Assuredly, I say to you, they have their reward.

Matthew 6:16-1817 But you, when you fast,

anoint your head and wash your face, 18 so that you do not appear to men to be fasting, but to your Father who is in the secret place; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly.

Matthew 9:14,1514 Then the disciples of John came to Him, saying, “Why do we and the Pharisees fast often, but Your disciples do not fast?”

Matthew 9:14,1515 And Jesus said to them, “Can the friends of the bridegroom mourn as long as the bridegroom is with them? But the days will come when the bridegroom will be taken away

from them, and then they will fast.

Is this a NT Practice?Jesus fastedJesus taught on fastingThe first century church fasted

Acts 13:1-31 Now in the church that was at Antioch there were certain prophets and teachers: Barnabas, Simeon who was called Niger, Lucius of Cyrene, Manaen who had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch, and Saul.

Acts 13:1-32 As they ministered to the

Lord and fasted, the Holy

Spirit said, “Now separate to Me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.”

Acts 13:1-33 Then, having fasted and prayed, and laid

hands on them, they sent them away.

Acts 14:23So when they had appointed

elders in every church, and prayed with fasting,

they commended them to the Lord in whom they had believed.

Is this a NT Practice?Jesus fastedJesus taught on fastingThe first century church fastedSo why don’t we fast today?

So why don’t we fast?Jewish custom

Acts 10:30So Cornelius said, “Four days

ago I was fasting until

this hour; and at the ninth hour I prayed in my house, and behold, a man stood before me in bright clothing.

So why don’t we fast?Jewish customWe aren’t commanded to fastToo dangerousDon’t see the benefitIt’s weirdNever seen it done before