Kind of religous question but health related also.?

Question

Ok in the bible in the chapter of Matthew(matthew 6:16 it talks about fasting, as in like not eating, and Im confused. Are they saying that fasting is good in gods eyes?

Answer 1

When Jesus was on earth he gave instruction to his disciples: “When you are fasting, stop becoming sad-faced like the hypocrites, for they disfigure their faces that they may appear to men to be fasting. Truly I say to you, They are having their reward in full. But you, when fasting, grease your head and wash your face, that you may appear to be fasting, not to men, but to your Father who is in secrecy; then your Father who is looking on in secrecy will repay you.” (Mt 6:16-18) He alluded here to the insincere fasting of the Pharisees, which he mentioned in an illustration on another occasion. (Lu 18:9-14) It was customary for the Pharisees to fast twice a week, on the second and fifth days of the week.—Lu 18:12.

A person’s merely abstaining from food in a formalistic manner is described by Paul as subjecting oneself to decrees, “Do not handle, nor taste, nor touch,” and he says that “those very things are, indeed, possessed of an appearance of wisdom in a self-imposed form of worship and mock humility, a severe treatment of the body; but they are of no value in combating the satisfying of the flesh.”—Col 2:20-23.

Fasting has been enjoined on their members by some religious sects of Christendom, but the Bible itself gives no command to Christians to fast. When Jesus was talking to his disciples about fasting, as above (Mt 6:16-18), he and his disciples were still under the Mosaic Law and observed the Day of Atonement and its fast.

The text about fasting at Matthew 17:21, appearing in the King James Version, is not contained in some of the most important ancient manuscripts. Likewise, although the King James Version mentions fasting at Mark 9:29, Acts 10:30, and 1 Corinthians 7:5, according to such manuscripts these texts do not contain any references to fasting.

Answer 2

Choosing to fast in certain circumstances is an individual decision. One person should not judge another on this matter. We should not want to “appear righteous to men”; nor should we make food so important that it interferes with our caring for serious obligations. (Matthew 23:28; Luke 12:22, 23) And the Bible shows that God neither requires that we fast nor prohibits us from fasting.

Answer 3

Here is your full scripture.
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.

In other words don't run around with a sad and haggard face that those people who do are doing it to get outward things like people feeling sorry for them.

We are supposing to fast to help our self to concentrate on spiritual things and when need to concentrate on getting needed guidance we might need.
In my church we fast 2 meals food and water once a month and give that money to the poor and needy and to help us to be come more spiritual and to concentrate on spiritual things.

Here are just a few from the bible about fast but there are many many more.

Ex. 34: 28 (Deut. 9: 9; 1 Kgs. 19: 8) forty days . . . he did neither eat bread, nor drink water.
2 Sam. 12: 16 David . . . besought God for the child, and David fasted.
1 Kgs. 21: 9 Proclaim a fast.
2 Chr. 20: 3 set himself to seek the Lord, and proclaimed a fast throughout all Judah.
Ezra 8: 23 we fasted and besought our God.
Ezra 10: 6 Ezra . . . did eat no bread, nor drink water.
Neh. 1: 4 I . . . fasted, and prayed before the God.
Neh. 9: 1 children of Israel were assembled with fasting.
Esth. 4: 16 fast ye for me, and neither eat nor drink.
Esth. 9: 31 they had decreed . . . the matters of the fastings.
Ps. 35: 13 I humbled my soul with fasting.
Ps. 69: 10 I wept, and chastened my soul with fasting.
Ps. 109: 24 My knees are weak through fasting.
Isa. 58: 3 in the day of your fast ye find pleasure.
Jer. 36: 6 in the Lord’s house upon the fasting day.
Dan. 6: 18 king . . . passed the night fasting.
Dan. 9: 3 to seek by prayer and supplication, with fasting.
Joel 1: 14 Sanctify ye a fast.
Joel 2: 12 turn ye even to me with all your heart, and with fasting.
Jonah 3: 5 Nineveh believed God, and proclaimed a fast.
Zech. 8: 19 the fast . . . shall be . . . joy and gladness.
Matt. 4: 2 (Luke 4: 2) when he had fasted forty days and forty nights.
Matt. 6: 18 (3 Ne. 13: 16) appear not unto men to fast.
Matt. 9: 15 (Mark 2: 20) bridegroom shall be taken . . . then shall they fast.
Matt. 15: 32 (Mark 8: 3) not send them away fasting.
Matt. 17: 21 this kind goeth not out but by prayer and fasting.
Mark 9: 29 come forth by nothing, but by prayer and fasting.
Luke 2: 37 a widow . . . served God with fastings and prayers.
Luke 5: 34 Can ye make the children . . . fast.
Luke 18: 12 I fast twice in the week.
Acts 10: 30 Four days ago I was fasting.
Acts 13: 2 they ministered to the Lord, and fasted.
Acts 14: 23 ordained them elders . . . and had prayed with fasting.
Acts 27: 9 because the fast was now already past.
Acts 27: 33 fourteenth day . . . continued fasting.
1 Cor. 7: 5 give yourselves to fasting and prayer.
2 Cor. 11: 27 hunger and thirst, in fastings.

Hope this helps Diane

Answer 4

Muslims Fast a whole month From Dawn To Dusk,until u have a medical condition its good for health..
Its the fifth Pillar of Islam..

Answer 5

Yes fasting is good in Gods eyes ONLY if you do it with a true heart. In other words fast to be closer to Jesus and to seek His face and what He wants in your life. Don't let everyone know that your fasting, keep it to yourself don't go around and try to look more "religious" just because your fasting. It should be a bonding time for you and Jesus.

Answer 6

Yes! I've fasted and it brings your flesh more under your control. You have more humility, and dont have as much pride. But don't be like the Pharisee's who everybody knew they were fasting because they showed it openly and I think they put ashes on themselves or something. The Bible says what you do in secret for God, HE will reward you openly! But fasting is really good for you. when you fast, feed yourself with the Word and pray, and it will definetly draw you closer to God!

Answer 7

Fasting will help you here on this earth. And you can also think much clearer when you fast. That was a health tip from the Creator.

Answer 8

fasting is a tool used to get in touch with your spirit, to reinforce the fact that your soul can live without physical nourishment. it is used in many different religions including christianity. when muslims celebrate ramadan, they fast for a whole month (that is, basically not eating during daylight hours...there are many different forms of fasting)

Answer 9

Jesus fasted for forty days.Lots of people fast and pray.Usually this is done because someone is looking for answers.Most don`t fast but a few days.

Answer 10

yes,...

to deprive the body of food shows God how sincere you are to get a blessing from Him,..and we should have the mastery over our bodies,......fasting for a while not to death!

this is just to get earnest with your heavenly father,...begging for God to intervene in our lives.