What Does the Bible Say About Fasting — In Biblical Context
Fasting is a voluntary practice of denying physical needs to focus on prayer and seeking God—Jesus expected His followers to fast with right motives.
Fasting is a voluntary practice of denying physical needs to focus on prayer and seeking God—Jesus expected His followers to fast with right motives.
"But thou, when thou fastest, anoint thine head, and wash thy face; That thou appear not unto men to fast, but unto thy Father which is in secret: and thy Father, which seeth in secret, shall reward thee openly." — Matthew 6:17-18 (KJV)
The Biblical Context
Fasting appears throughout Scripture as a spiritual discipline. Moses fasted 40 days on Sinai, David fasted in prayer for his child, Esther called a fast before approaching the king, and Jesus fasted 40 days in the wilderness. Jesus did not say 'if ye fast' but 'when ye fast' (Matthew 6:16-18), indicating He expected it as a normal practice. He warned against fasting for show, teaching that it should be done privately before God. Isaiah 58 describes the fast God honors—not mere abstinence from food but acts of justice, mercy, and liberation. Fasting expresses dependence on God and intensifies spiritual focus.
Where It Sits in Scripture
The core passage for this question, Matthew 6:17-18, sits inside Matthew 6. To grasp the full meaning, read the surrounding paragraph — the verses before set up the thought, the verses after carry it forward.
"But thou, when thou fastest, anoint thine head, and wash thy face; That thou appear not unto men to fast, but unto thy Father which is in secret: and thy Father, which seeth in secret, shall reward thee openly."
Supporting Passages
"Is not this the fast that I have chosen? to loose the bands of wickedness, to undo the heavy burdens, and to let the oppressed go free, and that ye break every yoke?"
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