ARE YOU PLAYING THE HYPOCRITE PART ELEVEN

 

Matt 6:1-18

 

Jesus has been saying to examine our hearts and to be extremely careful that our righteous doesn’t exceed that of the scribes and Pharisee’s. Matt 5:20. A wrong righteousness according to Jesus; because it demonstrates a self-gratifying example of so-called Christian piety. Our lives are not to be operated by an external self-righteousness, but from an internal transformation through the gospel. The only true righteousness that comes by God’s imputed righteousness through the gospel of His Son.

 

What is fasting and what 

purpose it serve?

 

Fasting always had a purpose; it wasn’t just something people did to demonstrate their piety in worship or their spirituality. Fasting was part of the church in appointing elders. Acts 14:23. Fasting was done by the church Antioch in preparing Paul and Barnabas for ministry. Acts 13:1-3. Fasting was a time dedicated to intensive intercession, repentance, worship and seeking guidance. Fasting in its basic form is “Voluntarily going without food; or any other regularly enjoyed, good gift from God, for the sake of some spiritual purpose.”

 

Interesting to note: A sorrow of the heart will by itself naturally induce abstinence; whether it’s over sin, loss of a loved one, a personal problem or trial and etc.

 

Naturally our bodies shut down because

of sorrow or a conflict.

 

Fasting is a temporary hold, or indulging in food for a time to focus on this issue to seek God and communion with Him. As One theologian wrote “Fasting is for this world, for stretching our hearts to get fresh air beyond the pain and trouble around us. And it is for the battle against the sin and weakness inside us. We express our discontent with our sinful selves and our longing for more of Christ. When Jesus returns, fasting will be done. It’s a temporary measure, for this life and age, to enrich our joy in Jesus and prepare our hearts for the next — for seeing him face to face. When he returns, he will not call a fast, but throw a feast; then all holy abstinence will have served its glorious purpose and be seen by all for the stunning gift it was.” This is true by what we read in the confrontation that the elites had with Jesus over His disciples. “And they said to him, "The disciples of John fast often and offer prayers, and so do the disciples of the Pharisees, but yours eat and drink." And Jesus said to them, "Can you make wedding guests fast while the bridegroom is with them? The days will come when the bridegroom is taken away from them, and then they will fast in those days." Luke 5:33-35

 

There is no reason to fast along as the Lord is present as Jesus answers their question. He also said, there would come a time they would mourn and fast because the Bridegroom would be taken away from them. Unfortunately something that was meant to draw us closer in communion with God, as we wait His blessed return; became a weird and unbiblical experience for others. Historically it is said “Many ancient pagans believed that demons could enter the body through food. When they felt they were under demonic attack they would fast to prevent more evil spirits from gaining access to their bodies. The Yogis of most eastern religions and cults have always been committed to fasting. They say mystical visions and insights are claimed to be received. In modern western societies fasting has become a popular for purely physical and cosmetic reasons, recommended in some diet plans.”

 

We have to understand that fasting always had a legitimate spiritual purpose and never presented as having any value in and of itself. Just like the Disciple’s Prayer, it wasn’t the prayer of all prayers; but it was an example in how we are to pray. Fasting was sign of humiliation which lead to a period of time of fasting and prayer to be made known to God alone. And Jesus says here we are to do this “in secret.” (v18)

 

This has the same meaning as Jesus previously said “And when you pray, you must not be like the hypocrites. For they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and at the street corners, that they may be seen by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward. But when you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.” Matt 6:5-6. The Scriptures reveal that under the Law of Moses the children of Israel were commanded to fast once a year. But also the people themselves appointed certain additional fasts.

 

Some fasts lasted…. 

One day……Dan 6:18-24

Three days……Esther 4:16

Seven days……2 Sam 12:16-23

Fourteen days….. Acts 27:33-34

Twenty-one days….. Dan 10:3-13

Forty days……Matthew 4:2

Some fasting went for an unspecified length of time….. Matt 9:14, 

Luke 2:37, Acts 13:2, Acts 14:23.

 

Taken from D A Carson commentary; “In Jewish calendar there were certain special fasts in which everybody participated. These took place in connection with the high feast days, such as the Day of Atonement or the Jewish New Year. Fast might also be called when, for example, the autumn rains failed to appear; these fasts, too, would be national in scope. In addition, many individuals would fast at other times, allegedly as a sign of deep repentance and brokenness before the Lord, and perhaps as part of some important request offered up to the Lord.”

 

Like what we see in the book of Joel about the nation’s sin. “and rend your hearts and not your garments." Return to the LORD your God, for he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love; and he relents over disaster.” Joel 2:13. Fasting is of great value to the Lord “Rend your hearts and not your garments” (v13) If it’s accompanied with internal affection of heart, dissatisfaction with sin and one’s self this is where fasting is valuable to God. If it’s clocked with external appearances and outward showiness, then the LORD had something to say about that. “Is such the fast that I choose, a day for a person to humble himself? Is it to bow down his head like a reed, and to spread sackcloth and ashes under him? Will you call this a fast, and a day acceptable to the LORD?” Isaiah 58:5. As John Gill wrote “Does this deserve the name of a fast? or can it be imagined that such a day so spent, can be agreeable to God?”

