[Image] Jesus is tempted to make bread while fasting The other day on Facebook I got a question from a friend about my article on the 40 days of Lent. It is a good question, especially if you have the religious background both of us do, wherein we once attempted to celebrate the holy days God gave ancient Israel. Long story; maybe I'll tell it one day. But in the Old Testament you'll notice, fasting could sometimes be quite rigorous. So why do members of the Christian Movement call the somewhat gentler thing we do during Lent "fasting?"

Well, at one time the Lenten fast was much more rigorous too! But I didn't get into that. Here is the question and a modified version of my response.

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Q: How do you define fasting? My understanding of it is that it's literally going without any food or water for a period of 24 hours.

I remember many years ago a minister... mentioning in a sermon (on the Day of Atonement) that he never knew of anyone who tried to fast this way for 40 days that didn't end up doing permanent damage to his/her body, and thus strictly warned against attempting it in this day and age, due to the degeneration of the human body.

But your article makes it sound as if it's a relatively common thing for folks to do.

What am I missing here?


A: As you point out there would be a lot of dead and sickly worshipers each year if it was a full on fast. This Scientific American article says it's just barely possible to to go without food for 40 days or a little longer, but if you also don't drink anything you'll be dead in 2 weeks.  It seems to me that Christ, Moses -- who did it twice! -- and Elijah must have had supernatural assistance to make it that long.

We're dealing with the Christian fast of Lent of course, which is not necessarily patterned on an ancient Israelite fast. But it's not without biblical precedent, since it does resemble Daniel's 'no pleasant bread' fast in the Book of Daniel 10.3 (In the old King James Version Daniel says, "I ate no pleasant bread, neither came flesh nor wine in my mouth, neither did I anoint myself at all, till three whole weeks were fulfilled." ('Pleasant bread' means 'rich food.')

So for instance I'm eating no meat for the 40 days. Others abstain from other things.  In the Old Testament there are fasts that include not putting oil in your hair or even refusing to bathe (although Jesus said not to do that.)

At any rate, yes this type of a fast is fairly common.

The Scriptures mention different degrees and  types of fasts. In case you are really, really interested in what the Bible says about fasting (or just have a research paper on it), here is a comprehensive list of every fast it mentions.


(I borrowed this with much gratitude from the wondrous Bible.org site. It was originally compiled by the Bible Scholar Kent D. Berghuis.)


Scriptural References to Fasting What follows is a comprehensive list of references to fasting in Scripture, with a brief summary of the contents of each passage (synoptic passages have been treated together). Notation is made of the extent of the fast (whether the fast is strictly individual or of a corporate nature), for the purpose of highlighting the corporate nature of biblical fasting in contrast to the frequent misconception that fasting was intended to be a strictly private, individualistic matter. Some text critical notes related to questionable NT passages are made here, but a fuller discussion may be found above in the discussion in the second chapter.

