{"id":2234,"date":"2016-07-23T13:47:43","date_gmt":"2016-07-23T18:47:43","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/?page_id=2234"},"modified":"2024-02-13T08:31:07","modified_gmt":"2024-02-13T14:31:07","slug":"sabbath-fasting-rest","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/gods-written-word-and-gods-spoken-voice\/the-law\/fourth-commandment\/sabbath-fasting-rest","title":{"rendered":"Sabbath, Fasting and Rest"},"content":{"rendered":"

STUDY TIPS: See Fourth Commandment<\/a> before reading this page. Also see\u00a0Time: Hours, Days, Weeks and Ages<\/a><\/p>\n

THREE WORDS DESCRIBE ONE CONCEPT<\/strong>
\nOn the surface, Sabbath<\/a>, fasting<\/a> and rest<\/a> do not seem to have anything in common. When we look at the way God uses them, however, we see that they all describe the same thing: Ceasing from religious labors<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\n

SABBATH<\/strong>
\nSabbath, fasting and rest are three Biblical concepts that describe one spiritual condition: New Covenant. See Fourth Commandment<\/a> for a detailed discussion of the Sabbath.<\/p>\n

\n

FASTING <\/strong>
\nFasting<\/a> is one of those Biblical concepts about which there is little room for disagreement between religions. With some minor exceptions regarding the reason for fasting, when to fast and what should be included in the fast, fasting for Catholics<\/a> is much the same as for Lutherans<\/a> and Pentecostals<\/a> and the same for Jews<\/a> as Christians<\/a>. In these and other religious cults, fasting is basically about abstaining from food, drink, sex or something else that is otherwise considered good for the purpose of being closer to God or influencing him to act. It all sounds reasonable, but it is not at all how God thinks of fasting.<\/p>\n

Fasting from food and drink is a fairly common phenomenon in all religions<\/a> and was practiced by many religions — even before the days of the Bible<\/a>. The fact that it is practiced in other religions is a clear indicator that Jews and Christians should not fast from food or drink because God warned Israel that it should not follow the customs of other religions<\/a>. We conclude, therefore, that the practice of religious fasting is another example where God has borrowed a well-known concept from ancient religions and used it to represent a spiritual truth.<\/p>\n

AUTHORS’ NOTE: See Origins of Religion<\/a> for more about following customs of other religions.<\/p>\n

Because fasting was and is practiced by other religions, past and present, it is therefore, inappropriate, unnecessary and undesirable for New Covenant disciples who conduct their worship in spirit and truth — not in fleshly religion.<\/a><\/p>\n

As a relic of Old\/First Covenant religion, the tradition of fasting is not necessary for New Covenant disciples. It is old wine contained in the Old\/First Covenant wineskin<\/a> because it was introduced to Israel in the package of religious laws given to Israel by God at Mount Sinai. Fasting, therefore, is Old\/First Covenant religion that has been fulfilled by the New Covenant just as all other legalistic works specified in Old\/First Covenant laws were fulfilled through Christ<\/a>. Since Christ symbolizes the New Covenant, God’s laws about fasting in the flesh are fulfilled spiritually in people who are New Covenant disciples. New Covenant disciples understand this truth and by faith accept that performance of physical fasts and other religious works done with their physical bodies are no longer necessary.<\/p>\n

Old\/First Covenant religionists who do not understand this truth continue to fast with their physical bodies by abstaining from food, drink and other natural functions. This proves that they\u00a0 are still slaves to religious laws<\/a>. New Covenant disciples know by faith that they are no longer under the law<\/a>, and also know that they need not fast in their flesh by abstaining from food or drink. Knowing that the law is written on their hearts and that they are no longer slaves to the laws that include fasting, they have no need or desire to perform any of the old religious traditions prescribed by the law.<\/p>\n

