I set out to find the origins of fasting, convinced they were directly given by God in the Old Testament and discovered that is not the case. There is only one command in the Bible to fast and it is linked to a specific holy day.

Fasting is seen throughout the ages in almost every culture and religion. From ancient Greece, Nineveh, and Rome to ancient civilizations in the Americas. Hindu, Jewish, Muslim, and dozens more religions practice some form of fasting.

The concept is also the same behind the fast. Refraining from food is a way to honor or appease a deity.

Where did it begin? I couldn’t find that answer. Instead, let’s turn our attention to the word of God that we have with us and study what the Bible says about fasting.

What does the Bible Say About Fasting in the Old Testament?

I thought that God commanded fasting throughout scripture because it felt like a known concept. When Jonah declares judgment on Nineveh, what did the people do? Dressed in sackcloth and ashes and fasted. What did Esther do in preparation for going before the king? She fasted and prayed.

I was surprised to see that it is only commanded for one Holy Day, Yom Kippur, but it is indeed a concept repeated over and over throughout the Bible.

We see it with Moses Sinai.

So he was there with the Lord forty days and forty nights; he neither ate bread nor drank water. And He wrote on the tablets the words of the covenant, the Ten Commandments. (Exodus 34:28)

We see it with David.

And the Lord struck the child that Uriah’s wife bore to David, and it became ill. David therefore pleaded with God for the child, and David fasted and went in and lay all night on the ground. So the elders of his house arose and went to him, to raise him up from the ground. But he would not, nor did he eat food with them. Then on the seventh day it came to pass that the child died. (2 Samuel 12:15-18)

We see it with Esther.

Then Esther told them to reply to Mordecai: “Go, gather all the Jews who are present in Shushan, and fast for me; neither eat nor drink for three days, night or day. My maids and I will fast likewise. And so I will go to the king, which is against the law; and if I perish, I perish!” (Esther 4:15-16)

We see it with Daniel.

In those days I, Daniel, was mourning three full weeks. I ate no pleasant food, no meat or wine came into my mouth, nor did I anoint myself at all, till three whole weeks were fulfilled. (Daniel 10:2-3)

We see it with Nehemiah.

So it was, when I heard these words, that I sat down and wept, and mourned for many days; I was fasting and praying before the God of heaven. (Nehemiah 1:4)

Fasting as a Commandment

Here is the one command to fast that I found in scripture.

“This shall be a statute forever for you: In the seventh month, on the tenth day of the month, you shall afflict your souls, and do no work at all, whether a native of your own country or a stranger who dwells among you. For on that day the priest shall make atonement for you, to cleanse you, that you may be clean from all your sins before the Lord. (Leviticus 16:29-30)

Rabbis and scholars agree that “afflict your souls” means to fast. The NIV says “deny yourselves”.

Do you know of another verse that commands fasting? Put it in the comments below!

That being said, God does respond to fasting and prayer.

Fasting for Repentance

The children of Israel fall into idolatry, and the Philistines are on their way to attack them. God sends Samuel to instruct them to tear down their idols and return to the Lord.

God delivers them out of the hands of the Philistines.

And Samuel said, “Gather all Israel to Mizpah, and I will pray to the Lord for you.” So they gathered together at Mizpah, drew water, and poured it out before the Lord. And they fasted that day, and said there, “We have sinned against the Lord.” (1 Samuel 7:5-6)

The story of Jonah is the same. God pronounces judgment on the wicked children of Nineveh and the king declares a fast.

God accepts their repentance and turns His wrath away for the time being.

Let neither man nor beast, herd nor flock, taste anything; do not let them eat, or drink water. But let man and beast be covered with sackcloth, and cry mightily to God; yes, let every one turn from his evil way and from the violence that is in his hands. Who can tell if God will turn and relent, and turn away from His fierce anger, so that we may not perish? (Jonah 3:7-9)

This example is different because God does NOT accept their repentance, but continues with the theme of the coming judgment.

Then the Lord said to me, “Do not pray for this people, for their good. When they fast, I will not hear their cry; and when they offer burnt offering and grain offering, I will not accept them. But I will consume them by the sword, by the famine, and by the pestilence.” (Jeremiah 14:11-12)

Fortunately, God’s attitude in Jeremiah is not the norm.

