By: Sherene N. Khouri, Ph.D. | February 16, 2025
A Universal Practice
Fasting is a universal practice. All religions practice, celebrate, and make provision for it at certain times and circumstances. Christians are no exception; however, eastern and western Christians vary in their practice of this act. I noticed that in the West, they treat the topic of fasting as a personal matter; something between the person and God. To some Western Christians, fasting is not necessarily about food, but about something they really love—such as their phone, tablets, or certain food like chocolate. Many of my students heard about fasting through reading the biblical stories; however, many of them never fasted. Some of them shared with me that they never heard of any teaching about fasting in their churches.
On the contrary, in the Middle East, churches teach constantly about fasting. Easter Orthodox and Catholic churches have certain days on the church calendar when the whole congregation fasts. Evangelical churches teach about fasting and practice it several times in the year without assigning certain days. Many of them fast as a group or individually.
Muslims are required to fast the whole month of Ramadan (the 9th month of the lunar calendar) and six days of Shawal (the 8th month). There are other days of the year where they are encouraged to fast but not required. Many Muslims who live in the US asked about whether Christians fast. Those who lived in the Middle East and moved to the US know that Christians fast, but they think American Christians do not fast for two reasons: Americans do not teach much about fasting and they do not practice it in public. The question that I would like to discuss here is what biblical fasting is and how we should fast.
What Is Biblical Fasting?
It is important to notice that just because fasting is not defined in the Bible precisely, that does not mean Christians are not required to fast. Looking into biblical fasting should help us recognize a pattern and occasion of where, when, and how Christians practiced fasting, which will help us today to practice this virtue biblically.
Theologically, fasting is defined as deliberate voluntary abstention from food and drink for a limited period. “Fasting is an ascetic ritual practice that entails the voluntary abstention from food and drink for a finite period of time. Since the physical body requires nourishment to survive, fasting is a form of self-denial that negates one’s bodily needs in an effort to bring about spiritual change.”[i] Some people misunderstand the original concept and purpose of fasting and link it to something they love or a habit they want to break. However, fasting is related to abstaining from food, and it is not a special diet or norm that people follow.
Fasting is related to God first. People abstain from eating and drinking food because they want to honor God and draw closer to him. It is not about the self, learning a new habit, or breaking an old one. When a person becomes close to God their spiritual life change so they can have better control of their desires. As Thatcher et all explain, “Fasting is a form of self-denial that negates one’s bodily needs in an effort to bring about spiritual change.”[ii] Through fasting Christians can draw nearer to God because they are denying their physical need and concentrating on their relationship with God.
Fasting in the OT
The OT stories can help us learn several lessons about the purpose of fasting. The Israelites recognized certain days on their calendar, such as the day of atonement, which was dedicated as a day of fasting by the community of Qumran. This community was known for its rigorous religious practices and their strict rituals.
The Israelites also abstained from food without specific commandments on numerous other occasions in times, such as times of distress, war, and war threat. Israel fasted at Bethel in the war against the Benjamite (Jud 20:26 ESV) and at Mizpah in the Philistine war (1 Sam 28:7-20). Jehoshaphat proclaimed a fast throughout all of Judah when his enemies attacked him. Fasting was used as a means of calling on God’s direct assistance when the community was in great danger (Ezra 8:21-22). In other words, fasting should be practiced when a person goes through calamities and distress. It helps remind us that God is in control and we are submitting to him.
Fasting in the OT often is accompanied by the putting of sackcloth and ashes. This habit resembles self-affliction and the desire to say to God, “I’m penitent; I’m not high and mighty. I need your help.” In other words, fasting should teach us humility because when we fast we acknowledge our limitless and show our reliance on God.
Fasting could be practiced as a sign of repentance. David fasted seeking repentance and God’s help while his child was alive (2 Sam 12:22) also King Ahab fasted when he realized his sins and humbled himself in front of God.“Have you seen how Ahab has humbled himself before me? Because he has humbled himself before me, I will not bring the disaster in his days (2 Sam 20:25-29).
Fasting in the NT
In the NT, John the Baptist taught his disciples to fast often (Mark 2:18; Luke 5:33). Jesus fasted during his so-called wilderness experience as part of preparation for formal ministry (Matt. 4:1–2; Luke 4:1–2). The Gospels report, however, that he spoke only twice about fasting: once to warn his disciples that fasting is a private act of simple devotion (Matt. 6:16–18) and once to indicate that it would be appropriate for his followers to fast after he left them (Matt 9:14–15; Mark 2:18–20; Luke 5:33–35).
