Matthew 6:16-18
Jesus
Teaches about Fasting
6:16
"When you fast, do not look somber as the
hypocrites do, for they disfigure their faces to
show men they are fasting. I tell you the truth,
they have received their reward in
full.
-
17
But when you fast, put oil on your head and wash
your face,
18
so that it will not be obvious to men that you are
fasting, but only to your Father, who is unseen;
and your Father, who sees what is done in secret,
will reward you."
-
This
is the Word of the Lord ... It is meant to
change the way that we think, and the way that
we live.
Commentary
by Bob Pardue
What Jesus Says
about Fasting
What is
fasting?
Dictionary.Com-TM
describes the word fast as ..
"1. to abstain from all
food.
2. to eat only sparingly
or of certain kinds of food, esp. as a religious
observance. "
Why Fast?
Fasting -- going without food
in order to spend time in prayer -- is noble and
difficult. It gives us time to pray, teaches
self-discipline, reminds us that we can live with a
lot less, and helps us appreciate God's
gifts.
The Right
Reasons
Jesus was not condemning
fasting, but hypocrisy -- fasting in order to gain
public approval. Fasting was mandatory for the
Jewish people once a year, on the Day of Atonement
(Leviticus 23:32).
The Pharisees voluntarily
fasted twice a week to impress the people with
their 'holiness.' But, they were not doing it for
the right reasons - only to be seen as religious
leaders. These people, Jesus says; "have
received their reward in full."
Fasting in
Secret
Jesus commended acts of
self-sacrifice done quietly and sincerely. He
wanted people to adopt spiritual disciplines for
the right reasons, not from a selfish desire for
praise. Christ says to go
about your normal daily routine when you fast.
Don't make a show of it.
Worship vs.
Pride
As we have seen through the
last few passages of Matthew Jesus is showing how
pride can get in our way of true
worship.
Natural
Tendencies
We met this morning at my
church and discussed what people want most out of
their work (career).
Surveys show that the
majority of workers, when asked, cited recognition
for good service and effort as one of the top wants
from their superiors. So,
in order to please God, we must sometimes do things
that feel "unnatural" to us like abandoning the
need for recognition when we do something for God.
Lord, help us to be more humble. d:-)
Love in Christ
- Bob
If you have never made the
commitment to receive the love and life-changing
experience of Jesus Christ, please take a moment to
go
here and take the
first
steps to salvation.
Verses about how to fast are from Life
Application Study Bible: New International
Version
Continue studying with these
other lessons ...
Matthew
5:38-42
- Jesus
Teaches about
Retaliation
Matthew
5:43-48
- Jesus
Teaches about Loving Your
Enemies
Matthew
6:1-4 -
Jesus
Teaches about Giving to the
Needy
Matthew
6:5-14 -
Jesus
Teaches the Lord's Prayer
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