Fasting Facts for 9-13 Year Olds

Categories: Sermon on the Mount

• After the Lord’s Prayer, Jesus returns to the hypocritical practices of the religious leaders. That means their actions aren’t sincere, or they say one thing and do another.
• This time it’s about fasting, the third tenet of the Jewish religion.
• The word for fasting means “deny yourself.”
• The Day of Atonement is the only time the law requires Jews to fast.
• Publicly, people might fast for bountiful crops, etc.
• Privately, there are various reasons for fasting.
• People might prepare for some great event – Jesus fasted for 40 days in the wilderness.
• People might fast during a time of mourning.
• People might fast to discern God’s direction – Paul fasted for three days after being blinded by the vision of Jesus telling him to serve him and spread the good news.
• Pharisees (these religious leaders emphasize following each and every rule and law) are typically known to routinely fast twice a week.
• Jesus does not say, “Don’t fast.” He says, “When you fast….”
• “Don’t look somber as the hypocrites do, for they disfigure their faces to show men they are fasting.”
• The word for “disfigure” means to make one’s face unrecognizable.
• He uses the word “hypocrite” again, as he has before. Remember that hypocrite describes what actors do.
• They make their faces unrecognizable with makeup or masks.
• Typically, when non-fasting people are in public, they trim their beards, comb their hair, wear clean clothes, and put oil on their heads for cleanliness.
• Typically, fasting Jews do disfigure themselves.
• They put ashes on their faces. They probably wouldn’t wear any makeup that day. They probably didn’t comb their hair.
• Sometimes they’d cover themselves with flour. Then they’d go out and make sure everyone saw them.
• Imagine being next to a person who is all covered with flour. You’d notice that.
• Jesus’ warning is based on the fact that the religious leaders usually do this to “show men they are fasting.”
• It is true that those people who are genuinely fasting might be humble.
• But Jesus is saying that motivation is important. You wouldn’t expect to see someone who is fasting then go out and do some secular, or non-religious, activity.
• Motivation is important; it can’t be a performance.
• If fasting is just about performance, Jesus says, “I tell you the truth they have received their reward in full.” They may have people notice them, but that’s all they’ll get.
• “I tell you the truth” makes us listen closely to Jesus.
• So Jesus says, “But when you fast, put oil on your head and wash your face, so that it will not be obvious to men that you are fasting, but only to your Father, who is unseen.” In other words, look normal.
• One might ask, “Isn’t that a performance?”
• Look at it this way, if people are fasting, if they’re being noticed by God, that should provide an inner joy that makes them very, very happy.
• The Father is not impressed by outward demeanor or looks.
• He adds, “Your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.”
• The connections among the three examples of prayer, almsgiving, and fasting are obvious.
• They all mention hypocrites who are identified, who act erroneously, and who are rewarded in full.
• In contrast is his point, “But when you...”
• These things are to be done—but in secret, before a Father who is unseen, and He will reward us.
• There is an important point being made, and Matthew wants us to get it. So he says it a few times.
• Prayer, fasting, and almsgiving should be private.
• That’s the point Matthew wants us to get.