Fasting is mentioned many times in the Bible, and yet very few Christians today fast.
But should they? Is fasting still required for Christians today? Is it something that is an optional extra? Or is it something that is simply no longer required?
In this guide we will look first at what the Bible says about fasting, before answering the question of whether Christians today are required to fast today or not.
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Fasting in the Bible
The Bible never explicitly commands fasting. However, we see fasting mentioned over 70 times in the Bible in both the Old and the New Testaments, including the Gospels.
Fasting in the Old Testament
The first time the word ‘fast’ is used in the Bible is in Judges 20:26:
“Then all the Israelites, the whole army, went up to Bethel, and there they sat weeping before the Lord. They fasted that day until evening and presented burnt offerings and fellowship offerings to the Lord.” – Judges 20:26 (NIV)
However, many years before that we see the first example of fasting when Moses fasts on Mount Sinai:
“Moses was there with the Lord forty days and forty nights without eating bread or drinking water. And he wrote on the tablets the words of the covenant – the Ten Commandments.” – Exodus 34:28 (NIV)
There are several other notable examples of fasting in the Old Testament:
Before receiving the Ten Commandments, Moses fasted for 40 days without food or water (Exodus 34:28, Deuteronomy 9:9).
Elijah fasted for 40 days and nights on his journey to Mount Horeb (1 Kings 19:8).
Esther asked the Jews in Susa to fast from all food and drink for three days before she approached the king (Esther 4:16).
The King of Nineveh issued a decree stating that no humans or animals should eat or drink to show deep repentance (Jonah 3:7).
Ezra did not eat or drink for three days in mourning over the sins of the exiles (Ezra 10:6).
Daniel conducted two “partial” fasts, eating only vegetables and water on one occasion and abstaining from choice food, meat and wine on the other (Daniel 1 & 10).
Nehemiah fasted and prayed when he heard about the state of Jerusalem’s walls (Nehemiah 1:4).
David fasted while mourning his sick child and seeking repentance for committing adultery and murder (2 Samuel 12:16-17).
Fasting in the Gospels
In the Gospels we also see several examples of fasting:
Jesus fasted for 40 days and 40 nights in the wilderness (Matthew 4:1–2).
Anna the prophetess served in the temple with fasting and prayer (Luke 2:37).
In Luke, we read that John’s disciples fasted but Jesus’ disciples did not fast. Jesus explained that his disciples would fast when he was no longer with them (Luke 5:33-35).
Fasting in the early church
Finally, there are also several examples of fasting in the rest of the New Testament:
Following his conversion on the road to Damascus, Paul went without food and water for three days (Acts 9:9).
The church at Antioch fasted and prayed before sending out Paul and Barnabas. (Acts 13:2-3).
Paul and Barnabas prayed and fasted when appointing elders for new churches (Acts 14:23)
Should Christians fast today?
We can clearly see that fasting was a common practice all throughout the Bible. But does that mean that Christians should fast today?
Many people look at those examples and conclude “That was something for Bible times, not for now” or “Fasting is only for special people like Moses, Elijah and Paul.”
But I believe there are 5 compelling reasons why Christians today should still fast:
1. Jesus modelled it
As Christians, we want to be more like Jesus – this does not just mean following his teachings, but also living like he did – following his example and doing the things he did.
And we can see clearly Jesus modelling fasting when he fasted for 40 days and 40 nights before he began his ministry.
If fasting was important to Jesus, it suggests fasting should be important to Christians today too.
2. Jesus taught it
There are two key places in the Bible where Jesus teaches about fasting:
Why do your disciples not fast?
The first is in response to a question by John the Baptist’s disciples:
“Then John’s disciples came and asked him, ‘How is it that we and the Pharisees fast often, but your disciples do not fast?’ Jesus answered, ‘How can the guests of the bridegroom mourn while he is with them? The time will come when the bridegroom will be taken from them; then they will fast.” – Matthew 9:14-15 (NIV)
There seems a clear expectation, by Jesus, that his followers will fast after he leaves this earth.
When you fast…
But perhaps even more compelling is that, in Jesus’ famous Sermon on the Mount, he says:
“When you fast, do not look sombre as the hypocrites do, for they disfigure their faces to show others they are fasting. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full. But when you fast, put oil on your head and wash your face, so that it will not be obvious to others that you are fasting, but only to your Father, who is unseen; and your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.” – Matthew 6:16-18 (NIV)
Notice Jesus says “when you fast” not “if you fast”.
Jesus’ use of “when” makes it pretty clear here that he expects his followers to fast.
What makes this even more compelling is the context of this passage.
“When you fast” is the third of three “when you” statements in Matthew 6.
The first is:
“So, when you give to the needy…” – Matthew 6:2 (NIV)
And the second is:
“And when you pray…” – Matthew 6:5 (NIV)
As Christians today, we don’t question whether or not we should pray, nor do we question whether or not we should give to the needy, so why do we question whether or not we should fast?
