Fasting
Fasting
(Matthew: 6:16- 18)
“And
when you fast, do not look gloomy like the hypocrites, for they disfigure their
faces that others may see their fasting. Truly, I say to you, they have received
their reward. 17 But when you fast, anoint your head and wash your
face, 18 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” (Matthew
6:16-18)
We
have discussed fasting before in chapter 4.
The Jews at our Lord’s time fasted in the 4th (Jeremiah 52:6), 5th
(2 King 25:8), 7th (Jeremiah 41:1), and in the 10th month
(Jeremiah 41:1). The Pharisees were
steadfast in observing these. They fasted on Thursdays (the day on which Moses
ascended the mount) and on Mondays (the day in which he descended from the
Mount). Some observed fasting for atonement but some others for fame.
They
also had fasting wearing a white garments over the ordinary dress and a white
hat (called white fasting). Then there was also a fasting where one did not
shave, take a bath, wash, oil the hair, put on sandals, but dressed in torn
clothes, put ash in the hair, and covered in rugged clothes (called black
fasting). Our Lord criticized this
kind of fasting only meant for publicity. It
is not the public fasting, but it was the public acts, in the name of fasting
that He criticized. Our Lord fasted and taught us that only with the help of
fasting and prayer can one can win over the Devil. Our Lord also instructs us
how to fast.
How
should one fast?
The
instructions can be seen in Isaiah 58:4-10 and Joel 2:12. One
should avoid food and drinks; and give gifts, charity, visit the sick, and spent
time in prayer and meditation. The flesh should be subdued by the spirit (or
one should have self control). Fasting
is to keep ourselves near God. Fasting can be to raise our soul to heavenly
matters, win against the love of our stomach, and to gain power from our Lord
(just like our apostles fasted on important occasions and received power), and
do great thing in the name of our Lord, like Moses and Elijah [Refer Matthew
9:14-17; Acts 13:2,14:23, 2 Cor 6:5, 11:27].
Our
Lord is warning against making one’s fasting known to others by not anointing
or not washing the face or wearing special dresses. Instead, He taught us to
fast not for others but to be seen by God alone.
Our
Lord, the apostles, and the early church too fasted. Tertullian (AD 160) who
lived in the 2nd century has recorded, “we are barren after
observing all fasting and Lent and avoiding everything including all luxuries of
life”.
The
church observed 40 Day Lent even before the Synod of Nicea (AD 325).
Other early church fathers like Eusebius (the "Father of Church
History"; b. about 260), St. Jerome (340-420), St. Augustine (AD 354), St.
Basil, Theyophilos, and Cyril of Alexandria all stated that apostles instituted
fasting. The apostolic canons speak
of fasting on Friday and Wednesday. St. Hermes,
St. Cyril (AD 400), St. Clement (1st Pope at See of Rome), Origon (AD 185-232),
St. Basil (Bishop of Caesarea) [329-379], St. Jerome, St. Epiphanius, and
St. Augustine also have recorded the same thing.
More
on fasting or Lent:
http://www.stignatious.com/salvation5.htm#133
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