“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. But you, when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face, 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 6:16-18 (NKJV)

1. What comes to mind when you think of fasting?

2. Have you ever fasted? How long? Why?

We turn now from forgiveness to the topic of fasting. What is fasting? “Fast” comes from the Greek word “nesteuo” and means “to abstain from food or drink.”

In a biblical sense, it is always for spiritual reasons. In other words, biblical fasting is not a dietary or cleansing practice. It is a denial of self. It is a denial of what the physical body demands. The desires of the physical are denied, refused, and abstained from for the purpose of focusing all attention on the spiritual. In the Bible, we regularly see the denial of food for a determined period of time to subsequently focus on prayer. Biblically, fasting is often unplanned and is a reaction to some tragic news or heavy situation. It is like the spiritual need eclipses the physical. That is a reactive form of fasting that follows trouble. This is not the kind of fasting that Jesus is speaking about here in verses 16-18.

3. Do you remember a time when you could not eat and just focused on prayer?

The kind of fasting Jesus teaches about in these verses is planned. It is not, “If tragedy strikes and you go into mourning and fasting, do it this way.” It is, “When you determine to fast, do it like this.” Notice that Jesus assumes that we as humans will fast. He does not say “if,” He says, “when.” Jesus assumes that we will recognize when there are times in life when we need to hit the pause button in life and turn our attention to the eternal. He assumes that we will recognize a “leanness of soul,” a lack, or a need that cannot be satisfied otherwise and that this will cause us to purposefully deny the physical to give our undivided attention to the spiritual and eternal. However, in our busy society, with so much vying for our attention, we are rarely, if ever, aware of this leanness that would push us to “fast.” Fasting is an effort to fix this need of the soul and the spiritual hunger we can no longer live with.

4. Should fasting be a regular practice today? Why or why not? How often? How long?

The fact that fasting is associated with a spiritual lack is seen in something the disciples of John and the Pharisees said to Jesus. In Matthew 9:14 (NKJV), they asked, “Why do we and the Pharisees fast often, but Your disciples do not fast?” The disciples of John and the Pharisees were regularly, as a part of their discipleship, denying food and drink. Jesus and His disciples were not doing this. They were always eating together and with others. John’s disciples and the Pharisees asked, “Why?” The answer was of course that Jesus’ disciples had the One who provides right there with them. Psalm 145:16 (NKJV) says, “You open Your hand and satisfy the desire of every living thing.” They walked with, talked with, and slept next to the One who fills up the soul. When they were “lean,” they could lean towards Him, hear His words, and be filled to the full. There was no need to fast, He was right there. This was Jesus’ answer to them. He said, “Can the friends of the bridegroom mourn as long as the bridegroom is with them?” What was Jesus’ point? He was right there with them! They could have what fasting brings simply by being near Him. However, He went on to say that once He was gone, then they would “fast” (Matthew 9:15, NKJV).

5. What are some other ways to be near God without fasting?

So, “when” we “fast,” we are to “not be like the hypocrites.” “Be” comes from the Greek verb “ginomai” and means “to make or become.”

Jesus warns us again of these mask-wearers or pretenders. “Do not follow their example,” He says. The warning here is against outward or external fasting. Fasting is to be a private matter, something that is between God and me. Everything the “hypocrites” (religious leaders) did was to be “seen” by others. As with their praying and their giving, they fasted so that they would be seen. Jesus says here their goal was to “appear” spiritual, closer to God, and generally more than others. “Appear” comes from the Greek word “phaino” and means “to be seen as.”

6. How can it be good for someone else to know you are fasting?

7. How can it be dangerous for others to know you are fasting?

The religious leaders wanted people to know that they were fasting. They wanted others to see it and admire them for their spiritual dedication and sacrifice. To this end, they would go as far as to “disfigure” their faces. “Disfigure”comes from the Greek word “aphanizo” and means “to ruin the natural appearance.”

The religious leaders would comically apply makeup to their faces and allow their countenance to sag and droop so that they would “appear” to be starving. How ironic this is! While pretending to be physically starving, the leanness was actually in their own souls! Jesus concludes the warning with the words, “Assuredly, I say to you, they have their reward.”

8. Why is drawing attention to ourselves dangerous?

“Have” comes from the Greek verb “apecho” and means “to hold in place.” It is a word that was used to describe a boat being docked away from the shore. The idea here is that they have chosen their reward – the admiration of people. Jesus says it is a reward that does not come close to “shore.” It is a reward that falls short and does not last. They foolishly held themselves back from what they could have had – the reward from God which endures forever.

9. What is the reward from God?

In verses 17-18, our Lord moves from the negative to the positive in His instruction on this topic, “do not do this” to “do it this way.” He says, “But you, when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face, so that you do not appear to men to be fasting.”

“Anoint” comes from the Greek verb “aleipho” and means “to cover over or rub into.” Jesus essentially says, “Wash yourself, anoint your face (with oil) so that you appear to be healthy” or normal. The goal here is to conceal what is being done rather than to display it. Again, it is to be between the Lord and me. He “sees.”

“Sees” comes from the Greek verb “blepo” and means “to watch or see as it happens.”

Jesus assures us of this with the words, “But to your Father who is in the secret place; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly.” Once again, the promise is that as we conceal the matter now from men, we will be rewarded openly one day by Him. He is reasoning with us and we are encouraged to make the wise choice.

Jesus is basically saying, “When you set time aside to specifically focus on the spiritual rather than the physical, do not be like those who do it to be seen and admired by others. That is a paltry reward. Do not appear to be fasting at all. Just do this before your Father who sees all and He will reward you!”