Topical Encyclopedia The Pharisees, a prominent Jewish sect during the Second Temple period, were known for their strict adherence to the Law of Moses and the oral traditions that they believed were handed down alongside the written Torah. Among these traditions, fasting held a significant place as a practice of piety and devotion.Fasting in Pharisaic Tradition Fasting, in the context of the Pharisees, was not merely an act of abstaining from food but a spiritual discipline intended to express humility, repentance, and devotion to God. The Pharisees typically fasted twice a week, on Mondays and Thursdays, as part of their religious observance. This practice is alluded to in the parable of the Pharisee and the tax collector, where the Pharisee boasts, "I fast twice a week and pay tithes of all that I acquire" (Luke 18:12). The Pharisees' fasting was often accompanied by specific outward signs of mourning and penitence, such as wearing sackcloth and ashes, as well as refraining from anointing themselves with oil. These visible expressions were intended to demonstrate their piety to others, although Jesus criticized such displays when they were done for the sake of public recognition rather than genuine devotion. In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus instructs, "When you fast, do not be somber like the hypocrites, for they disfigure their faces to show men they are fasting. Truly I tell you, they already have their reward" (Matthew 6:16). Fasting and the Law While the Law of Moses prescribed only one mandatory fast day, the Day of Atonement (Yom Kippur), the Pharisees expanded the practice of fasting as a means of personal and communal purification. Their additional fasts were not explicitly commanded in the Torah but were part of the oral traditions that the Pharisees held in high regard. These traditions were seen as a "fence" around the Torah, intended to prevent any inadvertent transgression of the Law. Fasting and the New Testament In the New Testament, the Pharisees' approach to fasting is often contrasted with the teachings of Jesus. While Jesus did not dismiss the practice of fasting, He emphasized the importance of the heart's intention over the mere outward observance. In response to a question about why His disciples did not fast like the Pharisees, Jesus explained, "Can the wedding guests mourn while the bridegroom is with them? But the time will come when the bridegroom will be taken from them; then they will fast" (Matthew 9:15). The Pharisees' emphasis on fasting as a public display of righteousness is further critiqued in the Gospels, where Jesus calls for a more sincere and humble approach to spiritual disciplines. The Pharisees' traditions, while rooted in a desire to honor God, often became a point of contention when they overshadowed the weightier matters of the Law, such as justice, mercy, and faithfulness (Matthew 23:23). Conclusion The Pharisees' traditions regarding fasting reflect their broader commitment to religious observance and the oral traditions that shaped their interpretation of the Law. While their practices were intended to foster spiritual growth and communal identity, the New Testament narratives highlight the tension between outward religious acts and the inward transformation that Jesus called His followers to pursue. Nave's Topical Index Matthew 9:14Then came to him the disciples of John, saying, Why do we and the Pharisees fast oft, but your disciples fast not? Nave's Topical Index Luke 18:12 Library Matthew's Feast. Discourse on Fasting. Article xv (viii): of Human Traditions in the Church. Relation of the Pharisees to the Sadducees and Essenes, and to the ... Levi-Matthew The Historical Situation The Jews Make all Ready for the War; and Simon, the Son of Gioras ... Article xxvii (xiii): of Monastic Vows. Letter ii (AD 1126) to the Monk Adam The Harbinger The Danger of Deviating from Divine Institutions. Resources If Jesus condemned the Pharisees for praying out loud, should we pray aloud? | GotQuestions.orgWhat was Jesus writing in the dirt/sand when the Pharisees brought to Him a woman caught in adultery? | GotQuestions.org Who were the Herodians? | GotQuestions.org Bible Concordance • Bible Dictionary • Bible Encyclopedia • Topical Bible • Bible Thesuarus Subtopics Irony: The Pharisees and the Herodians to Jesus Pharisees: Association With Publicans and Sinners Pharisees: Become Disciples of Jesus Pharisees: Come to Jesus With Questions Pharisees: Concerning the Resurrection Pharisees: Hypocrisy of, Reproved by Jesus Pharisees: Hypocrisy of, Reproved by John Pharisees: They Minister to Jesus Pharisees: Traditions of, in Regard to Fasting Pharisees: Traditions of, in Regard to The Duties of Children to Parents Pharisees: Traditions of, in Regard to The Sabbath Pharisees: Traditions of, in Regard to The Washing of Hands The Pharisees by Descent, Especially Esteemed The Pharisees: A Sect of the Jews The Pharisees: As a Body, Rejected John's Baptism The Pharisees: Believed in the Resurrection The Pharisees: Character of Active in Proselytising The Pharisees: Character of Ambitious of Precedence The Pharisees: Character of Avaricious The Pharisees: Character of Cruel in Persecuting The Pharisees: Character of Fond of Distinguished Titles The Pharisees: Character of Fond of Public Salutations The Pharisees: Character of Oppressive The Pharisees: Character of Outwardly Moral The Pharisees: Character of Particular in Paying all Dues The Pharisees: Character of Rigid in Fasting The Pharisees: Character of Self-Righteous The Pharisees: Character of Zealous of the Law The Pharisees: Character of Zealous of Tradition The Pharisees: Christ: Asked for Signs By The Pharisees: Christ: Called Fools and Blind Guides The Pharisees: Christ: Called, and Evil and Adulterous Generation The Pharisees: Christ: Called, Serpents and Generation of Vipers The Pharisees: Christ: Compared, to Graves That Appear Not The Pharisees: Christ: Compared, to Whited Sepulchres The Pharisees: Christ: Condemned By, for Associating With Sinners The Pharisees: Christ: Declared the Doctrines of, to be Hypocrisy The Pharisees: Christ: Declared the Imaginary Righteousness of, to be Insufficient The Pharisees: Christ: Denounced Woes Against The Pharisees: Christ: Left Judea for a Time on Account of The Pharisees: Christ: Offended, by his Doctrine The Pharisees: Christ: Often Invited By The Pharisees: Christ: Tempted By, With Questions About the Law The Pharisees: Christ: Watched By, for Evil The Pharisees: Imputed Christ's Miracles to Satan's Power The Pharisees: Made Broad Their Phylacteries The Pharisees: Many Priest and Levites Were of The Pharisees: Many Rulers, Lawyers, and Scribes Were of The Pharisees: Often Sought to Destroy Christ The Pharisees: Sent officers to Apprehend Christ The Pharisees: some Came to John for Baptism The Pharisees: The Strictest Observers of the Mosaic Ritual The Pharisees: Their Opinions, a Standard for Others Related Terms |
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