“Now, therefore,” says the Lord, Turn to Me with all your heart, With fasting, with weeping, and with mourning.” So rend your heart, and not your garments; Return to the Lord your God, For He is gracious and merciful, Slow to anger, and of great kindness; And He relents from doing harm. (Joel 2:12-13)

One more from Joel.

Consecrate a fast. Call a sacred assembly; Gather the elders And all the inhabitants of the land Into the house of the Lord your God, And cry out to the Lord. (Joel 1:14)

Fasting to Gain God’s Favor

Ezra is returning to Judah with a large group of Jews after the Babylonian captivity. They are met with resistance, and Ezra seeks the Almighty’s protection.

Then I proclaimed a fast there at the river of Ahava, that we might humble ourselves before our God, to seek from Him the right way for us and our little ones and all our possessions. For I was ashamed to request of the king an escort of soldiers and horsemen to help us against the enemy on the road, because we had spoken to the king, saying, “The hand of our God is upon all those for good who seek Him, but His power and His wrath are against all those who forsake Him.” So we fasted and entreated our God for this, and He answered our prayer. (Ezra 8:21-23)

Check out these posts about prayer!

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Bible Study on Prayer: A Powerful Tool for Christians

What does the Bible Say About Fasting in the New Testament?

The New Testament gives many examples of fasting. From the Pharisees to Christ to the pillars of the early church, fasting remained an important practice.

What does Jesus Say About Fasting?

This verse isn’t Jesus’ words, but it shows that he fasted.

Then Jesus, being filled with the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan and was led by the Spirit into the wilderness, being tempted for forty days by the devil. And in those days He ate nothing, and afterward, when they had ended, He was hungry. (Luke 4:1-2)

Jesus speaks about the attitude one should have while fasting. It is between you and God and not for the attention of others.

“Moreover, when you fast, do not be like the hypocrites, with a sad countenance. For they disfigure their faces that they may appear to men to be fasting. Assuredly, I say to you, they have their reward. But you, when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face, so that you do not appear to men to be fasting, but to your Father who is in the secret place; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly.” (Matthew 6:16-18)

Prior to these next verses, the disciples were trying to cast a demon out and were unsuccessful.

When Jesus saw that the people came running together, He rebuked the unclean spirit, saying to it, “Deaf and dumb spirit, I command you, come out of him and enter him no more!”  Then the spirit cried out, convulsed him greatly, and came out of him. And he became as one dead, so that many said, “He is dead.” But Jesus took him by the hand and lifted him up, and he arose.

And when He had come into the house, His disciples asked Him privately, “Why could we not cast it out?”

So He said to them, “This kind can come out by nothing but prayer and fasting.” (Mark 9:25-29)

Again, a clue into how common fasting was.

 Then the disciples of John came to Him, saying, “Why do we and the Pharisees fast often, but Your disciples do not fast?”

And Jesus said to them, “Can the friends of the bridegroom mourn as long as the bridegroom is with them? But the days will come when the bridegroom will be taken away from them, and then they will fast. (Matthew 9:14-15) 

Examples of Fasting in the New Testament

It is easy to overlook our devoted Anna. I wish more were written about her.

Now there was one, Anna, a prophetess, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was of a great age, and had lived with a husband seven years from her virginity; and this woman was a widow of about eighty-four years, who did not depart from the temple, but served God with fastings and prayers night and day. (Luke 2:36-37)

The early church fasted for guidance and strength.

As they ministered to the Lord and fasted, the Holy Spirit said, “Now separate to Me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.” Then, having fasted and prayed, and laid hands on them, they sent them away. (Acts 13:2-3)

So when they had appointed elders in every church, and prayed with fasting, they commended them to the Lord in whom they had believed. (Acts 14:23)

Should Christians Fast?

Absolutely.

Fasting serves multiple purposes, such as teaching us to deny our flesh, seek God more diligently throughout the day, and strengthen our relationship with Him.

Whenever we deny our carnal nature, we can embrace the spiritual more fully. This is seen across many false religions as well.

How do you feel about joining a long line of faithful, obedient children of God? Share your thoughts in the comments below!

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