In the Bible, fasting involves abstaining from food or certain types of food for a period of time as an act of devotion, repentance, or seeking guidance from God. The practice is mentioned numerous times throughout both the Old and New Testaments. Here are a few references in the English Standard Version (ESV):Matthew 6:16-18 (ESV): Jesus teaches about fasting, emphasizing the importance of doing it sincerely and not for show. Isaiah 58:6-7 (ESV): This passage discusses the kind of fast that God desires, which includes acts of justice and compassion towards others. Joel 2:12 (ESV): Joel calls for a fast accompanied by repentance and a turning back to God. Acts 13:2-3 (ESV): The church at Antioch fasts and prays before sending Paul and Barnabas on their missionary journey. Esther 4:16: Esther calls for a fast among the Jews as they face a life-threatening situation. These are just a few examples, but fasting is mentioned throughout the Bible as a means of spiritual discipline and seeking God’s guidance and intervention.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
II. Types of Fasts
III. Fasting Items
IV. Jewish Fasts
I. Biblical Fast
A biblical fast, as described in the Bible, involves abstaining from food or certain types of food for a period of time as an act of devotion, repentance, or seeking guidance from God. Here are some key scriptures and references:
1. Matthew 6:16-18 (ESV): Jesus teaches about fasting: “And when you fast, do not look gloomy like the hypocrites, for they disfigure their faces that their fasting may be seen by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward. But when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face, that your fasting may not be seen by others but by your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.”
2. Isaiah 58:6-7 (ESV): God speaks through the prophet Isaiah about the kind of fast He desires: “Is not this the fast that I choose: to loose the bonds of wickedness, to undo the straps of the yoke, to let the oppressed go free, and to break every yoke? Is it not to share your bread with the hungry and bring the homeless poor into your house; when you see the naked, to cover him, and not to hide yourself from your own flesh?”
3. Joel 2:12 (ESV): Joel calls for repentance accompanied by fasting: “Yet even now,” declares the Lord, “return to me with all your heart, with fasting, with weeping, and with mourning.”
4. Acts 13:2-3 (ESV): The church at Antioch fasts and prays before sending Paul and Barnabas on their missionary journey: “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.’ Then after fasting and praying they laid their hands on them and sent them off.”
5. Esther 4:16 (ESV): Esther calls for fasting among the Jews in the face of a life-threatening situation: “Go, gather all the Jews to be found in Susa, and hold a fast on my behalf, and do not eat or drink for three days, night or day. I and my young women will also fast as you do. Then I will go to the king, though it is against the law, and if I perish, I perish.”
These scriptures highlight various aspects of fasting in the Bible, including its purpose, proper attitude, and examples of fasting in practice.
II. Types of Fasts
In the Bible, people observed fasts in various ways, often accompanied by specific actions or intentions.
1. Abstaining from Food: Fasts typically involved abstaining from food or specific types of food for a designated period of time.
– Daniel 10:2-3 (ESV): “In those days I, Daniel, was mourning for three weeks. I ate no delicacies, no meat or wine entered my mouth, nor did I anoint myself at all, for the full three weeks.”
2. Repentance and Mourning: Fasts were often associated with repentance, mourning, or seeking forgiveness from God.
– Joel 2:12 (ESV): “Yet even now,” declares the Lord, “return to me with all your heart, with fasting, with weeping, and with mourning.”
3. Seeking God’s Guidance: Fasts were also observed as a means of seeking God’s guidance, intervention, or blessing in a particular situation.
– Esther 4:16 (ESV): “Go, gather all the Jews to be found in Susa, and hold a fast on my behalf, and do not eat or drink for three days, night or day. I and my young women will also fast as you do. Then I will go to the king, though it is against the law, and if I perish, I perish.”
4. Spiritual Discipline and Worship: Fasts were sometimes practiced as acts of spiritual discipline or worship, demonstrating devotion to God.
– Acts 13:2-3 (ESV): “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.’ Then after fasting and praying they laid their hands on them and sent them off.”
5. Interceding for Others: Fasts were also observed to intercede for others or for a collective cause.
– Nehemiah 1:4 (ESV): “As soon as I heard these words I sat down and wept and mourned for days, and I continued fasting and praying before the God of heaven.”
These examples illustrate the various purposes and practices associated with fasting in the Bible, each serving as a means of seeking God’s will, mercy, and presence.
