Topical Encyclopedia The Pharisees, a prominent Jewish sect during the Second Temple period, are frequently depicted in the New Testament as being particularly rigorous in their religious observances, including the practice of fasting. Their approach to fasting is emblematic of their broader commitment to the meticulous observance of the Law and the traditions of the elders.Fasting Practices Fasting, a spiritual discipline intended to express humility, repentance, and devotion to God, was practiced by the Pharisees with notable regularity and strictness. The Pharisees are known to have fasted twice a week, typically on Mondays and Thursdays. 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). This statement reflects the Pharisees' commitment to fasting as a means of demonstrating their piety and adherence to religious duties. Public Display and Criticism The Pharisees' fasting was often accompanied by public displays intended to highlight their devotion. Jesus criticized this behavior, emphasizing the importance of sincerity and humility in religious practices. In the Sermon on the Mount, He admonished, "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). This critique underscores the tension between outward religious observance and the inward spiritual reality that Jesus advocated. Contrast with Jesus' Teachings The Pharisees' rigid approach to fasting is contrasted with Jesus' teachings and practices. Jesus Himself was questioned about why His disciples did not fast as the Pharisees did. In response, He 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). This response highlights a key difference in perspective: while the Pharisees emphasized ritual observance, Jesus focused on the appropriateness of the practice in relation to the presence and mission of the Messiah. Legalism and Tradition The Pharisees' fasting practices are indicative of their broader approach to the Law, characterized by a strict adherence to both the written Torah and the oral traditions that had developed over time. This legalistic mindset often led to conflicts with Jesus, who challenged their interpretations and applications of the Law. The Pharisees' emphasis on external observance, including fasting, sometimes overshadowed the underlying spiritual principles intended by the Law. Conclusion The Pharisees' character of rigid fasting reflects their dedication to religious observance and their desire to maintain a distinct identity as God's chosen people. However, their practices also serve as a cautionary example of how religious devotion can become distorted when it prioritizes external conformity over genuine spiritual transformation. Torrey's Topical Textbook Luke 5:33And they said to him, Why do the disciples of John fast often, and make prayers, and likewise the disciples of the Pharisees; but your eat and drink? Torrey's Topical Textbook Luke 18:12 Library True Religion Contrasted with the Mock Piety of the Pharisees. Levi-Matthew The Secret of Gladness Sacred Times --The Lord's Day. Appendix. The Apocryphal Books of the Old Testament. The Call of Matthew - the Saviour's Welcome to Sinners - Rabbinic ... The Land and the People. The Life of S. Hilarion. The Education of the World. Penitence, as Explained in the Sophistical Jargon of the Schoolmen ... Resources What is the leaven of the Pharisees? | GotQuestions.orgWhy did John the Baptist refer to the Pharisees as a brood of vipers? | GotQuestions.org Why did Jesus refer to the Pharisees as a “child of hell” in Matthew 23:15? | 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 The-not-beloved (1 Occurrence) Kir'iath-je'arim (18 Occurrences) Kirjathjearim (17 Occurrences) Vine-dressers (18 Occurrences) Kirjath-jearim (17 Occurrences) Kibroth-hattaavah (5 Occurrences) |
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