Why Should Christians Fast?

Below are a few notes on fasting.

Jesus on Fasting

It is Assumed that Christians Fast

Fasting was assumed to be done in addition to praying and giving. Matt 6:2,5,16 say essentially, when you give, pray, fast; do it privately, “and your Father, who sees what is done in secret will reward you.” The Lord obviously wants us not to fast for show but also is promising a reward of some sort. When people fasted, they usually wanted to be heard by God.

Jesus says to fast and pray for healing (God’s action during calamity)  

In Matt 17:14-23 (and Mark 9:14-29), Jesus heals a boy with a demon. The disciples asked him why they couldn’t drive it out. He says it’s because of their little faith. In verse 21, Jesus also says, “But this kind does not go out except by prayer and fasting.” According to the NIV Study Bible note, some manuscripts do not have verse 21. This is another example of the power of prayer combined with fasting.

Fast to seek God when bridegroom taken away (God’s action during calamity)

In Luke 5:33-35, Jesus is questioned about fasting and says, “when the bridegroom is taken away, then they'll fast.” This showed that fasting is more for mourning or God-seeking. The note in the NIV Study Bible says that Jesus’ disciples “enjoyed a freedom not known by the Pharisees. In the HCSB version, Jesus says “Can the wedding guests be sad while the groom is with them?” This also points toward fasting during mourning/calamity. While Jesus rejected fasting legalistically for display, he himself fasted privately and permitted its voluntary use for spiritual benefit.” The same passage is found in Mark 2:18-21. The note says that John the Baptist’s disciples may have been fasting as an expression of repentance to hasten the coming redemption announced by John. Also, the day of atonement fast was the only one required in Mosaic Law. However, in Jesus' time the Pharisees fasted twice a week.

Fast with the right heart/proper motives

In Luke 18:12, Jesus points out that being humble is more important than giving and fasting. In a parable about a Pharisee, Jesus said the Pharisee was boasting about not being greedy, unrighteous, or a tax collector and said that he fasts twice a week and gives a tenth of everything he gets. However, Jesus said that the tax collector (who said, “God, turn Your wrath from me – a sinner!”) was justified rather than the Pharisee. Jesus goes on to say, “everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but the one who humbles himself will be exalted.”

Old Testament Fasting

David fasted for people when they were sick (seeking God’s action during calamity)

In Ps 35:13, David talks about some old friends who are coming after him/slandering him. He says “Yet when they were ill, I put on sackcloth and humbled myself with fasting. When my prayers went unanswered, I went about mourning as though for my friend or brother.” David obviously combined prayer with fasting and expected to be answered. In 2 Sam 12:16 and 22, David fasted for his sick baby. He wanted God's mercy. “David pleaded with God for the child. He fasted and went into his house and spent the nights lying on the ground.” In verse 22 he said, “While the child was still alive, I fasted and wept, I thought, ‘who knows? The Lord may be gracious to me and let the child live.’” He was certainly fasting for a reason and when his son had died, there wasn’t a reason to fast anymore.

Judah fasted for God to stop the plague (God’s action during calamity)

In Joel 1:14, Joel foresees an invasion of locusts. He calls for Judah to fast in order for God to stop the plague from coming. God replies in Joel 2:12, return to me with all your heart, with fasting and weeping. Joel says in 2:13-14a, Rend your heart and not your garments. Return to the Lord your God for he is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and abounding in love, and he relents from sending calamity. Who knows? He may turn and have pity and leave behind a blessing.” This shows that they were seeking God’s action to stop the impending plague. It seems like an emphasized prayer during times of calamity; a way to cry out to God.

The Ninevites believed God and Sought His Mercy (God’s action before calamity)

In Jonah 3:5, the Ninevites believed God and declared a fast to call on God for mercy. The king decreed “Let everyone call urgently on God. Let them give up their evil ways and their violence. Who knows? God may relent and with compassion turn from his fierce anger so that we will not perish.” God had revealed to them that what they were doing was evil. He said to Jonah, “Should I not be concerned about that great city?”

