Then John’s disciples came and asked him, “How is it that we and the Pharisees fast often, but your disciples do not fast?”
Jesus answered, “How can the guests of the bridegroom mourn while he is with them? The time will come when the bridegroom will be taken from them; then they will fast.
“No one sews a patch of unshrunk cloth on an old garment, for the patch will pull away from the garment, making the tear worse. Neither do people pour new wine into old wineskins. If they do, the skins will burst; the wine will run out and the wineskins will be ruined. No, they pour new wine into new wineskins, and both are preserved.”
Today’s passage addresses the importance of ritual and tradition. In Christ’s own words, some of it is inappropriate in the “new covenant”.
I’d like to say a couple of words about fasting…its important.
The Bible injunction to fast is first implied from Leviticus 23:27, 32. "On exactly the tenth day of this seventh month is the day of atonement ; it shall be a holy convocation for you, and you shall humble your souls and present an offering by fire to the LORD. "You shall not do any work on this same day, for it is a day of atonement, to make atonement on your behalf before the LORD your God”.
“Complete rest” has been understood to mean we abstain from all work, even from preparing meals, so we do not eat. All this is for the purpose of “humbling our souls” in recognition of our sinfulness.
As tradition grew, we see a number of biblical incidents of fasting. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fasting
Eventually we see incidents where fasting no longer serves the purpose of “humbling our souls”, but is intended to display our piety…or to get God to notice us and respond to our desires.
Isaiah addresses this in his 58th chapter. The Hebrews, in captivity, were grumbling. 'Why have we fasted and you do not see? Why have we humbled ourselves and you do not notice?' Behold, on the day of your fast you find your desire, and drive hard all your workers. "Behold, you fast for contention and strife and to strike with a wicked fist. You do not fast like you do today to make your voice heard on high. "Is it a fast like this which I choose, a day for a man to humble himself? Is it for bowing one's head like a reed and for spreading out sackcloth and ashes as a bed? Will you call this a fast, even an acceptable day to the LORD? “Is not this the kind of fasting I have chosen: to loose the chains of injustice and untie the cords of the yoke, to set the oppressed free and break every yoke? Is it not to share your food with the hungry and to provide the poor wanderer with shelter—when you see the naked, to clothe them, and not to turn away from your own flesh and blood? (Isaiah 58:3- 7)
I can hear God. “Really? You’re fasting so I’ll notice you? Where do you think I’ve been?”
If I take Isaiah seriously, “fasting” isn’t simply defined as “not eating”. It is denying ourselves of something in order to offer it to those less fortunate…to eliminate injustice and oppression.
So...charitable giving is a fast. Donating to the Salvation Army is a fast.
…and Jesus responds to this in Matthew 6. "Whenever you fast, do not put on a gloomy face as the hypocrites do, for they neglect their appearance so that they will be noticed by men when they are fasting. Truly I say to you, they have their reward in full. "But you, when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face so that your fasting will not be noticed by men, but by your Father who is in secret ; and your Father who sees what is done in secret will reward you.
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