Matthew 6:16:18  "And whenever you fast... "   Now we have to go back to the beginning of chapter 6.. where Jesus began teaching about "practicing your righteousness before men... " :

When giving alms.. do it in secret.

When praying.. do it  in secret. 

Now.. when fasting.. do it "in secret".   All these acts of "righteousness" are not meant to be self promoting displays for the world to see and applaud.  They are meant to be acts of personal worship.. for the Father. The Father who "sees in secret".  The Father who "will repay you." The Father who love us and has made us His own. 

Fasting simply means to abstain from eating.  There were two people who fasted for 40 days and nights.. Moses before he received the 10 commandments and Jesus when He went into the wilderness and was tempted by Satan. There were others who fasted for the purpose of hearing from God and receiving His help.. Esther, for example. 

In Matthew 9 the disciples of John came to Jesus to ask why His disciples did not fast.. like the Pharisees did and they themselves did.  Jesus told them that His disciples did not need to fast because He was with them.. but a time would come when they would mourn and fast.   Fasting is also mentioned in Matthew 17 when the disciples could not cast out the demon from the boy while Jesus was on the mountain.  "But this kind does not go out except by prayer and fasting." (v21)  The problem was their "little" faith. Their need was a deeper and closer relationship with the Father. 

Fasting is not a law. It is not mentioned in the books of Leviticus or Deuteronomy.  It was being practiced in Israel at the time of Jesus, by those who were using it as a way to make themselves seem holier than they really were.  Jesus is not discounting the need for fasting, but He is teaching that it was a private and personal act for the purpose of drawing closer to the Father... of seeking Him. 

Isaiah 58 gives us great insight into God's perspective on fasting. The people were "seeking" the Lord. They were crying out. They were praying and fasting and being as righteous as they could.  But, it wasn't helping them.. "Why have we fasted and Thou hast not seen? Why have we humbled ourselves and Thou dost not notice?" they cry.  God answers them... in a way that goes right to the matters of the heart.

"Behold, on the day of your fast you find your desire, and drive hard all your workers. Behold, you fast for contention and strife and to strike with a wicked fist." (v3b-4)  Their motives were all wrong.. "You do not fast like you do today to make your voice heard on high."  And there it is.. the true motive of fasting..  Yet there is so much more! 

"Is this not the fast which I choose, to loosen the bonds of wickedness; to undo the bands of the yoke, and to let the oppressed go free, and break every yoke? Is it not to divide your bread with the hungry, and bring the homeless poor into the house; when you see the naked, to cover him; and not to hide yourself from your own flesh?" (v6-7)  This is true righteousness.. this is what the Lord desires and will reward.. "Then you will call, and the Lord will answer: You will cry and He will say, 'Here I am' " (v9)

It is God's desire.. His will.. that we abstain.. not just from food.. but from selfish, self-centered self-righteousness that has no purpose but the applause and honor that people might give.. and that we love our neighbor as ourselves.  "And if you give yourself to the hungry, and satisfy the desires of the afflicted, Then your light will rise in darkness and your gloom will become like midday. And the Lord will continually guide you, and satisfy your desire in scorched places, and give strength to your bones; and you will be like a watered garden, and like a spring of water whose waters do not fail." ( v10-11)

Father in heaven, once again, we stand in awe of You and give honor to Your holy Name.  You show us Your kingdom... where truth and goodness and love are found.  You make known to us Your will which is good and perfect and just.  You show us Your heart and we find the Love is the foundation and the walls and the roof and in every inch of Your being which is beyond knowing.  We worship You and draw near to You through the love poured out on Calvary!  Oh Jesus, our loving Savior, thank You for all that You taught and all that You did.  Help us to walk in Your ways.. trusting in Your Spirit to lead us to do all that You desire to do through us.. to show the world Your love. May our lights "rise in the darkness!"  We ask this in Your Name. Amen.