FASTING AND AN ETERNAL PERSPECTIVE

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Matthew 6:16-24

Lesson #16

FASTING AND AN ETERNAL PERSPECTIVE

• Memory verse: Jam 1:8
• Read Mat 6:16-18 Fasting
  • The Jewish custom of fasting:
    • Compulsory fasting:
      • There was only one compulsory fast, which was once a year on the Day of Atonement.
      • Fasting lasted from dawn to sunset. (Lev 16:31)
    • Private fasting:
      • Fasting was done between the time of death of a loved one and the burial.
      • Fasting was done to atone for some personal sin.
      • Fasting was a part of repentance, an outward expression of an inward sorrow.
      • Fasting was done as an act of national penitence. (Jdg 20:26 1Sam 7:6 Neh 9:1)
      • Fasting was done as a preparation for spiritual revelation. (Exo 24:15 Dan 9:3)
  • Three main ideas behind Jewish fasting:
    • =1= Fasting was an attempt to draw God’s attention.
    • =2= Fasting was an attempt to prove that penitence was real. The danger: What was meant to be a proof of repentance became a substitute for repentance.
    • =3= Fasting was done by leaders on behalf of the ommon people for the good of the nation.
  • The wrong way to fast that Jesus wanted to correct:
    • Jesus addresses the subject of fasting as though his believers will automatically be doing this. He does not tell us not to fast. He simply wants to correct some bad practices of fasting.
    • Background:
      • The usual days for fasting by Jewish Pharisees were Mondays and Thursdays. These two days were market days when cities were crowded with people.
      • The fasting religious leaders walked through the market places in an unkempt condition, their hair a mess, their clothes dirty, and their faces painted white to increase their paleness. It was not an act of humility but spiritual pride.
    • Is fasting intended for New Testament believers? Yes
      • Jesus fasted. (Mat 4:2)
      • The early Christians fasted. (Act 27:9)
  • Some obvious benefits of fasting:
    • Fasting is good for health.
    • Fasting is good for self-discipline.
    • Fasting keeps us from becoming slaves of a habit.
      • We develop cravings for certain things so that they master us.
      • Fasting breaks such cravings for certain pleasures, so that we become the masters of our pleasures.
    • Fasting preserves our ability to do without things.
    • Fasting makes us appreciate the things we have all the more.
  • When should the New Testament believer fast?
    • Fast when the Holy Spirit leads you to do so.
    • Fast when you desire to seek God’s perfect will in a matter. (Jdg 20:26 Act 14:23)
    • Fast when you repent of some major sin in your life. (2Sam 12:16,21-23 Jonah 3:5)
    • Fast for guidance concerning the work and ministry of God. (Neh 1:4)
    • Fast for deliverance or protection. (Est 4:13,16)
    • Fast to humble yourself before God. (Psa 69:10,11,13)
    • Fast as a part of worship. (Luk 2:37 Act 13:2,3)
    • Fast when you are in deep sorrow. (1Sam 31:13)
  • Guidelines to fasting:
    • Don’t fast openly or to impress others. (Mat 6:16-18)
    • Don’t eat a huge meal the day before you start a fast.
    • When you end a long fast, add easy to digest foods a little at a time over several days.
• Read Mat 6:19-21 The Parable of the Moths and the Thieves
  • The central truth of the parable: There is futility in a world-centered life, and reward in a life spent for Christ.
  • Worldly wealth: The three great sources of wealth in Israel:
    • Elaborate clothing
    • Crops of grain
    • Gold
  • Jesus addresses these three areas of worldly wealth in the parable.
    • Clothing is eaten by moths.
    • Crops of grain “rust” away.
      • The word for “rust” is brosis which means = eaten away.
      • Gold is stolen by thieves.
      • The house in Israel was made of baked clay. Burglars would enter a house secretly by digging through the back wall of the house in order to steal one’s gold.
  • Treasure in heaven:
    • Jewish tradition identified heavenly treasure as deeds of kindness that a man did on earth.
    • Jewish teaching said that what was hoarded was lost, but what was generously given away was heavenly treasure.
    • Jewish tradition identified heavenly treasure with character.
      • The only thing you can take out of this world is yourself, so make yourself the best you can be.
        • Develop the godly beatitudes in Mat 5. Allow God to change your attitudes and character.
        • Develop godly wisdom and strong faith.
      • The New Testament indicates the eternal nature of the human soul.
      • Therefore, the souls you win to Christ are a heavenly treasure. (1Cor 9:22-25)
        • Invite people into the kingdom of heaven by accepting Christ as their Savior.
        • Then disciple them in their Christian walk.
    • What Jesus did not say:
      • Jesus did not say that this world is unimportant.
      • It is not important in itself but important only because of where it leads us: to eternal life or eternal death. Only in life on earth can a person make the eternal decision for eternity with Christ.
  • The location of your heart:
    • The location of your heart is where you place your priorities, your desires, and your pleasures. You love what you value!
    • “laying up” treasure (19)
      • It is not the “laying up” that is sinful, for we are told to work for a living.
      • If you earn a good living and God prospers you materially, use it for the kingdom of God to bless others and in doing that you are laying up treasure in heaven.
  • Two revealing questions about possessions:
    • =1= How did you acquire your possessions?
      • Some people gain possessions by cheating others.
      • Some people gain possessions by causing someone else to fail.
      • Some people gain possessions by working hard and honestly.
    • =2= How do you use your possessions?
      • Do you store them up and not use them at all?
      • Do you use them selfishly for yourself?
      • Do you use them malignantly to gain power or prestige?
      • Do you use them to help and benefit others?
• Read Mat 6:22-24
  • The Parable of Single and Evil Eyes
    • The meaning of the word “single” (haplous) in Greek is = Generous
    • The central truth of the parable:
      • The believer should have a single focus of generosity to his life that underlies every motive and action.
      • Paul is a good example in Phi 3:13-14
        • Paul’s example of running a race

