The Pharisees and Fasting Phony Fasting Matthew 6
- Slides: 9
The Pharisees and Fasting Phony Fasting Matthew 6: 16 -18
What is Fasting? • Heb. sum, to "cover" the mouth; Grk. nesteuo, to "abstain" • Going without food or drink voluntarily, generally for religious purposes. • "afflict soul or self, " i. e. practice self-denial • Fasting, originally the natural expression of grief, became the customary mode of proving to others the inner emotion of sorrow. • What many do naturally when upset or preoccupied with something overwhelming to their hearts
When Was Fasting Required? • The sole fast required by the law of Moses was that of the great Day of Atonement Lev 23: 26 -32. – It is called "the fast" (Acts 27: 9). – There are occasions when special fasts were called by leaders
Usually Dictated By Circumstance • • • Sickness – Psa. 35: 13 Death – 1 Sam. 31: 13 War or battle – Judges 20: 24 -28 Conviction of sin – Ezra 10: 3 Realizing Lost Condition – Jonah 3: 5 • Important decisions –Acts 13: 2; 14: 23
Not Fitting For Good Times • Not fitting for joyful occasions – Matthew 9: 14 -17 – Like putting unshrunk cloth on an old garment – Like putting new wine into old wineskins
The Pharisees Did It For Appearance • They did it often • Like Israelite fathers, it was not for right reason –Isa. 58: 3 -9; Zech. 7: 1 -14 – But, that was for impressing people – Thus, it was not to uphold the demands of the Law – Like showing people how proud you are of your humility – They have their reward
Proper Motives • Are checked by the Law of God Ps 138: 6 6 Though the LORD is on high, Yet He regards the lowly; But the proud He knows from afar. NKJV Isa 66: 2 "Heaven is My throne, And earth is My footstool. Where is the house that you will build Me? And where is the place of My rest? 2 For all those things My hand has made, And all those things exist, " Says the LORD. "But on this one will I look: On him who is poor and of a contrite spirit, And who trembles at My word. NKJV
Jesus Upholds Righteousness • Righteousness calls for honesty with self, others, and God • Righteousness calls for pure motives
