Concerning Fasting

October 30, 2025

Theological Summary

Key insights and takeaways from the text.

Matthew 6:16-18 provides a foundational teaching on the proper attitude and motive for spiritual disciplines, using fasting as a prime example. Jesus sharply contrasts the behavior of hypocrites, who make a public spectacle of their fasting to gain human praise, with the genuine approach of a true disciple. The hypocrites' reward, Jesus states, is limited to the fleeting admiration of people, implying that such actions hold no value in the eyes of God. For Christians today, this passage serves as a potent reminder that the efficacy and authenticity of any spiritual practice, whether it be fasting, prayer, or giving, are entirely dependent on the heart's intention and the audience for whom it is performed. True devotion seeks God's approval alone, not human accolades. This passage underscores the importance of a private, intimate relationship with God, free from external validation. By instructing believers to maintain a normal appearance while fasting, Jesus emphasizes that spiritual acts should be conducted in humility and secrecy, known only to God. The profound implication is that God, who sees beyond outward appearances and observes the sincere devotion of the heart, is the ultimate rewarder. This fosters a spirituality rooted in trust and genuine seeking of the divine, rather than self-glorification or performance. Thus, the passage calls Christians to cultivate an inner piety where their spiritual life is primarily directed towards their unseen Father, ensuring that their actions are truly for His glory and not their own.

Scripture

Matthew 6:16-18

Old Testament Connections

Isaiah 58:5-7 (NIV)
"Is it like this a fast I have chosen, a day for a person to humble themselves? Is it only for bowing one’s head like a reed and for lying in sackcloth and ashes? Is that what you call a fast, a day acceptable to the Lord?Is not this the kind of fast 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?"

Isaiah 58 critiques the performative, outward display of fasting that lacks true humility and ethical action. Matthew 6 builds upon this by instructing believers to avoid such superficiality, emphasizing that genuine fasting is a private act of devotion to God, valuing the heart's sincerity over public approval.

Joel 2:12-13 (NIV)
"Even now," declares the LORD,"return to me with all your heart,with fasting and weeping and mourning."Rend your heartand 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."

Joel emphasizes the internal sincerity of repentance and fasting, calling for a 'rending of the heart' over outward displays. Matthew 6:16-18 builds on this by instructing believers to practice fasting in secret, reinforcing that true devotion and reward come from a genuine, unseen relationship with God rather than public performance.

A Moment of Prayer

A prayer inspired by today's topic.

Heavenly Father, as we consider the discipline of fasting, we humbly come before You. We desire to set aside worldly distractions and truly draw closer to Your presence, not for show, but for a deeper intimacy with You. Guide our hearts and minds during these times, helping us to hear Your voice more clearly and to surrender more fully to Your will. May our hunger for You outweigh any physical longing, and may this act of devotion truly transform us from within. Amen.

Historical Context

The world behind the Word.

The Gospel of Matthew, which contains the passage Matthew 6:16-18, is traditionally attributed to Matthew, one of Jesus' twelve apostles. However, modern biblical scholarship often suggests it was compiled and edited by an anonymous Jewish-Christian scribe, drawing upon earlier sources such as the Gospel of Mark and a hypothetical 'Q' source, around 70-90 CE. This dating places its composition after the catastrophic destruction of the Second Temple in Jerusalem by the Romans in 70 CE, an event that profoundly reshaped Jewish life and identity. The primary audience for Matthew's Gospel was likely a community of Jewish Christians, perhaps in Roman Syria (Antioch is a strong candidate) or Galilee, who were striving to understand their new faith in Jesus as the Messiah while still firmly rooted in their Jewish heritage. They were navigating the complex process of defining their identity distinct from mainstream Judaism, particularly in the wake of the Temple's destruction and the rise of Rabbinic Judaism. The political and social climate of the time was dominated by Roman occupation, which brought with it heavy taxation, military presence, and occasional brutal suppression of Jewish revolts. This subjugation fostered a sense of nationalistic fervor and religious expectation among many Jews. Internally, Jewish society was diverse, with various factions like the Pharisees, Sadducees, Essenes, and Zealots, each with distinct interpretations of the Torah and visions for Israel's future. The destruction of the Temple had dissolved the Sadducean priestly class and shifted religious authority towards the Pharisaic tradition, which emphasized the synagogue, Torah study, and personal piety. Culturally and religiously, Second Temple Judaism provided the backdrop for Jesus' teachings. Practices like prayer, almsgiving, and fasting were central pillars of Jewish devotion, deeply ingrained in daily life and religious observance. Fasting, specifically, was a highly valued religious act, practiced both privately and publicly on days like Yom Kippur or in remembrance of national calamities. The passage in Matthew 6:16-18 directly addresses the manner of observing such a practice. Jesus' critique is not against fasting itself, but against the outward display of piety for human recognition rather than genuine devotion to God. This highlights a prevalent concern within Jewish society: the potential for religious acts to become performative and hypocritical. The passage contrasts the 'hypocrites' (hupokritai), who disfigure their faces and adopt somber appearances to ensure others see their fasting, with the sincere worshiper who anoints themselves and washes their face, maintaining a normal appearance. This emphasis on secret piety reflects Jesus' broader teaching on the internal disposition of the heart over mere external conformity. Geographically, the events narrated in Matthew's Gospel primarily unfold in Galilee, Jesus' home region, and Judea, particularly Jerusalem. The Sermon on the Mount, where this teaching is located, is depicted as taking place in Galilee. However, the Gospel's composition likely occurred in a diaspora setting, for a community that would have been familiar with both the specific Jewish customs and the challenges of living out their faith in a broader Greco-Roman world, while maintaining a distinct Jewish-Christian identity.