Definition and Context
Fasting, a spiritual discipline involving abstaining from food or drink, is practiced for various reasons, including repentance, seeking God's guidance, or deepening one's spiritual life. However, the Bible clearly distinguishes between genuine fasting and the fasting of hypocrites, which is rejected by God. Hypocritical fasting is characterized by outward displays of piety without true inward repentance or devotion.

Biblical References
The Bible addresses the issue of hypocritical fasting in several passages, emphasizing that God desires sincerity and righteousness over mere ritualistic observance.

1. Isaiah 58:3-7: In this passage, the Israelites question why their fasting is not acknowledged by God. The Lord responds by highlighting their insincere practices: "Yet on the day of your fasting, you do as you please and exploit all your workers. Your fasting ends in quarreling and strife, and in striking each other with wicked fists" (Isaiah 58:3-4). God calls for a fast that involves justice, freeing the oppressed, sharing food with the hungry, and providing for the needy.

2. Matthew 6:16-18: Jesus addresses the issue of hypocritical fasting in the Sermon on the Mount. He 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). Instead, Jesus teaches that fasting should be done in secret, with a focus on pleasing God rather than seeking human admiration.

3. Zechariah 7:5-6: The prophet Zechariah conveys God's message to the people regarding their fasting: "When you fasted and mourned in the fifth and seventh months for the past seventy years, was it really for Me that you fasted? And when you were eating and drinking, were you not doing so simply for yourselves?" (Zechariah 7:5-6). This passage underscores the importance of fasting with the right intentions, directed towards God rather than self-centered motives.

Characteristics of Hypocritical Fasting
Hypocritical fasting is marked by several key characteristics:

· Outward Show: The primary focus is on external appearances rather than internal transformation. Individuals may fast to gain the approval or admiration of others, rather than to draw closer to God.

· Lack of Genuine Repentance: True fasting involves a heart of repentance and a desire to align one's life with God's will. Hypocritical fasting lacks this genuine contrition and is often accompanied by continued sinful behavior.

· Self-Centered Motives: Instead of seeking God's glory, hypocritical fasting is often motivated by personal gain, whether it be social status, influence, or self-righteousness.

God's Rejection of Hypocritical Fasting
The Bible makes it clear that God rejects fasting that is insincere and hypocritical. Such fasting is not only ineffective but also offensive to God, as it misrepresents the true purpose of this spiritual discipline. God desires a heart that is humble, contrite, and genuinely seeking His presence and guidance. As seen in Isaiah 58, God calls for a fast that results in righteous actions and a transformed life, reflecting His love and justice in the world.Isaiah 58:3
Why have we fasted, say they, and you see not? why have we afflicted our soul, and you take no knowledge? Behold, in the day of your fast you find pleasure, and exact all your labors.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Jeremiah 14:12
When they fast, I will not hear their cry; and when they offer burnt offering and an oblation, I will not accept them: but I will consume them by the sword, and by the famine, and by the pestilence.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Elucidations.
... but were often abused by hypocrites, even under ... he treats of the Marcionites, who
rejected marriage on ... with the inspired law concerning fasting and abstinence ...
/...//christianbookshelf.org/clement/the stromata or miscellanies/elucidations 3.htm

Article xxvii (xiii): of Monastic Vows.
... that all things which we have produced be rejected. ... They are shameless hypocrites
with whom the world is ... exercise [a bodily exercise with fasting and certain ...
/.../the apology of the augsburg confession/part 35 article xxvii xiii .htm

Examine Yourself Whether Ye be in the Faith; Prove Your Own Selves ...
... I am not speaking of hypocrites, who have seared their ... whom all the prophecies centered,
they rejected him, and ... to resort to retirement, and fasting, and prayer ...
/.../finney/lectures to professing christians/examine yourself whether ye be.htm

Upon Our Lord's SermonOn the Mount
... upon Him who "was despised and rejected of men ... not suppose, because many Pharisees
were hypocrites, therefore all ... days of Lent, as days of fasting or abstinence ...
/.../wesley/sermons on several occasions/sermon 25 upon our lords.htm

The Treatise
... in addition had all the prayers, fasting, obedience, patience ... of such works and have
rejected them, because ... idolatry and the most mischievous hypocrites on earth ...
//christianbookshelf.org/luther/a treatise on good works/the treatise.htm

Instability
... they are quite as religious in not fasting, and are ... let me not be damned with
hypocrites," for surely ... my Son, and despised his cross, and rejected his salvation ...
/.../christianbookshelf.org/spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 3 1857/instability.htm

V. ...
... is spiritually fulfilled; for thus also has God rejected the Jews ... The hypocrites
who rest on their own works, and ... that only can be called true fasting, when we ...
/.../the epistles of st peter and st jude preached and explained/chapter i v .htm

The Second Helvetic Confession, AD 1566.
... but those out of Christ are rejected (2 Corinthians ... There are also many hypocrites
in the Church, who ... True Christian fasting consists in temperance, abstinence ...
/.../ 55 the second helvetic.htm

Second Sunday after Epiphany
... in a good work, such as praying, reading, fasting, giving, serving ... on a stern
countenance, as do the hypocrites, who assume ... of God and not to be rejected with ...
/.../luther/epistle sermons vol ii/second sunday after epiphany.htm

A Discourse of the Building, Nature, Excellency, and Government of ...
... vomit too, Fear not, nor full nor fasting but 'twill ... sincerely done; then have a
care For hypocrites are hateful ... this good counsel is by thee rejected; If work ...
/.../bunyan/the works of john bunyan volumes 1-3/a discourse of the building.htm

What is the meaning of the parables of fasting at the wedding feast, the old cloth, and the wineskins? | GotQuestions.org

Why 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

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