Nevertheless, because it appears often in the Bible, fasting from food and other bodily requirements<\/a> appears to have qualities and powers that make it attractive to Old\/First Covenant religionists who interpret the Bible literally. In their ignorance of the fact that God uses old religious terms such as fasting and circumcision to represent a spiritual truth or a spiritual activity, they fast and otherwise humble\/afflict<\/a> themselves thinking that what they do with, and to, their flesh (i.e. physical bodies) will somehow give them favor with God<\/a>. They forget, or ignore, that God looks at the heart — not at the religious things people do with their bodies.<\/a><\/p>\n

Another piece of their thinking is the anticipation of earning favor with other religionists who know that they have fasted or plan on fasting. This, along with circumcision, public prayer and public observance of other religious traditions, is a good way to to build a reputation for being spiritual<\/a>. But, because assumptions made on the basis of literal interpretations of the Bible that always lead to error, these spiritual wannabes<\/a> deceive themselves and others about their true, empty spiritual condition. All this religious activity has a form of godliness but lacks real spiritual power.<\/a><\/p>\n

Unfortunately, neither Jews nor Christians have come to understand these spiritual truths. Indeed they cannot understand as long as they acquire their understanding by reading the literal words of the Bible while ignoring its symbolic content. Thus, Jewish traditions still include both public and private fasts. <\/a>Some Christian denominations also have a favorable attitude about fasting<\/a>.<\/p>\n

For all religions that do fast, there is a belief that self affliction through denial of food, drink, sex and other worldly appetites will somehow gain favor with their god regarding personal sins and\/or circumstances that affect a larger community. In other words, fasting is seen as a way to influence their god for personal and communal benefit. If we drill down to discover the motives of the heart, we see that fasting, like prayer, is nothing more than a fleshly attempt to manipulate God to act in some way that will relieve an physical\/natural circumstance that is beyond the control of those who fast. Often, it is a last-ditch, desperation effort to solve a problem. As such, it is a clear example of a fleshly religious work that still has a prominent place in Judaism and Christianity.<\/p>\n

It is not surprising that fasting is still practiced. In both the Old Testament<\/a> and New Testament<\/a> their appears to be enough references to fasting to give it the legitimacy necessary to support the practice. The problem is, however, that fasting is interpreted literally as abstaining from food.<\/a> But, the way we see it,\u00a0 there is never any attempt by Jews or Christians to consider that fasting might have symbolic, spiritual meaning. It is just another example of a religious practice adopted by many religions past and present. Considering that God said about not following the customs of other religious nations,<\/a> this fact in itself should be enough reason to avoid religious fasting.<\/p>\n

Nevertheless, there remains little disagreement among religionists about fasting, God’s idea of fasting is not even close to what they think it is. While religionists see fasting as an important religious work to be done on certain occasions such as Lent or Yom Kippur, or in times of trouble, God uses fasting as a term that describes an ongoing spiritual condition of the heart that is found only in New Covenant disciples. We find clear instruction about that heart condition in the following scriptures:<\/p>\n

Ezra 8:21: <\/a>Then I proclaimed a fast there, at the river Aha’va, that we might humble ourselves before our God, to seek from him a straight way for ourselves, our children, and all our goods. <\/span><\/p>\n

COMMENTARY: We find here an unexpected correlation between fasting and humility. The scripture basically says that the people fasted so that they might humble themselves. This prompts us to ask how fasting results in humility. We begin to see a connection when we recognize that the Hebrew word anah which is translated as humility in English<\/a> is also translated as afflict. In fact, in the NAS Bible, anah is translated as afflict, afflicted, or affliction more times than it is translated as humble or humbled. This leads us to conclude that the scripture could also be legitimately translated to say that the people fasted so that they might afflict themselves <\/a>as we see in the KJV.<\/p>\n

True humility is a condition of the heart. Some people may try to present themselves as humble through their speech, posture, or actions that are culturally equated with humility. That is false humility. Other people may be fooled by displays of false humility, but God is not fooled because he sees what is really in their hearts.<\/p>\n

