Fasting, as a religious practice, holds a significant place within the Jewish tradition, and during the time of Jesus, it was particularly emphasized by the Pharisees. The Pharisees were a prominent religious group known for their strict adherence to the Law and their emphasis on ritual purity. Fasting, for them, was not merely an occasional act of devotion but a habitual practice that demonstrated their piety and commitment to God.

Biblical Context and Practice

The Pharisees' practice of fasting is mentioned in several passages in the New Testament, highlighting both the frequency and the manner in which they fasted. In Luke 18:12, a Pharisee, while praying, boasts, "I fast twice a week and pay tithes of all that I acquire." This statement reflects the Pharisaic custom of fasting on Mondays and Thursdays, which were considered traditional days of fasting. This regular fasting was intended to express humility, repentance, and devotion to God.

Jesus' Critique of Pharisaic Fasting

While the Pharisees were diligent in their fasting, Jesus critiqued their approach, emphasizing the importance of sincerity and the condition of the heart over mere outward observance. In Matthew 6:16-18, Jesus instructs His followers, "When you fast, do not be somber like the hypocrites, for they disfigure their faces to show men they are fasting. Truly I tell you, they already have their reward. But when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face, so that your fasting will not be obvious to men, but only to your Father, who is unseen. And your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you."

This teaching underscores the contrast between the Pharisees' public display of fasting and the genuine, private devotion that Jesus advocated. The Pharisees' fasting, as depicted in the Gospels, often became a means of self-righteousness and a way to gain the admiration of others, rather than a true act of worship and submission to God.

Fasting and the New Covenant

The Pharisees' questioning of Jesus about fasting is recorded in Mark 2:18-20: "Now John’s disciples and the Pharisees were fasting. So people came to Jesus and asked, 'Why do John’s disciples and the disciples of the Pharisees fast, but Your disciples do not?' Jesus replied, 'How can the guests of the bridegroom fast while He is with them? As long as He is with them, they cannot fast. But the time will come when the bridegroom will be taken from them; then they will fast.'"

Here, Jesus introduces a new understanding of fasting in light of His presence and the coming of the New Covenant. The presence of Jesus, the Bridegroom, brought a time of joy and celebration, rendering traditional fasting unnecessary. However, He acknowledged that a time would come when His followers would fast, indicating a future period of longing and anticipation for His return.

Conclusion

The Pharisees' habitual fasting serves as a backdrop for understanding the transformative teaching of Jesus on the nature of true devotion. While the Pharisees emphasized external observance, Jesus called for an inward transformation, where fasting becomes a genuine expression of faith and dependence on God.Matthew 9:14
Then came to him the disciples of John, saying, Why do we and the Pharisees fast oft, but your disciples fast not?
Nave's Topical Index

Mark 2:18
And the disciples of John and of the Pharisees used to fast: and they come and say to him, Why do the disciples of John and of the Pharisees fast, but your disciples fast not?
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Luke 18:12
I fast twice in the week, I give tithes of all that I possess.
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Upon Our Lord's SermonOn the Mount
... are they who live in some wilful, habitual sin. ... exceed the righteousness of the Scribes
and Pharisees, ye shall ... days of Lent, as days of fasting or abstinence ...
/.../wesley/sermons on several occasions/sermon 25 upon our lords.htm

Acts IX
... of the population, the exasperation of the Pharisees knew no ... like Ananias, to see
man fasting and weeping ... to listen more favorably to an habitual opponent than ...
/.../mcgarvey/a commentary on acts of the apostles/acts ix.htm

Galatians Chapter ii.
... youth in the Law, have relinquished our habitual mode of ... more is peril to be feared
where fasting and sabbatizing ... [45] ["These were formerly Pharisees (Acts 15 ...
/.../galatians chapter ii.htm

Against Jovinianus.
... For he promised that if they would prefer fulness to fasting they should be ... are
crucified with Christ, and are listening to the blasphemies of the Pharisees. ...
/.../jerome/the principal works of st jerome/against jovinianus.htm

Memoir of John Bunyan
The Works of John Bunyan Volumes 1-3. <. ...
/.../bunyan/the works of john bunyan volumes 1-3/memoir of john bunyan.htm

part i
... To what end do fasting and penitence lead? ... There are, indeed, very important
reasons for fasting and for confession from the whole heart. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/calvin/my life in christ/part i.htm

The Pilgrim's Progress
The Works of John Bunyan Volumes 1-3. <. ...
/.../bunyan/the works of john bunyan volumes 1-3/the pilgrims progress.htm

What is the connection between prayer and fasting? | GotQuestions.org

Christian fasting - what does the Bible say? | GotQuestions.org

What are the different types of fasting? | GotQuestions.org

Fasting: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com

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