How to Fast The Way Jesus Told Us To

Moreover, when you fast, do not be like the hypocrites, with a sad countenance. For they disfigure their faces that they may appear to men to be fasting. Assuredly, I say to you, they have their reward. But you, when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face, so that you do not appear to men to be fasting, but to your Father who is in the secret place; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly.

—Matthew 6:18

I love this fasting passage in Matthew. It follows the teaching of the Lord’s prayer. Jesus has been teaching His disciples about guarding the intentions of their hearts, telling them not to do deeds or acts of kindness just for show, but to simply allow others to see their good works, done solely to please God.

He begins to teach them the model prayer, by examining their hearts. Then, He moves right into instructing them that “when they fast, they shouldn’t be like the hypocrites that appear to be self-righteous, only to be seen by men.”

Don’t you find it interesting that Jesus says to them, “and when you fast,” not “if you choose to fast”?

This was a deep conversation He was having with His disciples. They were fully aware of the discipline of fasting, for it was part of their tradition. But Jesus was teaching them something new. He was teaching them a spiritual exercise with a divine outcome—that our fast is never about our works, but always about our obedience.

Then, He ends with these beautiful words in verse 18…“and your Father, who sees in secret, will reward you openly.”

Fasting is an act of our will, a discipline of our flesh. It teaches us to not rely on sustenance from the world but to seek a higher satisfaction, a higher purpose. He was teaching them to seek communion and a pure relationship with God.

But you, when you pray, enter your closet, and when you have shut your door, pray to your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly. —Matthew 6:6, MEV

But as for me, when they were sick, my clothing was sackcloth; I humbled my soul with fasting; and my prayer returns to my own heart. —Psalm 35:13, MEV