See HUMILITY<\/a> for more about this topic.<\/p>\n

<\/a>Isaiah 58:1-11<\/a>\u00a0“Cry aloud, spare not, lift up your voice like a trumpet; declare to my people their transgression, to the house of Jacob their sins. 2 Yet they seek me daily, and delight to know my ways, as if they were a nation that did righteousness and did not forsake the ordinance of their God; they ask of me righteous judgments, they delight to draw near to God.<\/p>\n

COMMENTARY: This is God speaking to Israel about its sins. It is also a message to Jews and Christians today. God complains that people who make false claims to obedience seek him and ask for his help as though they deserved it because of their prideful opinions of their righteousness.<\/p>\n

While Israel’s sins are not specified in verse 1, verse 2 tells us what they are: Seek God daily and delight to know is ways. On the surface, these appear to be good things and not sins, but God, who sees what is in the heart, knows sin when he sees it. What he sees is a people that honor him with their lips and bodies even though their hearts are far from him<\/a>. In other words, they are saying and doing all the right religious things according to their religious traditions and according to the written law, but their hearts are still far from him. This is code language that says they practice\u00a0Old\/First Covenant religion according to the written law but they are not\u00a0New Covenant disciples for whom God’s laws are written on their hearts. These differences are discussed in detail in Two Covenants.<\/p>\n

In their belief that their righteousness is based on exacting obedience to all of the laws of Moses, they believe they have satisfied God’s expectations regarding the written law (i.e. ordinance of their God) when they obey the literal words of the Bible. Thus they expect that God will treat them well (i.e. righteous judgments). But, as we see in verse 3 below, however, they are not satisfied with how God is treating them.<\/p>\n

Israel’s delight to draw near to God would also seem to be a good thing. But God also sees through their outward behaviors to know what is in their hearts. What he sees is people who take great pride in their traditions and their faithfulness to follow them precisely.<\/p>\n

Israel’s attitude toward God is identical to the attitudes of contemporary Jews and Christians. For Jews, the standard of righteousness is still the written law and Rabbinic Literature<\/a> dated back to the Jerusalem Talmud<\/a>, and the Babylonian Talmud<\/a>. For Christians, the standards of righteousness varies from denomination to denomination. Thus we see that there is great diversity among religionists about God’s expectations for them.<\/p>\n

Considering this diversity, it is no wonder that both Jews and Christians do not cry out like the Israelites as we see in verse 3.<\/p>\n

3.a\u00a0 ‘Why have we fasted, and thou seest it not? Why have we humbled<\/a> ourselves, and thou takest no knowledge of it?’<\/p>\n

COMMENTARY: This is Israel complaining to God about his failure to respond to their fasting. The people believe they have done what God wants by fasting and humbling\/afflicting themselves with their bodies. They are saying in effect that they have done what the literal law requires but God has not rewarded them for their religious works.<\/p>\n

There is no public evidence that either Jews or Christians are crying out like Israel to God for some action on his part in response to all their religious activity. We can assume that all organized religions are satisfied with God’s mediocre response to their religion. And so each denomination keeps plugging along doing the same rituals, singing the same hymns, preaching the same sermons and in general keeping their traditions without wondering why God does not take knowledge of them or their religious works.<\/p>\n

In the margins of the religious world, however, there is evidence that some religionists are asking why all their religious works do not produce greater results. The evidence is that people are dropping out of churches in record numbers.<\/p>\n

3.b Behold, in the day of your fast you seek your own pleasure<\/a>, and oppress all your workers.<\/p>\n

COMMENTARY: This is God speaking again to his people. He says that they are fasting to please themselves — not him. Their pleasure<\/a> is the rewards they receive from coreligionists who honor and praise them for practicing their religious righteousness (e.g. fasting, prayer, etc.) in a communal setting<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Oppressing all their workers is God’s criticism of religious leaders who force religious people in their congregations to rigidly obey Old\/First Covenant laws<\/a> given at Mount Sinai and other laws that they have added down through the ages. Religious leaders teach that obedience to the traditional rules and regulations<\/a> of their denomination are the religious standards of righteousness that must be obeyed in order to have favor with God. God says here that religious leaders oppress their congregants (i.e. workers) by holding up those standards for them to obey. In God’s eyes, forcing congregants to perform many religious works that God never ordered them to do equates with oppression.<\/p>\n

