Matthew 6: The Sermon on the Mount: Seek the Kingdom (1)

Pray Psalm 147.6-11.
The LORD lifts up the humble;
He casts the wicked down to the ground.
Sing to the Lord with thanksgiving;
Sing praises on the harp to our God,
Who covers the heavens with clouds,
Who prepares rain for the earth,
Who makes grass to grow on the mountains.
He gives to the beast its food,
And to the young ravens that cry.
He does not delight in the strength of the horse;
He takes no pleasure in the legs of a man.
The LORD takes pleasure in those who fear Him,
In those who hope in His mercy.

Sing Psalm 147.6-11.
(St. Anne: Our God, Our Help in Ages Past)
The humble God exalts above; the wicked He casts down.
Sing thanks to this great God of love; let songs of praise abound.

He brings refreshing rain to earth and feeds the beasts so dear.
He puts in man’s strength naught of worth, but loves those who God fear.

Read and meditate on Matthew 6.16-18.

Prepare.
1. What did Jesus warn about when we are fasting?

2. Why should we fast so that only God knows about it?

Meditate.
With respect to fasting, we notice in the first place that Jesus said “when”, not “if” you fast. There is an assumption that, in the Kingdom of God, where righteousness, peace, and joy in the Spirit are the defining attributes, fasting is a practice which citizens take up from time to time. Given the example of our King, this only makes sense.

In the background of Jesus’ teaching about fasting are God’s own words in Isaiah 58.6-9:

“Is this not the fast that I have chosen:
To loose the bonds of wickedness,
To undo the heavy burdens,
To let the oppressed go free,
And that you break every yoke?
Is it not to share your bread with the hungry,
And that you bring to your house the poor who are cast out;
When you see the naked, that you cover him,
And not hide yourself from your own flesh?
Then your light shall break forth like the morning,
Your healing shall spring forth speedily,
And your righteousness shall go before you;
The glory of the LORD shall be your rear guard.
Then you shall call, and the LORD will answer;
You shall cry, and He will say, ‘Here I am.’” 

Fasting, rightly practiced, entails more than simply abstaining from familiar food and drink for a period of time. And it certainly must not include any outward demonstrations to signal our piety or spirituality to others (Matt. 6.16). In times of fasting, believers must be especially energetic (v. 17) and active in caring for others. Thus, by denying both bodily needs and personal interests, we learn to draw on the spiritual power, active within us by God’s Spirit, from which true righteousness comes.

When we fast in this way, we share in the sufferings of Jesus (as Paul might say, Phil. 3.10), Who denied His divine prerogatives and privileges, fasting from His heavenly throne, to come among us as our Servant. In Him the light of the new morning breaks upon us through the darkness of His suffering and death. We who are oppressed by sin are set free in His redemption. Our nakedness is covered by His righteousness; our flesh is healed in His resurrection; and His righteousness comes to us by His Word and Spirit. The glory of the Lord “has our back”, and the Lord Himself stands ready to hear us when we cry to Him.

Jesus gave us not only a model of prayer, but a model for how to fast, so that we may fulfill all the righteousness of His Kingdom. The reward we may expect from our fasting comes not from the admiration of men, but the favor and glory of our heavenly Father (v. 18).

Reflect.
1. What are some ways that you might practice the discipline of fasting more consistently?

2. What should you expect to be doing during times when you are fasting? How might this season of accelerated serving take shape in your Personal Mission Field?

3. What must you be careful to guard against whenever you are fasting?

[Fasting] is pleasing to God, only so far as it is directed to another object: and that is, to train us to abstinence, to subdue the lust of the flesh, to excite us to earnestness in prayer, and to testify our repentance, when we are affected by the view of the tribunal of God. John Calvin (1509-1564), Commentary on Matthew 6.16-18)

Show me how to fast for Your glory, Lord, and help me do so as I…

Pray Psalm 147.12-20.
Praise God, Who meets the needs of all His creatures. Receive His Word today, and pray for someone with whom to share it.

Sing Psalm 147.12-20.
Psalm 147.12-20 (St. Anne: Our God, Our Help in Ages Past)
O praise your God, Jerusalem, O Zion, praise the Lord!
He strengthens those who trust in Him with blessings from His Word.

Around us He has spread His peace; our borders are secure.
His bounty daily shall increase; His grace to us is sure!

His Word to earth runs to and fro to carry out His will;
He brings the rain, He sends the snow, and none can keep Him still.

His Word He to His Church bestows – His promises and Law.
No other nation God thus knows: praise Him with songs of awe!

T. M. Moore

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Except as indicated, Scripture taken from the New King James Version. © Copyright 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved. All psalms for singing adapted from The Ailbe Psalter. All quotations from Church Fathers from Ancient Christian Commentary Series, General Editor Thomas C. Oden (Downers Grove: InterVarsity Press, 2006). All psalms for singing are from The Ailbe Psalter (available by clicking here).