Fasting and Hypocrites
“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.”
Matthew 6:16
Having spoken about the necessity of generous giving and of ardent prayer, Jesus now turns His attention to the third “righteous act” that should be found in those who claim to be citizens of the Kingdom of God. He begins with a warning about hypocrisy.
Fasting was an integral part of religious practice at the time of Christ.[1] That it has fallen out of practice today tells us more about ourselves than about the relevance of fasting. In fact, many Christian groups still fast on a regular basis. It is a very common element in devotional life in many cultures. It is not very long since it was common in the West. History confirms its importance, particularly during times of revival such as the Great Awakening. There is some evidence that, once again, it is beginning to be taken seriously in the West. Let us hope that fasting will become an important part of spiritual discipline. If it does, however, we will have to guard against its abuse.
At the time of Jesus, fasting was sometimes accompanied by a great show. Those who wanted to demonstrate their piety would cover themselves in dust, they might even take to wailing loudly and beating their breasts. The question was – was this real, or did they just want to attract attention? True fasting, like generous giving and prayer,[2] is not about our actions, it is certainly not about how we are perceived by others. True fasting concerns the inclination of the heart.
The same will hold true today. If there is to be a widespread recovery of this ancient spiritual discipline, there will probably also be an increase of those who use fasting for their own ends. All of us are capable of taking pride in our spiritual condition. All of us can fall into the temptation of comparing ourselves to others, and of judging ourselves more favorably. But there is no room for pride when we fast, because it is not about us.
Lord Christ,
You denied Yourself the riches of heaven,
when You came to earth for me.
You denied Yourself the kingdoms of this world,
when You chose to remain obedient to the will of Your Father.
Help me to deny myself daily so that, even in some small way,
I may journey with You to the cross.
Amen.
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