Israelites fasted once a year for forgiveness of sins – Day of Atonement

In Lev 16:29, 30 it is written that the Israelites were to deny themselves (fast) and not do any work. The NIV note says that it was “a day of rest, fasting, and sacrifices of atonement for priests and people and atonement for the tabernacle and altar. It was done to cleanse priests and people from their sins and purify the Holy Place.” In Heb 9:7 it says that, “the high priest entered the inner room, and that only once a year, and never without blood.” In Heb 10:3 is says, “those sacrifices are an annual reminder of sins.” But in Heb 10:19 is says that “we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus.” Other verses that talk about the Day of Atonement (Yom Kippur) are Lev 23:26-32 and Num 29:7. In Rom 3:25, Paul writes that Jesus was a sacrifice of atonement and in 1 John 2:2, John writes that He is “the atoning sacrifice for our sins.”

Moses fasted for the sins of the people after they made the golden calf (God’s action of forgiveness)

In Deut 9:18-19, Moses fasted after the people made the golden calf. “Then once again I fell prostrate before the Lord for forty days and forty nights; I ate no bread and drank no water, because of all the sin you had committed, doing what was evil in the Lord’s sight and so arousing his anger. I feared the anger and wrath of the Lord, for he was angry enough with you to destroy you.” This is one example where fasting seems like an emphasized prayer. Again, it was done to seek action from God. In this case, that God would relent from destroying the Israelites.

Daniel fasted according to his convictions (Honoring God)

In Daniel 1:8-16, Daniel resolved not to defile himself with the royal food and wine since the first portion of it was a sacrifice to idols. He asked permission to just eat vegetables and water and actually looked healthier after ten days compared to the other men. God later used Daniel in a mighty way and gave him special revelations.

Fasting needs to be combined with action

In Isa 58:3-9 God asks “Is this the kind of fast I have chosen, only a day for a man to humble himself?” No. It is to show love to others. “Is not this the kind of fasting I have chosen: to loose the chains of injustice and untie the cords of the yoke, to set the oppressed free and break every yoke? Is it not to share your food with the hungry and to provide the poor wanderer with shelter—when you see the naked, to clothe them, and not to turn away from your own flesh and blood? Then your light will break forth like the dawn, and your healing will quickly appear; then your righteousness[a] will go before you, and the glory of the Lord will be your rear guard. Then you will call, and the Lord will answer; you will cry for help, and he will say: Here am I.” There are three main points in these verses. 1) Only humbling oneself is not the goal of fasting. 2) Loving/helping other people is desired. 3) God promises to respond quickly.

Fasted during war (God’s action during calamity)

In Judges 20, the Israelites went to battle against the Benjamites twice and got defeated both times. Both times the Lord allowed them to suffer losses (22,000 and 18,000 men). Then they fasted, prayed, and offered fellowship and burnt offerings to the Lord. The Lord then told them to go against them and said that He would deliver them into their hands.

God refused to listen although they were fasting

In Jer. 14, the Lord was angry with the people for their sins. In verse 12 he says “although they fast, I will not listen to their cry; though they offer burnt offerings and grain offerings, I will not accept them.” The sin of idolatry was so extreme that He said He will not listen to Jeremiah’s prayers for them. What is interesting is that God talks about both fasting and offerings in similar manner, somewhat equating the two.

Be sincere when fasting

In Zech 7, God asked, “Was it really for me that you fasted?” The NIV note says it was a rebuke for selfish and insincere fasting. In verse 9, God says, “Administer justice, show mercy and compassion to one another. Do not oppress the widow or the fatherless, the alien or the poor. In your hearts do not think evil of each other.” This suggests that obedience (or doing what is right) is more important than an act of fasting. Obedience is an expression of faith and so is fasting, when it is done with the right heart.