Reference Extent Summary Exod 24:18, 34:28; Deut 9:9, 18, 10:10 individual Moses twice spends forty days on Mount Sinai without eating or drinking, and in mourning over Israel’s sin. Judg 20:26 corporate Israel fasts until evening to inquire of YHWH after loss to Benjamin. 1 Sam 1:7-8 individual Hannah weeps and refuses to eat when her husband’s other wife provokes her, and she prays for a son. 1 Sam 7:6 corporate Israel fasts for a day to repent, Samuel prays, YHWH delivers them from the Philistines. 1 Sam 14:24-46 corporate Saul places the army under oath not to eat until evening on the day of battle with the Philistines. 1 Sam 20:34 individual Jonathan refuses to eat because of his grief over his father’s mistreatment of David. 1 Sam 28:20 individual Saul eats nothing all day and night when he consults with the witch of En-dor. 1 Sam 31:13;
1 Chr 10:12 corporate Men of Jabesh fast seven days after recovering the bodies of Saul and Jonathan from the Philistines. 2 Sam 1:12 corporate David’s men fast until evening upon hearing the news of the death of Saul and Jonathan. 2 Sam 3:35 individual(?) David refuses to eat food until evening when he heard of the death of Abner. 2 Sam 12:16-23 individual David fasts and weeps seven days during the terminal illness of his son by Bathsheba. 1 Kgs 13:1-22 individual An unnamed prophet is instructed by God not to eat or drink while on a mission to prophesy against Jeroboam’s idolatry. 1 Kgs 19:8 individual Elijah goes forty days on the strength of the food provided to him by an angel. 1 Kgs 21:4 individual Ahab eats no food because he is sullen after Naboth refused to sell his vineyard. 1 Kgs 21:9-12 corporate Jezebel calls a false day of fasting to accuse Naboth of cursing God. 1 Kgs 21:27-29 individual Ahab fasts and puts on sackcloth in repentance after Elijah rebuked him, and God recognized Ahab’s humility. 2 Chr 20:3 corporate Jehoshaphat proclaims a fast throughout Judah to seek YHWH for fear of the armies of Ammon and Moab. Ezra 8:21-23 corporate Ezra calls a fast to seek God’s protection for those leaving Babylon for Israel. Ezra 10:6 individual Ezra eats and drinks nothing because of his mourning over the unfaithfulness of the exiles. Neh 1:4 individual Nehemiah mourns and fasts for days over the news of the state of Jerusalem, confessing national sin. Neh 9:1 corporate The people of Israel assemble with fasting to confess their sin after Ezra reads from the law. Esth 4:3 corporate The Jews weep and fast when they hear of the king’s decree for their destruction. Esth 4:16 corporate Esther, her maidens, and the Jews of Susa fast from food and drink for three days before she goes to the king. Esth 9:31 corporate Purim is established for the Jews with instructions for fasting and lamentations. Job 3:24 individual Job groans at the sight of food, and experiences great affliction and pain. Job 33:19-20 individual Elihu suggests that man (specifically, Job) is afflicted by God and unable to eat because God is chastening him. Ps 35:13 individual David defends his honor by saying that he fasted and prayed when his enemies were sick. Ps 42:3 individual The psalmist (Sons of Korah) says that tears are his food day and night. Ps 69:10 individual David’s fasting, weeping and prayer was an object of scorn by his enemies. Ps 102:4 individual The afflicted psalmist forgets to eat bread because of his great grief. Ps 107:17-18 individual People in distress are pictured as near death, unable to eat, but YHWH saves them. Ps 109:24 individual David says his knees are weak from fasting, and his flesh has grown lean during his affliction from his enemies. Isa 58:3-6 corporate Israel’s fasts are not heard by God because of their oppression and hypocrisy; He desires righteousness first. Jer 14:12 corporate Israel’s fasts are not heard by God because of their oppression and hypocrisy. Jer 36:6-9 corporate The people of Judah assemble in Jerusalem for a fast, and Baruch reads Jeremiah’s prophecy to them. Ezek 24:18 individual Ezekiel is instructed in special mourning rites, that include fasting, for the death of his wife. Dan 6:18 individual Darius fasts from food, entertainment, and sleep through the night while worrying for Daniel in the lion’s den. Dan 9:3 individual Daniel fasts, confessing Israel’s sin, upon reading Jeremiah’s prophecy of the seventy weeks. Dan 10:2-3 individual Daniel mourns for three weeks, abstaining from tasty food, meat, wine, and ointment. Joel 1:14 corporate Joel calls for a nation-wide fast because of famine that is destroying the land. Joel 2:12-15 corporate YHWH calls the people to return to Him with fasting, rending their hearts, not garments; Joel again calls for a fast. Jonah 3:5 corporate All of Nineveh fasts, repenting at the preaching of Jonah of the destruction of the city. Zech 7:5 corporate YHWH rebukes the priests for their ritual fasts that were done more for themselves than for Him. Zech 8:19 corporate YHWH will transform the ritual fasts into feasts of joy when God’s people have repented of sin and He grants them favor. Matt 4:2; Luke 4:2 individual Jesus fasts forty days in the wilderness, being tempted by the devil. Matt 6:16-18 individual Jesus teaches that fasting should be done privately for God, not for the purpose of being seen to be fasting, like the hypocrites. Matt 9:14-15;