In the New Testament scriptures, these religious leaders are often called Judaizers<\/a> because they pressured converts to Christianity to continue obedience to the written law given on Mount Sinai. The term may also be applied to any religious leader who pressures someone to obey whatever religious laws, customs and traditions that apply to that religious leader’s particular brand of religion.<\/p>\n

God hates Judaizers and Nicolaitins<\/a> because they pressure people to obey religious laws<\/a>. They do not understand or preach the principles of the New Covenant<\/a> in which the law is written on the heart<\/a>.<\/p>\n

4 Behold, you fast only to quarrel and to fight and to hit with wicked fist. Fasting like yours this day will not make your voice to be heard on high.<\/p>\n

COMMENTARY: God uses the imagery of quarreling and fighting here to symbolize disagreement and contention between all religious organizations — both Jewish and Christian. Basically he is saying that their lack of agreement on the truth is why he does not listen to them. They all represent themselves as followers of God, but they are in fact Gods at War<\/a>. This wrongly represents God to a watching world as a house divided<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Fasting is used here as a symbol for all kinds of religious activity included in Defiled Religion<\/a>.*** He could also have said stop practicing your righteousness before men<\/a>, cease observing your religious laws<\/a> and your traditional holidays, festivals and feasts<\/a>, stop your Music, Singing and Dancing<\/a>, stop praying prayers that I do not hear<\/a>, quit speaking and praying in tongues<\/a>, don’t bring to me any more Sacrifices and Offerings <\/a>or\u00a0tithes.<\/a> Basically fasting is about resting\/ceasing from all kinds of religious activity.<\/p>\n

5 Is such the fast that I choose, a day for a man to humble himself? Is it to bow down his head like a rush, and to spread sackcloth and ashes under him? Will you call this a fast, and a day acceptable to the LORD?<\/p>\n

COMMENTARY: This is God speaking again to his people. He says that he will not hear their appeals for help because their religious activity is concentrated in to specific times with specific religious activities. He sees through the false\u00a0 represented in public worship activities and recognizes it as mere lip service while their hearts are far from him.<\/a><\/p>\n

God says that this kind of fasting and related worship activities (e.g. Displaying Your Righteousness Before Men<\/a>, Holidays, Festivals and Feasts,<\/a> Music, Singing and Dancing<\/a>, Sacrifices, Tithes and Offerings,\u00a0<\/a>Tithes,<\/a> and\u00a0Tabernacles, Temples, Altars, High Places and Pilgrimages <\/a>etc.) are not what he wants. To God, it is all religious work that he does not want and will not accept.<\/p>\n

6 “Is not this the fast that I choose: to loose the bonds of wickedness, to undo the thongs of the yoke, to let the oppressed go free, and to break every yoke?<\/p>\n

COMMENTARY: God is not impressed or\u00a0influenced\u00a0by outward religious displays. What God wants to see is loosing the bonds of wickedness and setting people free from legalistic religion that is represented in the temple system with all its rules and regulations that keep people in bondage to the “yoke” of religion.<\/p>\n

The term “yoke”\u00a0 is used in both the Old and New Testaments to describe bondage to Old\/First Covenant religion. We have discussed yoke in detail in<\/p>\n

7 Is it not to share your bread with the hungry, and bring the homeless poor into your house; when you see the naked, to cover him, and not to hide yourself from your own flesh?<\/p>\n

COMMENTARY: God wants Israel to take care of the spiritually poor (i.e. Old\/First Covenant religionists) — not to just act religious by fasting from food. In other words, he wants them to fast from organized religion and to help others do the same. This is the essence of setting the captives free<\/a>.<\/p>\n

8 Then shall your light break forth like the dawn, and your healing shall spring up speedily; your righteousness shall go before you, the glory of the LORD shall be your rear guard. 9 Then you shall call, and the LORD will answer; you shall cry, and he will say, Here I am.<\/p>\n

