Hello blessed ones,
Today, let’s take some time to examine some interesting comparisons that Jesus draws between His disciples and those of John and the Pharisees:
“And John’s disciples and the Pharisees were fasting; and they came and said to Him, ‘Why do John’s disciples and the disciples of the Pharisees fast, but Your disciples do not fast?’”
— Mark 2:18
Following their conversation at Levi’s house, the Pharisees continued to question Jesus, this time focusing on the differences between His ministry and those of the known teachers before Him. They shift their interrogation to another aspect.
In the previous verse, they questioned Jesus about the company He kept, comparing the Pharisees, who associated with the “set-apart ones,” to Jesus, who spent time with tax collectors and sinners. Now, they ask about the traditional practice of fasting.
The Pharisees and John’s disciples were known for fasting, yet Jesus’ disciples did not. This difference caught the attention of the Pharisees.
Fasting, a form of restraint from food for the purpose of prayer, is a concept found throughout both the Old and New Testaments. For example, David fasted for his sick child:
“Then Nathan went to his house. And the Lord struck the child that Uriah’s wife bore to David, and he became ill. David therefore sought God for the child, and David fasted and went in and lay all night on the ground.”
— 2 Samuel 12:15-16
Here, fasting was attached to a specific prayer to God as David implored the Lord to heal his son. Another example is found with the people of Nineveh, who fasted after receiving a warning of coming judgment due to their sinful ways:
“The people of Nineveh believed God, and they called a fast and put on sackcloth, from the greatest of them to the least of them. When the word reached the king of Nineveh, he arose from his throne, removed his robe, covered himself with sackcloth, and sat in ashes. And he issued a proclamation and published through Nineveh: ‘By the decree of the king and his nobles: Let neither man nor beast, herd nor flock, taste anything. Let them not feed or drink water.’”
— Jonah 3:5-7
In the New Testament, fasting had become a regular practice among Jews, particularly among the Pharisees. However, this practice was not always viewed favorably, as it often appeared to be more about self-righteousness than genuine brokenness over sin or a true desire to seek God. Jesus mentions this in His parable of the Pharisee and the tax collector:
“The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, ‘God, I thank You that I am not like other men—extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this tax collector. I fast twice a week; I give tithes of all that I possess.’”
— Luke 18:11-12
In the Pharisee’s prayer, we see an obvious display of self-righteousness. While trying to follow the Old Testament practice of fasting, the Pharisees often missed the heart of it, falling instead into pride and legalism.
When the Pharisee mentioned fasting twice a week, he saw it as a point worth highlighting before God because it went beyond the expectation of fasting once a week. But his heart leaned on his self-righteous acts of fasting, which had the appearance of holiness before men.
We know that Jesus Himself fasted at least once, but He did so in line with His teaching on the matter, instructing His followers to fast willingly and privately:
“Moreover, when you fast, do not be like the hypocrites, with a sad countenance. For they disfigure their faces that they may appear to men to be fasting. Assuredly, I say to you, they have their reward. But you, when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face, so that you do not appear to men to be fasting, but to your Father who is in the secret place; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly.”
— Matthew 6:16-18
Jesus’ response to the Pharisees who questioned why His disciples did not fast pointed to the core reason for fasting:
“And Jesus said to them, ‘Can the friends of the bridegroom fast while the bridegroom is with them? As long as they have the bridegroom with them, they cannot fast.’”
— Mark 2:19
In this metaphor, Jesus portrays Himself as the bridegroom. He reminds them that the purpose of fasting is to seek fellowship with God. However, God had come in the flesh and was dwelling among them. Since Jesus’ disciples were already in fellowship with God through His presence, they had no need to fast. But Jesus goes on to explain that a time would come when they would need to resume fasting:
“But the days will come when the bridegroom will be taken away from them, and then they will fast in those days.”
— Mark 2:20
Indeed, we see this come to pass as the disciples continued the practice of fasting in the book of Acts:
“As they ministered to the Lord and fasted, the Holy Spirit said, ‘Now separate to Me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.’ Then, having fasted and prayed, and laid hands on them, they sent them away.”
— Acts 13:2-3
From these examples, we learn that fasting should be approached with reverence and not merely as a tradition to check off a list. As believers, our fasting should be centered around fellowship with God, truly forsaking our fleshly desires to rely on and depend upon Him.
We must also guard against the sin of pride, which can easily creep in when we flaunt our fasting to others. Fasting is not about drawing attention to ourselves but about drawing closer to God.
Finally, the New Testament does not prescribe a specific number of times we ought to fast each week, but it does provide clear instructions on how we should conduct ourselves when we fast.
Furthermore, as believers, we know that a time is coming when we will no longer need to fast, for we will be forever in the presence of God, and He will once again dwell among men:
“And I heard a loud voice from the throne, saying, ‘Behold, the tabernacle of God is among men, and He will dwell among them, and they shall be His people, and God Himself will be among them.’”
— Revelation 21:3
I pray that this word encourages us to make time for fasting and prayer for the sake of fellowship with God, and not for pride or boasting.
May the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all.
Leave a Reply