Next in our reading is the Sermon on the Mount: Matthew 6:16-18
[16] 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 full reward. [17] But when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face, [18] 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.
Considering this teaching of Jesus on fasting, we should first ask whether fasting is a command or a practice for Christians today?
Of course, fasting is a practice for Christians today. Many do exercise this practice. The question is whether it is a requirement.
It is important to note that Jesus does not teach that we must fast, but rather describes what fasting should be like when it is practiced. Of course, it is clear from the teaching that fasting is not sinful and is even beneficial.
The question is whether fasting is a commandment for Christians today. Nowhere in the Christian text is there a command for fasting.
Three Notes on Fasting
1. Practice your fasting in secret.
When you are fasting, it should not be obvious to others. The value of spiritual disciplines lies not in public recognition but in the personal and private strengthening of our relationship with God.
2. Seek God’s approval, not human praise.
The lesson is to prioritize God’s commendation over human applause. In a world where much is done for likes, shares, and public approval, this teaching calls us to examine our motives and ensure our actions are for God’s eyes first and foremost.
3. Spiritual disciplines are about the heart.
Jesus’ instruction to not disfigure our faces during fasting points to a broader principle that true spirituality is a matter of the heart and should not be performed as a spectacle. This contrasts with societal norms that often value appearance.
Each of these lessons invites us to reflect on our spiritual practices and motivations, encouraging us to seek a genuine, heart-centered relationship with God that towers over societal expectations and personal inclinations.
Lonnie Davis