COMMENTARY:<\/p>\n

10 “If you take away from the midst of you the yoke, the pointing of the finger, and speaking wickedness, 10 if you pour yourself out for the hungry and satisfy the desire of the afflicted, then shall your light rise in the darkness and your gloom be as the noonday. 11 And the LORD will guide you continually, and satisfy your desire with good things, and make your bones strong; and you shall be like a watered garden, like a spring of water, whose waters fail not.<\/p>\n

COMMENTARY:\u00a0Israel has complained to God that their fasts have not produced any results. They wrongly think that doing the religious act of fasting is enough to influence God. Israel thinks it has humbled itself by submitting to bodily discomfort that comes from fasting. What we\u00a0learn here, however,\u00a0is that God is not interested in fasts of food and drink or other kinds of self abasement. What he is really interested in is setting people free from Old\/First Covenant religion so that they can become New Covenant disciples.<\/p>\n

The message\u00a0of this scripture may also be applied to churches. If God was not influenced by Israel’s religious activity, he will not be influenced by Christians’ religious activity either.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

THE FAST THAT GOD CHOOSES<\/strong>
\nThere are\u00a0fasts that are acceptable to God and fasts that are not acceptable just like there is prayer that God hears and prayer that he does not hear.<\/p>\n

AUTHORS’ NOTE: see When God Does Not Hear Prayer<\/a>\u00a0and When God Does Hear Prayer.<\/a><\/p>\n

There are several scriptural examples of apparent effective prayer and fasting<\/a>.\u00a0 A literal reading of these scriptures appears to indicate that fasts which are called by leaders are public fasts\u00a0and that they will always be effective. Couple this with the fact that God prescribes fasting in certain situations, a casual reader will conclude that God has actually given laws about fasting. Such an interpretation is misleading, however, because it ignores that certain conditions must be in place before God will honor it. For example, effective fasting is coupled with humility, repentance and concern for the spiritual condition of others.<\/a><\/p>\n

\n

Ineffective fasting occurs when it is prescribed on certain schedules and with certain parameters\u00a0as to what can be eaten and when it can be eaten.\u00a0When the timing and terms of fasting are prescribed by\u00a0religious leaders, even Christians and Jews, the practice is\u00a0in effect a law\u00a0or a regulation that is designed by men and not a result of following the Spirit of God.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

<\/p>\n

FASTING IN THE NEW TESTAMENT<\/strong>
\nThe New Testament appears to justify and even prescribe fasting because Jesus fasted and appears to command others to fast as we read in the following scriptures:<\/p>\n

Matthew 4:1-7<\/a> 1<\/span> Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. <\/span> 2<\/span> And after He had fasted forty days and forty nights, He then became hungry. <\/span><\/p>\n

COMMENTARY: Most Christians who read this will conclude fasting is a Christ-like thing to do. The thinking might be “If Jesus did it, then it must be OK for me to do also.” This kind of rationale makes perfect sense for Old\/First Covenant religionists who read and interpret the Bible literally. It is totally wrong thinking, however, for New Covenant disciples.<\/p>\n

As the one who fulfilled the God’s spiritual laws<\/a>, Jesus would not fast from natural food or drink. He understood that the kind of fasting God recognized and accepted <\/a>was fasting from Old\/First Covenant religion.<\/p>\n