 

Fasting is so much more than outward conformity and showiness and practical obedience. Fasting demonstrates a desire to be in closer in communion with God over something that is burdening you. Now! Fast forward to the time period of Jesus and even today that fasting has become self-gratifying way to show off your spiritually. D A Carson wrote “What began as spiritual self-discipline was prostituted into an occasion for pompous self-righteousness.” We know that is true by what Jesus says in (v16) “gloomy like the hypocrites, for they disfigure their faces that their fasting may be seen by others.”

 

What is Jesus saying?

Some would walk around wearing old clothes, some purposely torn and soiled. Walking around with painful looking expressions as they went about their business in the market and the synagogue. This expression would inform the people around them that they were fasting.

 

For the hypocrite, it was a difficult act to play because your

constantly acting out what is not real in your life.

 

When they walked around with sorrow for sin, though they had no sorrow over their sin; the best way to sell their counterfeit sorrow was to walk around with gloomy faces.

Some would walk around unwashed or have ashes sprinkled over their heads to show their fasting to others. It became a show of self-righteousness and it diminished the whole meaning of why people fasted. The Pharisee’s even fasted twice a week! The Pharisee, standing by himself, prayed thus: 'God, I thank you that I am not like other men, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week; I give tithes of all that I get.'” Luke 18:11-12

 

Fast forward we see similar behavior in the church, though the church rarely fasts and when they do it’s for the wrong reasons, or for some spiritual heightening experience. When people thought it was inappropriate to wear just normal clothing to church they start to wear what we call “Your Sunday best outfit” and this was an act of reverence towards approaching God. What started out as an appropriate act of heart preparedness, became a competition to see how you could look better than your neighbor.

 

“Gloomy faces”

 

The motivation to do what is respectful turned into a showy act to reveal to others you’re self-sense of pity and reverence towards God. But in reality Jesus says you’re “A hypocrite” Fasting is not about the outward appearances of piety, technique, or the results that come out of it. Fasting was never meant to have a heightened spiritual experience like jumping out of a plane at 30,000 feet. It’s about spirit of attitude that seeks God and is motivated by the love that the gospel brings into the life of a child of God. It’s not mechanical, but dedication, and its motivated by the One whose pleasure we seek. We don’t give of our time or funds, pray or fast as eternal demonstrations for others to see how holy we are. No…. these things are privileges and avenues to seek God in deeper communion with Him through our time, heart and dedication for His great love. “Fasting” doesn’t refer to a condition that is forced upon a person, but to voluntary abstain from food as a religious exercise. What was misinterpreted by many of old and today, was never to be spectacle or show to reveal your level of spirituality.

 

Fasting serves varies purposes according to the Scriptures. And Scripture also reveals that these acts of fasting were important to the people involved.

 

1. Fasting Serves For The Chastening Of The Soul.

Psalm 69:9-10 we read “I have become a stranger to my brothers, an alien to my mother's sons. For zeal for your house has consumed me, and the reproaches of those who reproach you have fallen on me. When I wept and humbled my soul with fasting, it became my reproach.” David cried out God to intervene and deliver him from the dangers which have come upon me. David realized that this was his clear and present danger for his soul, he sought God through fasting. Literally what David is saying “And I wept (away) my soul with fasting;”. David gave himself so much to fasting accompanied with weeping, that his strength was exhausted. This refers to his acts of devotion; to his undertaking to discipline his soul so that David would focus upon God, and not the danger that was around him.

2. Fasting Serves On Occasions Of Approaching Danger.

We read “Then Esther told them to reply to Mordecai, "Go, gather all the Jews to be found in Susa, and hold a fast on my behalf, and do not eat or drink for three days, night or day. I and my young women will also fast as you do. Then I will go to the king, though it is against the law, and if I perish, I perish." Mordecai then went away and did everything as Esther had ordered him.” Esther 4:15-17

 

3. Fasting Serves On Occasion With Personal Afflictions.

We read in 2 Sam 12:13-16 after Nathan exposes David’s sin after what he did to Uriah and Bathsheba. “David said to Nathan, "I have sinned against the LORD." And Nathan said to David, "The LORD also has put away your sin; you shall not die. Nevertheless, because by this deed you have utterly scorned the LORD, the child who is born to you shall die." Then Nathan went to his house. And the LORD afflicted the child that Uriah's wife bore to David, and he became sick. David therefore sought God on behalf of the child. And David fasted and went in and lay all night on the ground.”

