SPECIAL TOPIC: FASTING

1. OT Fasting
   1. There is only one fast day in the Law of Moses, the Day of Atonement (Yom Kippur), Leviticus 16.
      SPECIAL TOPIC: FEASTS OF ISRAEL, I. E. #2
   2. Personal fasting was an element of grief and supplication to God (cf. 1 Sam. 1:7,14; 2 Sam 1:12; 3:36; 12:16; 1 Kgs. 2:27; Ps. 35:13)
   3. Later Judean rabbis added several more fasts to commemorate tragedies in the life of the nation (i.e., Ezra 8:21-23; Neh. 9:1; Esther 4:16; Zech. 7:3-5; 8:19).
   4. The rabbis of Jesus' day added 2 days a week (Luke 18:12).
      1. Monday (supposedly the day Moses ascended Mt. Sinai to receive the Law)
      2. Thursday (supposedly the day Moses came down from Mt. Sinai and gave the Law to Israel)
      3. Moses had a forty day fast during this time (cf. Exod. 24:28; Deut. 9:9-10)
   
   
2. NT Fasting
   1. The early church modeled itself on the synagogue
      1. accented their canon
      2. followed their worship procedures
      3. fasting (cf. Acts 13:2-3; 14:23; 2 Cor. 6:5; 11:27)
         It must be noted that "fasting" was one of three requirements of "righteousness" (cf. Matt. 6:1)
         1. almsgiving (Matt. 6:2-4; see SPECIAL TOPIC: ALMSGIVING)
         2. prayer (Matt. 6:5-15)
         3. fasting (Matt. 6:16-18)
   2. It became a point of contention between the disciples of John the Baptist and Jesus' disciples (cf. Matt. 9:14-17). Unfortunately, it had become a badge of "spirituality" (cf. Isaiah 58; Matt. 16:16-18).
      1. Jesus affirms fasting (cf. Matt. 6:16,17; 9:15; Mark 2:19; Luke 5:35)
      2. He fasted Himself (cf. Matt. 4:2)
         The practice became so widespread within the early church that scribes added it to several texts (cf. Matt. 17:21; Mark 9:29; Acts 10:30; 1 Cor. 7:5).
   3. Fasting can be spiritually helpful in seeking God and His will (i.e., Dan. 9:3). However, the time, length, and frequency are voluntary. The motive and manner of observance are crucial.

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