3<\/span> And the tempter came and said to Him, “If You are the Son of God, command that these stones become bread.” <\/span> 4<\/span> But He answered and said, “It is written, ‘MAN SHALL NOT LIVE ON BREAD ALONE, BUT ON EVERY WORD THAT PROCEEDS OUT OF THE MOUTH OF GOD.’ “<\/span> <\/span> 5<\/span> Then the devil took Him into the holy city and had Him stand on the pinnacle of the temple, <\/span> 6<\/span> and said to Him, “If You are the Son of God, throw Yourself down; for it is written, ‘HE WILL COMMAND HIS ANGELS CONCERNING YOU’; and ‘ON their HANDS THEY WILL BEAR YOU UP, SO THAT YOU WILL NOT STRIKE YOUR FOOT AGAINST A STONE.’ ” <\/span> 7<\/span> Jesus said to him, “On the other hand, it is written, ‘YOU SHALL NOT PUT THE LORD YOUR GOD TO THE TEST.’ “<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Matthew 6:16-21<\/a>\u00a0 “<\/a>Whenever you fast<\/span>, do not put<\/span> on a gloomy<\/span> face<\/span> as the hypocrites<\/span> do, for they neglect<\/span> their appearance<\/span> so<\/span> that they will be noticed<\/span> by men<\/span> when they are fasting<\/span>. Truly<\/span> I say<\/span> to you, they have<\/span> their reward<\/span> in full<\/span>.\u00a0<\/span> will be full<\/span> of light<\/span>.<\/span> <\/span>
\n<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

COMMENTARY: At first glance, this appears to be an endorsement of conventional fasting by Jesus. Rather than endorse or command fasting, however, Jesus rebukes the practice as a fleshly, hypocritical, religious activity that people do so that they can receive praise (i.e. reward) from men for their spiritual works.<\/p>\n

17<\/span> “But you, when you fast<\/span>, anoint<\/span> your head<\/span> and wash<\/span> your face<\/span> <\/span> 18<\/span> so<\/span> that your fasting<\/span> will not be noticed<\/span> by men<\/span>, but by your Father<\/span> who<\/span> is in secret<\/span>; and your Father<\/span> who<\/span> sees<\/span> what is done in secret<\/span> will reward<\/span> you. <\/span> <\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

COMMENTARY: Since fasting is a matter of the heart, it should not be reflect it in our physical bodies.<\/p>\n

19<\/span> “Do not store<\/span> up for yourselves<\/span> treasures<\/span> on earth<\/span>, where<\/span> moth<\/span> and rust<\/span> destroy<\/span>, and where<\/span> thieves<\/span> break<\/span> in and steal<\/span>. <\/span> 20<\/span> “But store<\/span> up for yourselves<\/span> treasures<\/span> in heaven<\/span>, where<\/span> neither<\/span> moth<\/span> nor<\/span> rust<\/span> destroys<\/span>, and where<\/span> thieves<\/span> do not break<\/span> in or<\/span> steal<\/span>; <\/span> 21<\/span> for where<\/span> your treasure<\/span> is, there<\/span> your heart<\/span> will be also<\/span>. <\/span> <\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

COMMENTARY: People who boast about their fasting practices, or even announce that they have fasted or intend to fast are storing up treasures on earth that do not last. The treasures are the praise and admiration of coreligionists\u00a0 who consider the one who fasts to be extra spiritual and close to God. Thus fasting, along with observance of other religious traditions specified in the laws governing the religious community, earns acceptance by the community. When this happens, the religious community becomes a place of refuge, which, in God’s eyes, is equated as another god because God alone should be our refuge.<\/a><\/p>\n

These are all features of Old\/First Covenant religion which will not survive unless religionists reward each other with praise, admiration, and, in the case of religious leaders, financial rewards, for the religious works that they do. Anyone who is a part of a religious community knows that these rewards may be withdrawn as soon as someone fails to faithfully observe all the religious law laws that hold the community together.<\/p>\n

Verse 20 advises to store up spiritual treasures in the Kingdom of Heaven which is within them — not in the World of Religion<\/a>. It says, in effect, that this kind of treasure is totally secure because it is spiritually established by God who never changes.<\/p>\n

Verse 21 ties spiritual fasting and spiritual treasures to the New Covenant because “heart” is a code word for New Covenant.<\/p>\n