Everyone participating in the Greek Games (The Olympics) had to be a freeborn Greek.

They went into strict training for which the Greek word is agonizomai from which we get the word agony. It was a technical term for getting into shape so as to participate in the games.

After local elimination trials, they submitted for 10 months to rigorous training under professional trainers after being examined by officials and after taking an oath that would obey all the rules.

If they left the gym once in 10 months they were disqualified. If he was caught violating a strict diet, he was disqualified.

There were 2 trumpet calls, one a warning, and one to call the athletes to the exercise square. If an athlete missed one trumpet call in 10 months, he was disqualified.

They trained and competed naked regardless of the weather.

They competed for a perishable crown of laurel leaves, recognition, position, and honor.

The athlete was always focused on the goal.

• • • What is meant by the lamp of the body is the eye? (22)
      • The eye is not the light of the body but the lamp.
      • The eye is the means by which we interpret and apply light.
    • What is meant by the whole body being full of light because of healthy (single) eye? (22)
      • The eye regulates the motions of the body.
      • If our eye accurately discerns our environment, we can then accurately move in that environment.
      • If our eye does not accurately discern our environment, we will make errors in judgment. There is such a thing as a faulty eye.
      • The word “single” as it relates to anatomy of the eye = means single-folded or without a fold, or an eye having no complications: Astigmatism is an eye with a fold causing the eye to see double or blurred.
      • Application: If our life has a single focus, everything in right perspective, then our whole character will be consistent and bright.
        • We will be generous in our judgments of others.
        • We will be generous in our actions toward others.
      • What is an evil eye? (23)
        • The word for evil is poneros meaning = evil in influence, or stingy.
        • With astigmatism there is a squint because the eye sees things double and causes the individual to make wrong judgments regarding his environment.
        • The things that can distort our spiritual vision:

Prejudice

Jealousy

Self-conceit

• • • What is meant by the body being full of darkness because of an evil eye? (23)
      • The result of an eye with a squint is that the whole body is full of darkness.
        • If the eye does not see straight and clearly, the image is distorted and has a double focus.
        • This causes evil to himself and to others.
        • Darkness in scripture is a picture of evil.
        • Read James 1:5-8
    • Why is it impossible to set your heart on worldly wealth and on God at the same time?
      • Serving two masters (24)
        • The word “serve” (douleuein) = means to be a slave to. The word “master” (kurios) means = absolute ownership.
        • The word “mammon”. Mamon with one m was the wealth one entrusted to someone who kept it safe for you. Then it came to mean that which you put your trust in. It was then spelled with 2 m’s and came to be regarded as the name of a god.
      • The slave has no rights and no time of his own. You cannot be a slave to two masters who have absolute ownership.
        • A single focus is the same as serving one lord while an evil eye, one that does not focus properly is the same as serving two masters. This then relates back to laying treasures up in heaven where our lives are to have a single eternal perspective or focus–that of serving the Lord in all we do.
        • You love that on which you focus your heart.

Like the eye, the human soul cannot focus on two things at the same time.

You either love and serve God or you love and serve Satan.

• • Application:
  • This lesson gives us the choice:
    • To have an eternal spiritual perspective on wealth and the things of this world,
    • Or to have a distorted spiritual vision as to what is eternally important.

Homework

Matthew 6:25-34

• Application of Mat 6:16-24
  • Which of the following is more important to you? (be honest!)
    • Money
    • Power and prestige
    • Possessions
    • Land or house
    • Youth and good looks
  • In prayer, lay this at the feet of the lord giving it up to him.
  • What occupies most of your thoughts, time, and effort?
  • Specifically, in what ways can you make Jesus Christ more at the center of your life?
• Preparation for Mat 6:25-34 Parable of the Birds and Lilies
  • Read Mat 6:25-34
    • What is the central truth of the parable?
    • What are some characteristics of birds?
    • What is meant by the correlation between food and clothing and the birds of the air (25-26)?
    • What reasons does this passage give for not worrying?
• Memory verse: Mat 6:33