Fasting
In the Bible, “to fast” means “to abstain voluntarily from eating" for example Matthew 4:2, 6:16-18, 9:14,15, Mark 2:18-20, Luke 5:33-35, 18:12, Acts 13:2-3. Some of these passages show that teachers to whom scholars or disciples were attached gave them special instructions as to "fasting." Christ taught the need of purity and simplicity of motive.
The answers of Christ to the questions of the disciples of John and of the Pharisees reveal His whole purpose and method. No doubt He and His followers observed such a fast as that on the Day of Atonement, but He imposed no frequent "fasts" in addition. What He taught was suitable to the change of character and purpose which He designed for His disciples. His claim to be the Bridegroom (Matthew. 9:15), and the reference there to the absence of "fasting," virtually involved a claim to be the Messiah (Zechariah. 8:19). Some manuscripts have the verb in Acts 10:30.
Jesus pointed out that John (the Baptist) marked the end of one dispensation, announcing the new Age of Grace, and He shows that their respective principles cannot be mixed. To try to mix law and grace would be like using a piece of new, unshrunk cloth to patch an old garment. When washed, the patch would shrink, ripping itself away from the old cloth. The disrepair would be worse than ever.
He warned His disciples against the admixture of the old ... and the new. ... And yet this is what has been done throughout Christendom. Judaism has been patched up and adapted everywhere among the churches and the old garment is labelled “Christianity.” The result is a confusing mixture, which is neither Judaism nor Christianity, but a ritualistic substitution of dead works for a trust in the living God. The new wine of free salvation has been poured into the old wineskins of legalism, and with what result? Why, the skins are burst and ruined and the wine is spilled and most of the precious life-giving draught is lost. The law has lost its terror, because it is mixed with grace, and grace has lost its beauty and character as grace, for it is mixed with law-works.
Fasting by believers, after the ascension of Christ, is only mentioned on three occasions in the New Testament:
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By Paul, at the time of his conversion (Acts 9:9).
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Of the disciples, at the time of the consecration of Barnabas and Saul (Acts 13:2 and 3)
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Of the appointment of elders (Acts 14:23)
Nevertheless, fasting is now being promoted in some Christian assemblies as Biblical doctrine for believers, reasoning that:
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“Faith needs prayer for its development and full growth, and prayer needs fasting for the same reason. Fasting has done wonders when used in combination with prayer and faith.” But if that were true, why was it not even hinted at by the Lord Jesus or His disciples?
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“Since fasting and prayer are so prominent in the Bible, modern Christians should do more of this until they receive power with God over all the powers of the devil.” Yet it was the Lord Jesus who gave power to His disciples “to heal sicknesses and to cast out demons” (Mark 3:15) and “to cure diseases” (Luke 9:1) as and when it suited Him and He did not require them to pray and fast for it, nor even when He promised them power when the Holy Spirit came upon them (Acts 1:8).
Far more important than praying and fasting is full obedience to God’s word and dedication to live for His glory and honour. He will reward us for the work we do for Him (Revelation 22:12).