Esther asked all the Jews to fast before she met the King (God’s action before calamity)

In the book of Esther, the right hand man of King Xerxes, Haman, persuaded the king to annihilate the Jews. After Esther was made queen and at her request, the Jews fasted before she was to see the king and petition him to not kill the Jews. She said in Esther 4:16, “Gather all the Jews who are in Susa, and fast for me. Do not eat or drink for three days, night or day. I and my maids will fast as you do. When this is done, I will go to the king, even though it is against the law. And if I perish, I perish.” She was specifically fasting to preempt a calamity. Also, the Jews fasted when they had first heard of the decree (4:3). Again, this sounds like a way to cry out to God before impending calamity. I believe she wanted to make sure she was not only “covered” by prayer, but also prayer with fasting. She had already made up her mind to go, so it doesn’t seem like she was praying and fasting for guidance, but God’s action in the situation.

King Ahab fasted after he heard the Lord’s rebuke through Elijah (God’s action before calamity)

In 1 Kings 21:20-29, Elijah brings a rubuke from the Lord to King Ahab for this reason: “because you have sold yourself to do evil in the eyes of the Lord.” Ahab was upset that Naboth would not sell him a vineyard that was close to his palace. His wife, Jezebel, told him “Cheer up. I’ll get you the vineyard” and did so by having him wrongfully stoned to death. Ahab did not instigate the death, but did go to take ownership after the vineyard after Naboth’s death. Therefore, the Lord said He would bring disaster on him. After hearing this, Ahab tore his clothes, wore sackcloth and fasted. “Then the word of the Lord came to Elijah the Tishbite: Have you noticed how Ahab has humbled himself before me? Because he has humbled himself, I will not bring disaster in this day, but I will bring it on his house in the days of his son.” So the Lord looked upon Ahab with mercy because of his fasting. It doesn’t say specifically that he prayed (since it appears fasting is to be combined with prayer), but obviously the Lord saw a repentant heart. Whether he prayed or not, we don’t know, but we do know his heart was heard.

Fasting after Jesus’ Resurrection

Apostles received direction from the Holy Spirit while worshiping and fasting (God provided direction)

In Acts 13:2, Luke writes, “While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, ‘Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.’ So after they had fasted and prayed, they placed their hands on them and sent them off.” It doesn’t say that they were seeking the Lord for this reason or why they were fasting. But usually people fasted for a specific reason. When their fasting and prayer period was done, they placed their hands on them and sent them off. Either way, Luke wrote that they were fasting and worshiping, which leads me to believe that they were fasting for some other reason, but the Lord spoke to them during this time for this reason.

Fasted for appointing elders to churches (God’s action for a major decision and/or direction)

In Acts 14:23, Luke writes (NIV) that while traveling from city to city, “Paul and Barnabas appointed elders for them in each church and, with prayer and fasting, committed them to The Lord, in whom they had put their trust.” The Darby Bible translation states, “And having chosen them elders in each assembly, having prayed with fastings, they committed them to the Lord, on whom they had believed.” The Weymouth NT says, “And in every Church, after prayer and fasting, they selected Elders by show of hands, and commended them to the Lord on whom their faith rested.” So, fasting may have been part of the appointing process, the committing process, or both.

From these passages, it appears as though there are a few themes regarding fasting. Fasting…

• Should be done routinely like prayer and giving
• Should be combined with prayer, which results in an emphasized prayer
• Should be combined with acts of love
• Is to be done secretly and sincerely, with proper motives/convictions (secretly only if an individual fast and not a church-wide fast)
• Is done during calamity for seeking action from God
• Is done when seeking God’s direction

Praying is an expression of faith. Fasting is an emphasized prayer. Fasting is an emphasized expression of faith.

Fasting from food is not for everyone. Some people have health conditions or other factors that limit them from participating in activities that limit food intake. A partial fast (sometimes called a Daniel fast) is another way to fast. Basically it’s only fruits and vegetables, no meat, bread, or sweets (but it could be limiting just one area). Really, there are a number of ways to fast. One of the most significant ways we could fast today is through a media or social media fast. We take in a variety of media every day, most of it discretionary. I believe the key is to be focusing on God. Basically, with a fast you’re saying “this matter is so important to me, God, that I’m dropping everything to pray about it. And I believe You will answer.”