Is Fasting commanded in the Scriptures?

[JPCalifornia]

The law of Moses specifically required fasting for —The Day of Atonement was the only one occasion in the Scriptures Leviticus 16:29-30; Leviticus 23:27-32 and Numbers 29:7.

Jesus did say according to Matthew 6:16-18, that fasting was between the person and the Father. I remember when in my grandma’s house we could not eat meat on Friday and they knew how to show mercy upon me when I ate a burger on that day; but they would never truly explained why denying my self for lent was so important. Jesus was submissive to the will of the Father 24/7/365. But 40 days of lent followed of 325 days of less than lent?

Please, let us fast all we want but let not your left hand know what your right hand is doing.

 

[Robbinson]

The law of Moses specifically required fasting for —The Day of Atonement was the only one occasion in the Scriptures Leviticus 16:29-30; Leviticus 23:27-32 and Numbers 29:7.

Jesus did say according to Matthew 6:16-18, that fasting was between the person and the Father. I remember when in my grandma’s house we could not eat meat on Friday and they knew how to show mercy upon me when I ate a burger on that day; but they would never truly explained why denying my self for lent was so important. Jesus was submissive to the will of the Father 24/7/365. But 40 days of lent followed of 325 days of less than lent?

Please, let us fast all we want but let not your left hand know what your right hand is doing.

Hi - that’s an interseting question. I have two responses:

First, we fast because the Church teaches us to fast at appointed times through the Magisterium and it has authority to do so from Jesus.

Second - if you are looking for the biblical basis for this teaching, one example would be that Jesus spoke of the day (after his death) when we *“will” (not "may")
fast. See Matt 9:15. *** "And Jesus said to them, "Can the wedding guests mourn as long as the bridegroom is with them? The days will come, when the bridegroom is taken away from them, and then they will fast."

Also - Jesus set examples for us - He fasted when in the desert while being tempted by Satan.

We are always free to fast on other occassions if we wish to. Some find it as a helpful way to stay focused on God (the hunger being a reminder of the need/desire for prayer), others might choose not to, other during the fasts ordained by the Church.

Blessings,

Brian

 

[MACHIU]

1Cor 11:1 Imitate me, just as I also imitate Christ.

If Jesus fast for 40 days, then it is good enough for me to imitate it. One of the reasons everybody knows about Catholic Lenten practice of penance is because it has been done for thousands of years and at the moment is observed by at least 1 billion people.

Practice of penance is not only by fasting, but also other forms of self-denial, prayer and help others. This practice are meant to help us to come to openness to God. Any other reason a person does penance, then it is not what a Catholic penance is.

You quietly right saying fasting was between the person and the Father, then why do you question our penance practice? It is between us and God. Do you really know us that well so that you know what our right hand is doing? And even more so knowing that our left hand knows what our right hand doing?

I invite you personally to observe this preparation period towards the climax of Jesus’ ministry on earth - His Passion and Crucifixion. So that through our penance, we would be rid of our sins and can rise with Christ.

God Bless.

 

[Luke65]

The law of Moses specifically required fasting for —The Day of Atonement was the only one occasion in the Scriptures Leviticus 16:29-30; Leviticus 23:27-32 and Numbers 29:7.

Jesus did say according to Matthew 6:16-18, that fasting was between the person and the Father. I remember when in my grandma’s house we could not eat meat on Friday and they knew how to show mercy upon me when I ate a burger on that day; but they would never truly explained why denying my self for lent was so important. Jesus was submissive to the will of the Father 24/7/365. But 40 days of lent followed of 325 days of less than lent?

Please, let us fast all we want but let not your left hand know what your right hand is doing.

This doesn’t make sense. You just pointed out that God commanded the Jews to fast on a certain day, so does that mean that God wanted “364 days of less than the Day of Atonement”? Or that Jesus was holier during His 40 days of fasting in the desert? Of course not! For everything there is a time… Why can’t you just do things God’s way instead of leaning on your own understanding? Our Lord wasn’t condemning fasting on certain days, he was condemning doing it for show, i.e., with wicked motives.

Days of fasting provide a way for the people of God to be united in sacrifice for the sake of the Kingdom; and not just all the (faithful) Catholics in the world today, but we are united with all generations!

The Didache (c.80AD): “But let not your fasts be with the hypocrites; [Matthew 6:16] for they fast on the second and fifth day of the week; but fast on the fourth day [Wednesday] and the Preparation (Friday). Neither pray as the hypocrites; but as the Lord commanded in His Gospel, thus pray: Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be Your name. Your kingdom come. Your will be done, as in heaven, so on earth. Give us today our daily (needful) bread, and forgive us our debt as we also forgive our debtors. And bring us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one (or, evil); for Yours is the power and the glory for ever. Thrice in the day thus pray.” (Ch. 8)

You can fast with the 40 Days for Life this Lent:

40daysforlife.com/

And here are more Scriptures on fasting:

scripturecatholic.com/fasting.html

God bless.

 

[JRKH]

JP - Please see
THIS THREAD

Peace
James

 

[Ignatius]

Jesus did say according to Matthew 6:16-18, that fasting was between the person and the Father.

Actually Matt 6: 16 says:
Mat 16:16 And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God.
Mat 16:17 And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Bar Jona: for flesh and blood hath not revealeditunto thee, but my Father which is in heaven.
Mat 16:18 And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.
But that is a very good choice of verses, but why stop there?
Mat 16:19 And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.
I think the Holy Spirit led you to the right passages in spite of yourself.
In Israel when Christ was living, the keys were understood to represent ultimate authority and to bind and loose meant to give commands which were to be obeyed.

Your Servant in Christ.

 

[Coder]

See Matt 9:15. "And Jesus said to them, "Can the wedding guests mourn as long as the bridegroom is with them? The days will come, when the bridegroom is taken away from them, and then they will fast."

Excellent answer. God gives us both fasts and feasts for our joy and benefit. In fact Lent is preparation for the great feast of Easter!

 

[zz912]

The law of Moses specifically required fasting for —The Day of Atonement was the only one occasion in the Scriptures Leviticus 16:29-30; Leviticus 23:27-32 and Numbers 29:7.

Jesus did say according to Matthew 6:16-18, that fasting was between the person and the Father. I remember when in my grandma’s house we could not eat meat on Friday and they knew how to show mercy upon me when I ate a burger on that day; but they would never truly explained why denying my self for lent was so important. Jesus was submissive to the will of the Father 24/7/365. But 40 days of lent followed of 325 days of less than lent?

Please, let us fast all we want but let not your left hand know what your right hand is doing.

Jesus gives us instruction about WHEN we fast, what we are to do. He does not say IF we fast, He says WHEN.

 

[Church_Militant]

The law of Moses specifically required fasting for —The Day of Atonement was the only one occasion in the Scriptures Leviticus 16:29-30; Leviticus 23:27-32 and Numbers 29:7.

Jesus did say according to Matthew 6:16-18, that fasting was between the person and the Father. I remember when in my grandma’s house we could not eat meat on Friday and they knew how to show mercy upon me when I ate a burger on that day; but they would never truly explained why denying my self for lent was so important. Jesus was submissive to the will of the Father 24/7/365. But 40 days of lent followed of 325 days of less than lent?Did Jesus fast? Yes, we know that He did. Are we to be like Him? Okay then.

Please, let us fast all we want but let not your left hand know what your right hand is doing.

Check your scripture passages. That is directed at alms giving, not fasting. All we are told is to wash up and be cheerful when we fast so that no one can guess.