Mark 2:18-20;
Luke 5:33-35 corporate Jesus tells John’s disciples that his do not fast because the bridegroom is present, but when He is taken away they will. Matt 15:32;
Mark 8:3 corporate Jesus did not wish to send the crowd away fasting,855 since they had been with Him three days and have nothing (more?) to eat. Matt 17:21;856
Mark 9:29857 individual? Jesus says that this kind of demon goes out only by means of prayer and fasting.858 Luke 2:37 individual Anna serves in the temple night and day with fastings and prayers. Luke 18:12 individual The Pharisee in Jesus’ parable shows his self-righteousness by boasting that he fasts twice a week and tithes. Acts 9:9 individual Saul fasted from food and water three days after the Damascus Road experience. Acts 10:30859 individual Cornelius was fasting and praying when an angel instructed him to go to Peter. Acts 13:2-3 corporate Prophets and teachers in Antioch were ministering to the Lord and fasting before and after the Holy Spirit set apart Saul and Barnabas. Acts 14:23 corporate Paul and Barnabas appoint elders in the churches, having prayed with fasting. Acts 23:12 corporate Certain Jews bind themselves by oath not to eat or drink until they kill Paul. Acts 27:9 corporate Paul’s voyage to Rome takes place after “the fast” was over, a reference to the Day of Atonement. Acts 27:33 corporate Paul encourages the ship’s crew to eat, since they had gone 14 days fasting.860 1 Cor 7:5861 couples Paul tells couples not to deprive one another sexually, except for brief periods devoted to prayer and fasting. 2 Cor 6:5;
2 Cor 11:27 individual Paul lists “fastings”862 among the hardships he suffered as a mark of his apostleship. Summary of Biblical Purposes for Fasting I. As a Sign of Sorrow A. For tragic events (Judg 20:26; 1 Sam 31:13/1 Chr 10:12; 2 Sam 1:12, 3:35; Esth 4:3; Jer 14:1-12; Joel 1:14, 2:12-15). B. For personal sorrow (1 Sam 1:7-8, 20:34; Job 3:24; Pss 42:3, 102:4, 107:17-18). II. As a Sign of Repentance and Seeking Forgiveness A. National or corporate sins (Exod 34:28/Deut 9:9, 18, 10:10; 1 Sam 7:6; Ezra 9:1- 10:17; Neh 1:4-7, 9:1; Dan 9:3-14; Jonah 3:5-9; Zech 8:16-19). B. Personal sins (2 Sam 12:16-23; 1 Kgs 21:27-29; Ps 69:10; Acts 9:9?). C. As an opportunity for public exposure of sin (1 Kgs 21:9-12; Isa 58:1-5; Jer 36:6-9). III. As an Aid in Prayer to God A. For others (2 Sam 12:16-23; Neh 1:8-10; Ps 35:13; Dan 6:18, 9:15-19). B. For self (1 Sam 1:7-11; Neh 1:11; Ps 109:21-24; Dan 9:3, 10:1-3). C. For success in battle (Judg 20:26; 1 Sam 7:6; 2 Chr 20:3) and in other endeavors (Ezra 8:21-23; Esth 4:16). D. For relief from famine (Jer 14:1-12; Joel 1:14, 2:12-15). E. As a means of personal or group devotion (Matt 6:16-18; Luke 2:37; Acts 10:30, 13:2-3; 1 Cor 7:5). IV. As a Part of Experiencing God’s Presence A. Supernatural sustaining by God (Exod 34:28/Deut 9:9, 18, 10:10; 1 Kgs 19:8). B. Reliance on God in times of temptation or spiritual warfare (Matt 4:2/Luke 4:2; Matt 17:21/Mark 9:29). C. Reflecting the reality of the absence of Christ’s immediate presence with his followers (Matt 9:14-15/Mark 2:18-20/Luke 5:33-35). D. Going without food to remain longer under Jesus’ teaching (Matt 15:32/Mark 8:3). V. As an Act of Ceremonial Public Worship (Neh 9:1; Esth 9:31; Isa 58:3; Jer 36:6-9; Zech 7:3-5, 8:19; Acts 27:9). VI. As Related to Ministry A. Preparation for significant ministry (Matt 4:2/Luke 4:2; Acts 9:9, 13:2-3, 14:23). B. Specific command of God while prophesying (1 Kgs 13:1-22). C. Suffering for the sake of the gospel (2 Cor 6:5/11:27). VII. Negative Associations or Corrections of Fasting A. Fasting while engaging in hypocritical actions or attitudes (1 Sam 28:20; 1 Kgs 21:9-12; Isa 58; Jer 14:10-12; Jer 36:6-26; Zech 7:3-14; Matt 6:16-18; Luke 18:12). B. Fasting as a solemn binding for a foolish or sinful oath (1 Sam 14; Acts 23:12-21). C. Breaking a fast when God has commanded it (1 Kgs 13:8-24). D. A sulking refusal to eat (1 Kgs 21:4). E. Wrongly attributing the inability to eat as God’s chastening (Job 33:19-20).