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Fasting in the Bible

A biblical and spiritual study; it gives no medical instructions.

1. 1. Jesus teaches about fasting - Read lesson

   World English Bible

   Matthew 6:16-18

   ¹⁶ “Moreover when you fast, don’t be like the hypocrites, with sad faces. For they disfigure their faces that they may be seen by men to be fasting. Most certainly I tell you, they have received their reward.

   ¹⁷ But you, when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face,

   ¹⁸ so that you are not seen by men to be fasting, but by your Father who is in secret; and your Father, who sees in secret, will reward you.

   Read the full chapter

   Understanding the passage

   Jesus rejects fasting as a religious performance and directs attention to the Father who sees in secret.

   Reflect

   • Why does Jesus warn against using fasting to attract attention?

   Put it into practice

   Examine your motives in spiritual practice; do not take health risks.

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2. 2. The fast that pleases God - Read lesson

   World English Bible

   Isaiah 58:3-7

   ³ ‘Why have we fasted,’ they say, ‘and you don’t see? Why have we afflicted our soul, and you don’t notice?’ “Behold, in the day of your fast you find pleasure, and oppress all your laborers.

   ⁴ Behold, you fast for strife and contention, and to strike with the fist of wickedness. You don’t fast today so as to make your voice to be heard on high.

   ⁵ Is this the fast that I have chosen? A day for a man to humble his soul? Is it to bow down his head like a reed, and to spread sackcloth and ashes under himself? Will you call this a fast, and an acceptable day to the LORD?

   ⁶ “Isn’t this the fast that I have chosen: to release the bonds of wickedness, to undo the straps of the yoke, to let the oppressed go free, and that you break every yoke?

   ⁷ Isn’t it to distribute your bread to the hungry, and that you bring the poor who are cast out to your house? When you see the naked, that you cover him; and that you not hide yourself from your own flesh?

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   Understanding the passage

   Isaiah condemns religious practice that coexists with exploitation; the response includes freeing, feeding and sheltering people.

   Reflect

   • What acts of care and justice does God call for in this passage?

   Put it into practice

   Share a resource and review your treatment of those depending on you.

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3. 3. Seeking direction - Read lesson

   World English Bible

   Acts 13:2-3

   ² As they served the Lord and fasted, the Holy Spirit said, “Separate Barnabas and Saul for me, for the work to which I have called them.”

   ³ Then, when they had fasted and prayed and laid their hands on them, they sent them away.

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   Understanding the passage

   The church worships, prays and sends; fasting is not presented as a technique for controlling divine decisions.

   Reflect

   • How does the community prepare before sending Barnabas and Saul?

   Put it into practice

   Seek advice and pray before committing others to a project.

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4. 4. Humble ourselves and seek God - Read lesson

   World English Bible

   Ezra 8:21-23

   ²¹ Then I proclaimed a fast there at the river Ahava, that we might humble ourselves before our God, to seek from him a straight way for us, for our little ones, and for all our possessions.

   ²² For I was ashamed to ask of the king a band of soldiers and horsemen to help us against the enemy on the way, because we had spoken to the king, saying, “The hand of our God is on all those who seek him, for good; but his power and his wrath is against all those who forsake him.”

   ²³ So we fasted and begged our God for this, and he granted our request.

   Read the full chapter

   Understanding the passage

   Ezra recognizes the journey’s vulnerability and dependence on God; this historical account is not a universal safety guarantee.

   Reflect

   • Which danger does the community recognize?

   Put it into practice

   Acknowledge your limits and prepare responsibly for a difficult task.

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5. 5. Fasting and repentance - Read lesson

   World English Bible

   Jonah 3:5-10

   ⁵ The people of Nineveh believed God; and they proclaimed a fast and put on sackcloth, from their greatest even to their least.

   ⁶ The news reached the king of Nineveh, and he arose from his throne, took off his royal robe, covered himself with sackcloth, and sat in ashes.

   ⁷ He made a proclamation and published through Nineveh by the decree of the king and his nobles, saying, “Let neither man nor animal, herd nor flock, taste anything; let them not feed, nor drink water;

   ⁸ but let them be covered with sackcloth, both man and animal, and let them cry mightily to God. Yes, let them turn everyone from his evil way and from the violence that is in his hands.

   ⁹ Who knows whether God will not turn and relent, and turn away from his fierce anger, so that we might not perish?”

   ¹⁰ God saw their works, that they turned from their evil way. God relented of the disaster which he said he would do to them, and he didn’t do it.

   Read the full chapter

   Understanding the passage

   The account connects public response with turning from violence; change is not reduced to outward signs of penitence.

   Reflect

   • What conduct must change beyond religious gestures?

   Put it into practice

   Identify harmful behavior and one concrete step away from it.