 

4. Fasting Is Mostly Accompanied By Prayer.

 

Here is Daniel’s prayer as he is burdened with the sins of God’s rebellious people. “Then I turned my face to the Lord God, seeking him by prayer and pleas for mercy with fasting and sackcloth and ashes. I prayed to the LORD my God and made confession, saying, "O Lord, the great and awesome God, who keeps covenant and steadfast love with those who love him and keep his commandments, we have sinned and done wrong and acted wickedly and rebelled, turning aside from your commandments and rules. We have not listened to your servants the prophets, who spoke in your name to our kings, our princes, and our fathers, and to all the people of the land. To you, O Lord, belongs righteousness, but to us open shame, as at this day, to the men of Judah, to the inhabitants of Jerusalem, and to all Israel, those who are near and those who are far away, in all the lands to which you have driven them, because of the treachery that they have committed against you. To us, O LORD, belongs open shame, to our kings, to our princes, and to our fathers, because we have sinned against you. To the Lord our God belong mercy and forgiveness, for we have rebelled against him and have not obeyed the voice of the LORD our God by walking in his laws, which he set before us by his servants the prophets.” Daniel 9:3-10

5. Fasting Serves As Demonstration Of An Inward Change Nationally.

 

As a nation fasting was important for a people to seek God for grace and mercy. “Jonah began to go into the city, going a day's journey. And he called out, "Yet forty days, and Nineveh shall be overthrown!" And the people of Nineveh believed God. They called for a fast and put on sackcloth, from the greatest of them to the least of them. The word reached the king of Nineveh, and he arose from his throne, removed his robe, covered himself with sackcloth, and sat in ashes. And he issued a proclamation and published through Nineveh, "By the decree of the king and his nobles: Let neither man nor beast, herd nor flock, taste anything. Let them not feed or drink water, but let man and beast be covered with sackcloth, and let them call out mightily to God. Let everyone turn from his evil way and from the violence that is in his hands. Who knows? God may turn and relent and turn from his fierce anger, so that we may not perish." When God saw what they did, how they turned from their evil way, God relented of the disaster that he had said he would do to them, and he did not do it.” Jonah 3:4-10

 

We have to understand! Fasting and prayer is not about getting what we want or the answers we are seeking just because we practice fasting or pray. Whether God chooses to bring relief, deliverance or victory. God is still good even it still requires you to endure the suffering or the reason for your fast…..because our lives are for His glory. Unanswered prayer or unanswered fasting doesn’t negate the fact they are part of the Christian life. “When you pray, when you fast” These privileges draw us closer into communion with God because it demonstrates of our love for Him is worth setting, devoting, a time to be closer to Him. As Job said in his suffering “I have not departed from the commandment of his lips; I have treasured the words of his mouth more than my portion of food.” Job 23:12

Why Fast?

Fasting increases our sense of humility and dependence on God.

Fasting and prayer helps us to refocus on God.

Fasting and prayer reveals our hidden sin.

Fasting gives more attention to prayer.

Fasting and prayer can strengthen our intimacy that is lacking with God.

Fasting and prayer teaches us to pray with right motives.

Fasting and prayer can build upon our faith to strengthen it daily for His glory.

 

To sacrifice some personal comfort of eating prepares us to recognize that we need to continually sacrifice all of ourselves to Him. Most common ways to fast is with food, but in our today’s busy, tech world of zombie entertainment, there can be other ways we can fast. 

Fasting from TV/Netflix/Disney Plus/Movies

Fasting from Social media/Twitter/Facebook/ Instagram/ Tic-Tok

Fasting from Video Games. PS4/Xbox/Nintendo Switch

Fasting from secular music. Lynyrd Skinner/The Presidents of the United States/and especially Country Music.

Fasting from the busyness of life.

 

See I think! The reason we don’t fast is because it will reveal how

little of time we spend in communion with Him. “The Author and lover of my soul.” Fasting helps us to realize how much God is really not in our lives.

 

This world draws us in and keeps us look horizontal instead of vertical.

 

This is why it’s hard work to fake the Christian life, because you’re constantly acting instead of being genuine, real, and in love with Him. The purpose behind fasting is a time to truly examine our hearts and re-valuate our lives to concentrate on Him, solely.

And truly treat Him as the most

important in your life.

 

It’s a time to put things on hold for more important things…..your soul. It’s a willingness to lay down one’s life for the situation that is before us. As you run the race and chase after Him, not for others to see, but for you to seek Him in the secret place.

 

“What we are in private is

who we truly are.”

 

And our Father, who is all-knowing, all-powerful and all-seeing, knows who you really are in secret. The “secret place” is the where we know we will never be betrayed because many things we share are for Him to hear alone. If we could summarize these 18 verses it would be this “The real beauty that comes through giving, praying and fasting is never to be tarnished with self-righteousness outward conformity, but an inward expression of our love towards God through the gospel of His Son.” As D A Carson said “The real beauty of righteousness must not be tarnished by sham. God help us.” May we with Anna be constantly waiting for Him to come; through our devotion; worshipping Him, as she did day and night in the temple. Desiring to be with Him is far greater andmore importnat for the soul.