Topical Encyclopedia Fasting, as presented in the Bible, is a spiritual discipline involving the voluntary abstention from food, and sometimes drink, for a specified period. It is a practice intended to draw believers closer to God, enhance spiritual focus, and express repentance, humility, and dependence on the Lord.Biblical Instances and Purposes Fasting is observed throughout the Scriptures, often accompanying prayer and supplication. In the Old Testament, fasting is frequently associated with mourning, repentance, and seeking God's favor. For example, in the Book of Esther, Queen Esther calls for a fast among the Jews as they face potential annihilation: "Go, gather together all the Jews who are in Susa, and fast for me. Do not eat or drink for three days, night or day. I and my attendants will fast as you do" (Esther 4:16). In the New Testament, fasting continues to be a significant practice. Jesus Himself fasted for forty days and nights in the wilderness before beginning His public ministry, as recorded in Matthew 4:2: "After fasting forty days and forty nights, He was hungry" . This period of fasting was a time of preparation and spiritual strengthening. Fasting and Repentance Fasting is often linked with repentance and a return to God. The prophet Joel calls the people to a fast as a sign of their repentance: "Even now," declares the LORD, "return to Me with all your heart, with fasting, weeping, and mourning" (Joel 2:12). This demonstrates fasting as an outward expression of an inward change of heart. Fasting and Prayer Fasting is frequently coupled with prayer, enhancing the believer's focus and dedication to seeking God's will. In the Book of Acts, the early church practiced fasting and prayer when making significant decisions. For instance, before sending out Barnabas and Saul on their missionary journey, the church fasted and prayed: "While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, 'Set apart for Me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.' So after they had fasted and prayed, they laid their hands on them and sent them off" (Acts 13:2-3). Fasting and Humility Fasting is a means of humbling oneself before God. King David exemplifies this attitude in Psalm 35:13: "Yet when they were ill, I put on sackcloth; I humbled myself with fasting, but my prayers returned unanswered" . Fasting is a way to acknowledge one's dependence on God and to seek His guidance and intervention. Jesus' Teaching on Fasting Jesus provided specific instructions on fasting, emphasizing sincerity and humility. In the Sermon on the Mount, He taught: "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. But when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face, so that your fasting will not be obvious to men, but only to your Father, who is unseen. And your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you" (Matthew 6:16-18). This teaching underscores the importance of fasting as a private act of devotion rather than a public display of piety. Fasting in the Life of the Believer For the believer, fasting remains a powerful spiritual discipline. It is a means of drawing closer to God, seeking His will, and expressing earnest prayer and repentance. While the Bible does not prescribe specific times or durations for fasting, it is clear that fasting should be done with the right heart and motives, seeking to honor God and align oneself with His purposes. Torrey's Topical Textbook Zechariah 7:5Speak to all the people of the land, and to the priests, saying, When you fasted and mourned in the fifth and seventh month, even those seventy years, did you at all fast to me, even to me? Torrey's Topical Textbook Matthew 6:18 Library Whether Fasting is a Matter of Precept? How Bishop Cedd, Having a Place for Building a Monastery Given Him ... Whether the Times for the Church Fast are Fittingly Ascribed? Christ is the Head of all Things Already Mentioned. It was Fitting ... Fasting, and the Goat Sent Away, were Types of Christ. On Lent, iv. The Teaching of Contemplative Life in Praying, Meditating, Fasting ... Matthew's Feast. Discourse on Fasting. Whether the Works of Satisfaction are Suitably Enumerated? Whether it was Becoming that Christ Should Lead an Austere Life in ... Resources What is the meaning of the parables of fasting at the wedding feast, the old cloth, and the wineskins? | GotQuestions.orgWhy don't Christians fast the same as Muslims? | GotQuestions.org How to fast'what does the Bible say? | GotQuestions.org Fasting: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com Bible Concordance • Bible Dictionary • Bible Encyclopedia • Topical Bible • Bible Thesuarus Subtopics Fasting by Paul, at the Time of his Conversion Fasting for the Chastening of the Soul Fasting for the Humbling of the Soul Fasting in Babylon, With Prayer for Divine Deliverance and Guidance Fasting in Prayer for Himself and his Adversaries Fasting in Times of Bereavement of Abner's Death Fasting in Times of Bereavement of David, at the Time of Saul's Death Fasting in Times of Bereavement of the People of Jabesh-Gilead, for Saul and his Sons Fasting of Ahab, when Elijah Prophesied the Destruction of Himself and his House Fasting of Darius, when he Put Daniel in the Lions' Den Fasting of Ezra, on Account of the Idolatrous Marriages of the Jews Fasting of Hypocrites: Boasted of, Before God Fasting of Hypocrites: Described Fasting of Hypocrites: Ostentatious Fasting of Hypocrites: Rejected Fasting of Nehemiah, on Account of the Desolation of Jerusalem and the Temple Fasting of Saints Exemplified: Anna Fasting of Saints Exemplified: Apostles Fasting of Saints Exemplified: Christians Fasting of Saints Exemplified: Cornelius Fasting of Saints Exemplified: Daniel Fasting of Saints Exemplified: David Fasting of Saints Exemplified: Disciples of John Fasting of Saints Exemplified: Esther Fasting of Saints Exemplified: Nehemiah Fasting of Saints Exemplified: Paul Fasting of the Consecration of the Elders Fasting of the Disciples, at the Time of the Consecration of Barnabas and Saul Fasting of the Jews, when Jeremiah Prophesied Against Judea and Jerusalem Fasting of the Wicked: Elders of Jezreel Fasting of the Wicked: Pharisees Fasting: Accompanied by Confession of Sin Fasting: Accompanied by Humiliation Fasting: Accompanied by Mourning Fasting: Accompanied by Prayer Fasting: At the Time of his Vision Fasting: During Forty Days: Jesus Fasting: During Forty Days: Moses Fasting: During the Sickness of the Child Born to Him by Bath-Sheba Fasting: Extraordinary Exemplified: Elijah Fasting: Extraordinary Exemplified: Moses Fasting: Extraordinary Exemplified: Our Lord Fasting: Fasting in the Conflict Between the Other Tribes With the Tribe of Benjamin Fasting: Habitual by Cornelius Fasting: Habitual by John's Disciples Fasting: Habitual by Pharisees Fasting: National Exemplified: Israel Fasting: National Exemplified: Men of Jabesh-Gilead Fasting: National Exemplified: Ninevites Fasting: Ninevites, when Jonah Preached to Them Fasting: Not to be Made a Subject of Display Fasting: Observed on Occasions of Afflictions of Others Fasting: Observed on Occasions of Afflictions of the Church Fasting: Observed on Occasions of Approaching Danger Fasting: Observed on Occasions of Judgments of God Fasting: Observed on Occasions of Ordination of Ministers Fasting: Observed on Occasions of Private Afflictions Fasting: Observed on Occasions of Public Calamities Fasting: On Account of the Captivity of the People, With Prayer for Their Deliverance Fasting: Ordination of Ministers Fasting: Prolonged for Forty Days, by Moses Fasting: Prolonged for Three Weeks, by Daniel Fasting: Promises Connected With Fasting: Unclassified Scriptures Relating To Fasting: Upon the Death of Saul Fasting: when They Went to Mizpeh for the Ark of the Covenant Fasting: While Interceding in Prayer for his Friends Related Terms |
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