What does the Bible say about fasting?
What does the Bible say about fasting? Fasting is the voluntary abstaining from food for spiritual purposes — practiced throughout the Bible as an expression of humility, repentance, and seeking God's guidance.
Key verse: Matthew 6:17-18 (KJV)
Fasting is the voluntary abstaining from food for spiritual purposes — practiced throughout the Bible as an expression of humility, repentance, and seeking God's guidance.
Fasting is the voluntary abstaining from food for spiritual purposes — practiced throughout the Bible as an expression of humility, repentance, and seeking God's guidance.
"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)
Meaning
Plain-language explanation
In Context
Surrounding KJV scripture
Related Verses
Cross-reference scriptures
The Biblical Answer
Fasting appears throughout the Bible as a spiritual discipline. Moses fasted 40 days on Mount Sinai. David fasted in grief and repentance. Esther called a fast before approaching the king. Jesus fasted 40 days in the wilderness before beginning His public ministry. He taught that fasting should be done privately, not for show, saying 'thy Father, which seeth in secret, shall reward thee openly.' The early church fasted before making important decisions. While the New Testament doesn't command regular fasting, Jesus assumed His followers would fast ('when ye fast,' not 'if'). Fasting expresses dependence on God and intensifies spiritual focus.
Topic Overview
What Does the Bible Say About Fasting?
Biblical teaching on fasting — why, when, and how to fast according to Scripture.
Key Scripture References
"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."
"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?"
"As they ministered to the Lord, and fasted, the Holy Ghost said, Separate me Barnabas and Saul for the work whereunto I have called them."
Frequently asked questions
Frequently asked questions
Related Questions
What does the Bible say about prayer?
The Bible teaches that prayer is direct communication with God — a privilege for all believers — and should be persistent, humble, faith-filled, and aligned with God's will.
What Is Repentance?
Repentance is a genuine change of mind and heart about sin, turning away from it and toward God.
What Is the Meaning of Baptism?
Baptism is an outward expression of an inward faith — a public declaration of identification with Christ's death, burial, and resurrection.
How Should We Pray According to the Bible?
The Bible teaches that prayer is direct communication with God — honest, reverent, and grounded in faith.
Does God Answer Prayer?
Yes — the Bible promises that God hears and answers the prayers of His people, though not always in the way or timing we expect.
Deep Dive Commentary
For a more in-depth study, read our verse-by-verse commentary:
Related Reading
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Bible Verses About Fasting
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Prayer as Spiritual Warfare
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Fasting as Spiritual Warfare
Fasting humbles the body and sharpens prayer — Jesus said some battles go out on
Read it in context
The answer above sits inside Matthew. The 365-day chronological plan reads it in the order the events happened.
Read Matthew on day 284 of the chronological Bible reading planKeep the verses to hand
Every verse quoted in “What does the Bible say about fasting?” comes from the King James Version, free to download and print.
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