Fasting / Lent

What did Jesus mean

Your fast doesn’t matter.

Where did Jesus say this

Matthew 9:14–15 — “Then came the disciples of John to him saying: Why do we and the Pharisees fast oft, but thy disciples fast not? And Jesus said unto them: Can the wedding children mourn as long as the bridegroom is with them? The days will come when the bridegroom shall be taken from them, and then shall they fast.”

Words Behind the Words

The Greek word for fasting is nēsteuō, which means “not eating.”

A historical sidenote

Jesus never asked anyone to fast. In fact, God never commanded it either. God actually used the words “humble your souls,” and people later interpreted that to mean “don’t eat.”

“Also the tenth day of the self seventh month is a day of an atonement, and shall be an holy feast unto you, and ye shall humble your souls and offer sacrifice unto the Lord… For whatsoever soul it be that humbleth not himself that day, he shall be destroyed from among his people… A sabbath of rest it shall be unto you, and ye shall humble your souls.” (Leviticus 23:27, 29, 32)

Sabbath means “stop” in Hebrew. So, God is saying, “Stop what you’re doing, and humble yourself. Sit with your ego for the day, and offer up your humbled soul as sacrifice.”

Instead, people thought it meant: stop eating. Sacrifice a goat.

What Jesus did not mean

Jesus did not mean to stop eating.

Jesus did not mean to give up alcohol, TV, or sugar for 40 days.

Jesus did not mean to give up anything external for any amount of time.

Let’s break down what his quote actually means.

“Then came the disciples of John to him saying: Why do we and the Pharisees fast oft, but thy disciples fast not?”

John’s people don’t understand why Jesus’ people don’t fast. They (John’s people) have to fast and the religious authorities (the Pharisees) also have to fast, so what makes Jesus’ people any different?

“And Jesus said unto them: Can the wedding children mourn as long as the bridegroom is with them? The days will come when the bridegroom shall be taken from them, and then shall they fast.”

Jesus responds by comparing himself to a groom on the day of his wedding.

Everyone at the wedding is feasting and having fun. No one is mourning. (Why would they on such a joyous occasion?) But when Jesus is gone, then there will be a reason to mourn, and his people will fast.

Jesus doesn’t literally mean that his disciples are going to stop eating. He’s saying that there will be mourning after he is gone, and fasting is often a natural response to that.

He uses their words against them.

In one breath, he’s saying, “Why fast if you don’t have a real inner reason to do so?”

And in the other breath, he’s saying, “Your fasting is a performance.”

And if you need more convincing, take it from God.

“Is it such a fast that I have chosen? a day for a man to afflict his soul? is it to bow down his head as a bulrush, and to spread sackcloth and ashes under him? wilt thou call this a fast, and an acceptable day to the LORD? 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? Is it not to deal thy bread to the hungry, and that thou bring the poor that are cast out to thy house? when thou seest the naked, that thou cover him; and that thou hide not thyself from thine own flesh?” (Isaiah 58:5–7)

Translation: You guys are performing. You pretend you’re sad. You pretend you’re mourning. You’re even dressing the part. But I didn’t ask for any of that. I wanted you to sit with yourself and humble your soul, so you can look inward and help those who need help. But you choose to lie to yourselves instead.

Where to start

Stop fasting with food and “things” and start fasting with your ego.

Empty your ego, sit with yourself in private, and ask yourself the tough questions.

And when you do this, ask Jesus for guidance.

Jesus fasted metaphorically and physically because the situation required it. He just so happened to do it in the wilderness, refused to use his God-given abilities, and was literally tested by the devil. He fasted on purpose to show everyone that he could also be uncomfortable, hungry, and alone. He did not fast so others would do it, too.

The devil came to Jesus and tempted him to make bread out of stones. Instead, Jesus resisted and leaned on God.

Now it’s our turn.

We need to resist the temptation of our ego (the devil), and lean on Jesus instead.

“Then came to him the tempter and said: if thou be the son of God, command that these stones be made bread. He answered and said: it is written, man shall not live by bread only, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.” (Matthew 4:3–4)

Benefits

You can stop performing and start connecting.

Jesus doesn’t expect you to fast. He never asked you to.

He wants you to fast from your ego. Do this, and you can finally connect with him, finally receive the guidance you need to heal, and finally see what it’s like to live inside the Kingdom of God.