Jesus said in Matthew 6:16-18 KJV 16 Moreover when ye fast…
The first point I’d like to make is that Jesus said, “When you fast,” not if you fast. Fasting is expected.
Matthew 9:14 KJV Then came to him the disciples of John, saying, Why do we and the Pharisees fast oft, but thy disciples fast not?
These were disciples of John, not pharisees. So their question was a sincere question not an accusation. They understood the importance of fasting. They knew that if you were going to be dedicated to God that it required fasting. Why? Because the flesh has to be under subjection.
1 Corinthians 9:26-27 KJV 26 I therefore so run, not as uncertainly; so fight I, not as one that beateth the air: 27 But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway.
1 Corinthians 9:26-27 WEB 26 I therefore run like that, not aimlessly. I fight like that, not beating the air, 27 but I beat my body and bring it into submission, lest by any means, after I have preached to others, I myself should be disqualified.
For clarity I wanted to share another translation of this verse. Paul understood that if we didn’t keep our bodies or flesh under subjection that we could lose our race.
Why is it that important? It says in Galatians 5:16-17 NHEB 16 But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not carry out the desires of the flesh. 17 For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary to one another, that you may not do the things that you desire.
You see if we do not keep the flesh under subjection we will be able to do the things that we desire to do for God. We would follow the flesh and its desires, which are these.
Galatians 5:19-21 NLT 19 When you follow the desires of your sinful nature, the results are very clear: sexual immorality, impurity, lustful pleasures, 20 idolatry, sorcery, hostility, quarreling, jealousy, outbursts of anger, selfish ambition, dissension, division, 21 envy, drunkenness, wild parties, and other sins like these. Let me tell you again, as I have before, that anyone living that sort of life will not inherit the Kingdom of God.
If we are ruled by the flesh and its desires then we will be slaves to sin
John 8:34 NET Jesus answered them, “I tell you the solemn truth, everyone who practices sin is a slave of sin.
Romans 6:16 KJV Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness?
We must make our bodies submit to God and His will.
James 4:7 KJV Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.
I would like to take a moment to explain a little about the rest of Matthew chapter 6.
Matthew 6:16-18 KJV 16 Moreover when ye fast, be not, as the hypocrites, of a sad countenance: for they disfigure their faces, that they may appear unto men to fast. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward. 17 But thou, when thou fastest, anoint thine head, and wash thy face; 18 That thou appear not unto men to fast, but unto thy Father which is in secret: and thy Father, which seeth in secret, shall reward thee openly.
Notice verse 16 says they have their reward. Their reward is recognition from other people because that’s what they wanted. That’s all they will get and nothing else.
On the other hand if you aren’t seeking attention, but to please God. God will reward you openly. Now notice the very next scriptures.
Matthew 6:19-21 KJV 19 Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: 20 But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal: 21 For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.
I know this is most of the time used to speak of giving financially, but that is not its sole meaning. Why did it directly follow Jesus talking about fasting? Because we do not know what we are doing in heaven when we fast. What treasures are accumulating in heaven? We are putting our heart in a position to be focused on the heavenly. Thus we are concerned with what God wants.
2 Corinthians 4:5-7 KJV 5 For we preach not ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord; and ourselves your servants for Jesus’ sake. 6 For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. 7 But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us.
We then have this treasure in our hearts “in earthen vessels.” We are then focused on telling people about Jesus and shining His light unto the world. We become Kingdom minded.
Deuteronomy 7:6 KJV For thou art an holy people unto the LORD thy God: the LORD thy God hath chosen thee to be a special people unto himself, above all people that are upon the face of the earth.
The word special here in Hebrew means valued property, peculiar treasure, treasure. His people are His treasure, so the more people we add to the kingdom the more treasure there is.
1 Peter 2:9 KJV But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light.
When you fast, fast for something you’re willing to die for because that’s what you’re doing, dying to self.