III. Fasting Items
In biblical fasts, people often abstained from specific types of food or even all food for a period of time. The items included in a biblical fast varied depending on the circumstances, cultural practices, and personal choices. Here are some common elements:
1. Water: In many biblical fasts, water was allowed, as it was essential for survival and hydration during the fasting period.
2. Bread and Grain Products: Fasts often involved abstaining from bread and grain-based products, which were staple foods in many ancient cultures.
3. Meat and Animal Products: Some fasts included abstaining from meat and other animal products, such as dairy and eggs.
4. Wine and Alcoholic Beverages: Fasts sometimes involved abstaining from wine and other alcoholic beverages, which were common in social and religious gatherings.
5. Delicacies and Luxuries: Fasts might also involve abstaining from indulgent or luxurious foods, such as sweets, desserts, and rich dishes.
Ultimately, the specific items included or excluded in a biblical fast depended on the individual’s or community’s intentions, cultural practices, and religious beliefs. The key aspect was the deliberate abstention from certain types of food as an act of devotion, repentance, or seeking God’s guidance.
IV. Jewish Fasts
In Judaism, there are several types of fasts observed for different purposes, including communal and individual fasts. Here are some of the main types of Jewish fasts:
1. Yom Kippur (Day of Atonement) Fast: Yom Kippur is the holiest day in Judaism, and it is observed with a 25-hour fast from sunset to nightfall the following day. It is a complete fast, meaning no food or drink is consumed, and it is a time for repentance, prayer, and atonement.
2. Tisha B’Av Fast: Tisha B’Av is a day of mourning commemorating various tragedies in Jewish history, including the destruction of the First and Second Temples in Jerusalem. It is observed with a fast from sunset to nightfall the following day, similar to Yom Kippur.
3. Fast of Esther: This fast is observed on the day before Purim, commemorating Esther’s fasting before approaching the Persian king to plead for the salvation of the Jewish people. It is a dawn-to-dusk fast, typically lasting from sunrise to sunset.
4. Fast of Gedaliah: This fast commemorates the assassination of Gedaliah, the governor of Judah appointed by the Babylonians after the destruction of the First Temple. It is observed on the third day of Tishrei, the day after Rosh Hashanah, and it is a dawn-to-dusk fast.
5. Tzom Gedaliah: This fast is observed on the day after Rosh Hashanah, commemorating the assassination of Gedaliah. It is also a dawn-to-dusk fast.
6. Tenth of Tevet Fast: This fast commemorates the siege of Jerusalem by the Babylonians, which ultimately led to the destruction of the First Temple. It is observed on the 10th day of the Hebrew month of Tevet and is a dawn-to-dusk fast.
These are some of the main types of Jewish fasts, each observed for different historical events or religious purposes.
V. New Testament, Fasting
In the New Testament, fasting is mentioned as a spiritual practice, primarily associated with seeking God’s guidance, expressing repentance, and deepening one’s relationship with God. While specific guidelines for fasting are not extensively detailed in the New Testament, there are principles and examples that provide insight into what a New Testament fast might look like:
1. Fasting for Spiritual Clarity: In Matthew 4:1-11(ESV), Jesus fasts for 40 days and nights in the wilderness before beginning his public ministry. This fasting period is characterized by prayer, meditation, and spiritual preparation.
2. Fasting for Prayer and Discernment: Acts 13:2-3 (ESV) records a time when leaders in the early Christian church fasted and prayed before making important decisions: “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.’ Then after fasting and praying they laid their hands on them and sent them off.”
3. Fasting for Repentance: In the story of the prodigal son in Luke 15:11-32, the son returns to his father in repentance, saying, “I will arise and go to my father, and I will say to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son. Treat me as one of your hired servants.'” While not explicitly mentioned, fasting could be a part of the son’s act of repentance.
4. Fasting as a Spiritual Discipline: In Matthew 6:16-18 (ESV), Jesus teaches about fasting as a private spiritual discipline: “And when you fast, do not look gloomy like the hypocrites, for they disfigure their faces that their fasting may be seen by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward. But when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face, that your fasting may not be seen by others but by your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.”
5. Fasting with Humility: In Luke 18:9-14 (ESV), Jesus tells the parable of the Pharisee and the tax collector, highlighting the importance of humility in fasting and prayer.
These examples illustrate that New Testament fasting involves not only abstaining from food but also engaging in prayer, seeking spiritual clarity, repentance, and humility before God. It is a deeply personal and spiritual practice aimed at drawing closer to God and aligning one’s heart with His will.
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