Jesus did ask his disciples to fast on certain days; however, he asked them to fast in a certain way. Insincere fasting of hypocrites was depicted by outward-disfiguring facial look; however, Jesus required humility, secrecy, and reverence. Washing the face and anointing the head that the fast not be seen of men but of God who sees in secret (Matt 6:17-18). Christians should not fast to be seen by others as other religions do when they announce their fasting. They should fast in secrecy, humiliating themselves in front of God and seeking his aid.
Fasting and prayer are associated together because when a person fasts, he/she is fighting demons and cosmic powers of this present darkness, the forces of evil in the metaphysical realm (Eph 6:12). Anna served God in the temple while fasting (Luke 2:37). Paul prayed and fasted following his vision on the road to Damascus (Acts 9:9). The church prayed and fasted before sending of Barnabas and Paul out on the first missionary journey (Acts13:2-3). Jesus told his disciples that casting out demons has to happen via praying and fasting because this kind can be driven out “only by prayer and fasting” (Mark 9:29 and Matt 17:21 KJV). Jesus himself fasted in the wilderness to prepare for both revelation and war with Satan (Matt 4:1-11ESV).
How Do We Fast?
The Bible does not specify the details of fasting. However, it is important to note that human beings should be aware of the purpose of biblical fasting and their motivations for it. The person should examine his heart and know why he or she is fasting. Is the purpose of fasting repentance, humility, submission, or calamities?
The length of fasting is not specified in the Bible. While the fast of Esther continued for three days—day and night (Est 4:16)—Moses and Jesus fasted for forty days (Ex 345:28; Matt 4:2; Luke 4:2) which is the longest recorded in scripture. According to some instances it ranges from one day from sunrise to sunset (Jud 20:26; 1 Sam 14:24; 2 Sam 1:12; 3:35).
Fasting can happen in public and in private because both instances are mentioned in the Bible. John Calvin refers to fasting in the Institutes of the Christian Religion while discussing repentance. He emphasizes the need for inward change and repentance, not just outward actions and deeds. He also implied that “public fasting should be reserved ‘for times of calamity’ and grief.’”[iii] Calvin supported the practice of public days of fasting when leaders felt it appropriate.
Finally, fasting should be a habit of the Christians’ life. It should be done on a regular basis. While Paul tells husbands and wives to consensually abstain from conjugal relations during fasting, he encourages them to fast regularly (1 Cor 7:5).
About the Author
Sherene N. Khouri was born into a religiously diverse family in Damascus, Syria. She became a believer when she was 11 years old. Sherene and her husband were missionaries in Saudi Arabia. Their house was open for meetings, and they were involved with the locals until the government knew about their ministry and gave them three days’ notice to leave the country. In 2006, they went back to Syria and started serving the Lord with RZIM International ministry. They traveled around the Middle Eastern region—Turkey, Jordan, Egypt, Lebanon, Syria, and United Arab Emirates.
Sherene was also involved in her local church among the young youth, young adults, and women’s ministry. In 2013, the civil war broke out in Syria. Sherene and her husband’s car was vandalized 3 times and they had to immigrate to the United States of America. In 2019, Sherene became an American citizen.
Sherene is an Assistant Professor at Liberty University. She teaches Arabic, Religion, and Research classes. Additionally, she holds a Ph.D. in Theology and Apologetics, M.A. in Christian Apologetics from Liberty University, and B.S. in Biblical Studies from Moody Bible Institute. Currently, Sherene is also working on a Master of Theology in Global Studies at Liberty University and M.A. in Arabic and linguistics from PennWest University.
Notes
[i] Tom Thatcher, Chris Keith, Raymond F. Person and Elsie R. Stern, eds., s.v. “Fasting,” The Dictionary of the Bible and Ancient Media (New York: Bloomsbury Academic, 2017).
[ii] Ibid.
[iii] J. Melton Gordon, “Fasting.” In Encyclopedia of World Religions: Encyclopedia of Protestantism, 2nd ed., 2016. https://search.credoreference.com/articles/Qm9va0FydGljbGU6NDg1MTMyMw==?aid=96753.
