What types of fasting does the Bible talk about?

WHAT DOES THE BIBLE SAY?

The Old Testament records different types of fasting. In Exodus, fasting from both sex (Exodus 19:15) and food is mentioned (Exodus 34:28). King David fasted on behalf of his son (2 Samuel 12:16–23), Elijah endured a miraculous forty-day fast (1 Kings 19), and both King Jehoshaphat and Queen Esther called their people to fast (2 Chronicles 20:3; 2 Chronicles 20:24–27; Ezra 8:21; Esther 4:16). In Isaiah 58:3–7, we are reminded to fast with pure motives, and the story of Nineveh shows that even the most wicked people can seek repentance and humble themselves during fasting (Jonah 3). The New Testament also addresses the topic of fasting. Jesus implies that fasting is an expected practice (Matthew 6:16–17), and He Himself fasted for forty days and forty nights in the wilderness before He endured a spiritual attack from Satan (Luke 4:1–13). In Luke 2:36–38, a widowed prophetess, Anna, is recorded fasting in the temple for most of her life. Saul is also recorded fasting for three days after encountering Jesus and being struck blind (Acts 9:9). Lastly, in 1 Corinthians 7:5, married couples are instructed to abstain from sex in order to dedicate themselves to prayer. Fasting allows us to abstain from things, so we can focus on seeking God, His direction, His forgiveness, His intervention, and His presence.

FROM THE OLD TESTAMENT

• In Exodus 19:15, all of the Israelites abstained from sex for three days as they prepared to meet with God at Mt. Sinai.
• In Exodus 34:28, Moses fasted for forty days and forty nights and then “wrote on the tablets the words of the covenant, the Ten Commandments.”
• David fasted and “sought God” on behalf of his child (2 Samuel 12:16–23).
• Elijah endured a miraculous forty-day fast (1 Kings 19).
• When his country was on the verge of being invaded, King Jehoshaphat called everyone to fast (2 Chronicles 20:3). God defeated those who were preparing to attack, and the country honored God (2 Chronicles 20:24–27). When the people of God prepared to return to Jerusalem after being in captivity in Babylon, they fasted and asked God for protection (Ezra 8:21).
• In Esther 4:16, Esther called all Jews to do a total fast for three days before she asked the King of Persia to spare them from destruction.
• When we fast, our motives should be to seek God and to hear Him with a humble heart. Isaiah 58:3–7 reminds us of the importance of seeking Him with pure motives.
• During a time of mourning, Daniel fasted for three weeks, specifically eliminating delicacies, meat, and wine from his diet (Daniel 10:2–3).
• In Jonah 3, the people of Nineveh fasted in repentance.

FROM THE NEW TESTAMENT

• In Matthew 6:16 and 17, Jesus spoke about fasting as an expected religious practice. He said, "when you fast…" not if. Fasting should be a practice integrated into our Christian life.
• In Luke 2:36–38, it says that Anna, a prophetess, “did not depart from the temple” but continued in “worshiping with fasting and prayer night and day.”
• Jesus fasted for forty days in the wilderness as He prepared for three years of ministry (Luke 4:1–13). In an attempt to leverage Jesus's hunger, Satan tempted Him to make bread from stones. Jesus responded, "It is written, 'Man shall not live by bread alone'" (Luke 4:4).
• Saul fasted for three days after encountering Jesus on the road to Damascus and being struck blind (Acts 9:9).
• In 1 Corinthians 7:5, married couples are instructed to abstain from sex to devote themselves to prayer, but only if both the husband and wife agree and just for a short time.

IMPLICATIONS FOR TODAY

Often, fasting is related to repentance in Scripture. David, the nation of Israel, and the people of Nineveh all fasted in repentance. In other instances recorded in the Bible, fasting is linked to passionate prayer, as with King Jehoshaphat and Queen Esther. Totally removing food and drink from our diet for a specific amount of time is not the only kind of fasting recorded in Scripture. Daniel fasted from a group of "choice" foods and also did not anoint himself with oils and lotions (Daniel 10). Some Christians today follow Daniel's example by abstaining from certain foods, drinks, or activities for a specified time, so they can rely more and more on God for their comfort and sustenance. Fasting is not a command. Yet, it is a helpful spiritual discipline to let us focus on the Lord and draw near to Him by removing other distractions. Whatever we fast from, it should be done with sincerity and humility (Isaiah 58:3–7), seeking God in secret, rather than displaying it for recognition (Matthew 6:16–18). While fasting is not commanded, it remains a valuable spiritual practice for eliminating distractions and focusing on Him.

UNDERSTAND

• Fasting is not commanded but is a helpful spiritual discipline.
• Fasting is refraining from something to focus on God.
• Fasting helps us remove distractions from worldly comforts.

REFLECT

• How can fasting help you refocus your heart on seeking God’s direction, forgiveness, or presence in your life?
• What types of worldly comforts or distractions could you consider fasting from to grow closer to God?
• How could fasting, understood rightly, deepen your relationship with God?

ENGAGE

• What is the importance of various types of fasting, such as abstaining from food, activities, or comforts?
• How can we encourage others to approach fasting with humility and sincerity?
• What lessons can we learn from examples of fasting in Scripture, like those of Daniel, Esther, or Jesus, and apply them in our lives today?