3. The early church fasted
Another reason why I believe Christians should fast today is that the early church practised it.
In Acts, we see believers fasting when seeking guidance (Acts 13:2–3), when appointing leaders (Acts 14:23), and as part of their normal pattern of worship and prayer.
These were ordinary Christians, not a select few. And they were living in a time immediately after Jesus, when there would still be people around who were first-hand witnesses of Jesus’ lifestyle and teachings.
If the early church saw fasting as a normal part of the Christian life, that’s strong evidence that we should too.
4. No reason why we should stop now
There are many laws, practices and customs in the Bible that Christians no longer follow today – but there is always a clear reason why.
For example:
The Old Testament sacrificial system is no longer required because Jesus became the ultimate sacrifice for our sins (Hebrews 10:10–14).
In the same way, many ceremonial laws were fulfilled in Christ and are no longer necessary (Colossians 2:16–17).
But when it comes to fasting, we are never told to stop. There is no passage in the New Testament that suggests fasting is no longer needed, or has been replaced by something else.
In fact, as we’ve already seen, Jesus expected his followers to fast (Matthew 6:16–18), and the early church continued to practise it.
So rather than being something that has been fulfilled or set aside, fasting appears to be something that should continue as a normal part of the Christian life.
5. The sheer number of mentions
Finally, it is worth noting that fasting is mentioned A LOT in the bible – over 70 times, in fact. To put this into context this is more times than:
- Baptism (22 times)
- Christian (3 times)
- Emmanuel (4 times)
- Resurrection (40 times)
- Salvation (43 times)
- Saviour (24 times)
- Fellowship (17 times)
- Gospel (4 times)
- Miracle (37 times)
- Disciple (30 times)
I am not, of course, saying that fasting is more important than these things, nor that the number of times a word is mentioned in the Bible is the most important thing.
But the fact that fasting is mentioned so many times – more than some very fundamental words – coupled together with the fact that Jesus and the early church fasted, and in the light of Jesus’ teachings on fasting, there does seem to be a very strong case that yes, Christians should still fast today.
So why don’t Christians fast today?
With such strong evidence that Christians should still fast today, it does rather beg the question, why do so few Christians fast today?
I think there are 4 main reasons:
1. Lack of teaching on fasting
Many churches rarely teach on fasting, leaving many Christians unaware of its importance or how to go about it.
2. An overreaction to legalism
Many Christians miss the distinction between fasting as a mandatory burden (legalism) and fasting as a voluntary spiritual discipline. Rather than correcting the improper MOTIVE for fasting they have abandoned fasting altogether.
3. Fear and negative experiences
Many people are fearful of going without food, even for a short period of time, or else they have tried in the past and failed.
4. Cultural barriers
In our modern world of instant gratification and self-indulgence, fasting is uncomfortable, inconvenient and deeply counter-cultural.
Should all Christians fast?
The evidence above suggests that fasting is something that all Christians should do. And there does not seem to be any suggestion in the Bible that fasting is only for certain groups of Christians, or even that it’s optional.
However it’s important to point out that some fasts – especially full fasts (no food, only water) could have very serious negative health consequences for certain people – for example for pregnant women, people with certain health conditions and people on certain medications.
If you are at all concerned then, you should definitely consult a medical professional before you undertake any type of fast – especially a very strict fast.
However, if a full fast is not possible for you, due to health reasons, there are other options. For example:
- A partial fast (e.g. giving up chocolate, snacks, caffeine, alcohol etc.)
- A Daniel fast
- A non-food fast
READ MORE >>> What are the different types of Christian fast?
How to get started with fasting…
If after having read this guide, you have decided you would like to attempt your first fast, I recommend you do one or both of the following:
- Read my step-by-step guide: How to fast: a step by step guide for Christians
- Download my free challenge: The 30 Day Fasting Challenge
Final thoughts
Fasting may not be as common today as it was in the Bible – but that doesn’t mean it is something which we should no longer do.
When we look at Scripture as a whole, the evidence is clear: fasting was practised by God’s people in the Old Testament, modelled by Jesus, taught by Jesus and continued to be practised by the early church.
For that reason, it seems reasonable to conclude that fasting is not something that was for Bible times only, nor just an optional extra for a few especially committed Christians, but something that should be a normal and valuable part of the Christian life.
Your next step: The 30-Day Fasting Challenge
If you want help building a consistent fasting habit, I invite you to join the 30 Day Fasting Challenge.
Each day includes:
- A short Scripture passage to read
- A brief teaching on the passage
- A guided prayer activity
- A short fasting-related challenge to do at another point in the day
- Reflection questions to help you track your growth
Over the course of 30 days, you’ll grow in your knowledge and understanding of Biblical fasting, and you’ll begin to build a foundation for a regular habit of fasting.
Join the 30 Day Fasting Challenge!
Recommended books on fasting
- God’s Chosen Fast – Arthur Wallis
- A Hunger for God – John Piper
- The Daniel Fast – Susan Gregory
READ MORE >>> Recommended books on fasting
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