Matthew 17:14-21<\/a>: When they came to the crowd, a man came up to Jesus, falling on his knees before Him and saying, <\/span> 15<\/span> “Lord, have mercy on my son, for he is a lunatic and is very ill ; for he often falls into the fire and often into the water. <\/span> 16<\/span> “I brought him to Your disciples, and they could not cure him.” <\/span> 17<\/span> And Jesus answered and said, “You unbelieving and perverted generation, how long shall I be with you? How long shall I put up with you? Bring him here to Me.”<\/span> <\/span> 18<\/span> And Jesus rebuked him, and the demon came out of him, and the boy was cured at once . <\/span> 19<\/span> Then the disciples came to Jesus privately and said, “Why could we not drive it out?” <\/span> 20<\/span> And He said to them, “Because of the littleness of your faith; for truly I say to you, if you have faith the size of a mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move; and nothing will be impossible to you.<\/span> <\/span> 21<\/span> [“But this kind does not go out except by prayer and fasting.”<\/span>] <\/span><\/p>\n

On the other hand, the legitimacy of fasting also appears to be offset, and even reversed, in the following scriptures where we find that Jesus’ disciples did not fast:<\/p>\n

Matthew 9:14-15<\/a>,\u00a0Mark 2:18-20<\/a>, Luke 5:33-35<\/a>\u00a0 Then the disciples of John came to him, saying, “Why do we and the Pharisees fast, but your disciples do not fast?” 15 And Jesus said to them, “Can the wedding guests mourn as long as the bridegroom is with them? The days will come, when the bridegroom is taken away from them, and then they will fast.<\/p>\n

COMMENTARY: Jesus is the bridegroom. As we reported in Jesus is also symbolic of the New Covenant. So when Jesus says that the bridegroom is with them, he means that they are New Covenant disciples. New Covenant disciples have no need to fast. If they should slip back into Old\/First Covenant religion (i.e. the bridegroom is taken away), however, they would again resort to legalistic fasting.<\/p>\n

There is no mourning for New Covenant disciples. This is one of the promises of the New Covenant in Revelation 21:1-7<\/a> about the new heaven and new earth which symbolizes the New Covenant.<\/p>\n

\u00a0This apparent contradiction is impossible to understand without a right understanding of what God really means by fasting.<\/p>\n

\u00a0Colossians 2:13-23<\/a>\u00a0 When you were <\/a>dead<\/span> <\/a>in your transgressions<\/span> and the uncircumcision<\/span> of your flesh<\/span>, He <\/a>made<\/span> you alive<\/span> together<\/span> with Him, having forgiven<\/span> us all<\/span> our transgressions<\/span>, <\/span> 14<\/span> having canceled<\/span> out <\/a>the certificate<\/span> of debt<\/span> consisting of decrees<\/span> against<\/span> us, which<\/span> was hostile<\/span> to us; and <\/a>He has taken<\/span> it out of the way<\/span>, having nailed<\/span> it to the cross<\/span>.<\/span><\/p>\n

COMMENTARY: This letter is to former Old\/First Covenant religionists who were spiritually dead but are now spiritually alive. In their former condition, they were physically circumcised, but they were not spiritually circumcised.<\/span><\/p>\n

Their debt to God existed because of their failure to keep the spiritual law of the New Covenant. The decrees were the consequences of sin itemized in Deuteronomy 28:15-68<\/a>. But once they repented for their Old\/First Covenant religious practices and became New Covenant disciples, the debt was cancelled.<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/span>15<\/span> When He had <\/span>disarmed<\/span> the rulers and authorities, He made a public display of them, having triumphed over them through Him. <\/span><\/p>\n

COMMENTARY: Rulers and authorities are not demonic entities. They are religious leaders.<\/p>\n

When religion Old\/First Covenant religionists become New Covenant disciples, religious leaders will be disarmed because they will no longer have jobs and positions from which they can function as false prophets<\/a> who rule their own, private kingdoms.<\/p>\n

16<\/span> Therefore<\/span> no<\/span> one<\/span> is to<\/span> <\/span>act as your judge in regard to food or drink or in respect to a festival or a new moon or a Sabbath day- <\/span> 17 things which ar<\/span>e <\/span>a mere shadow of what is to come; but the substance <\/span><\/a><\/span>belongs to Christ. <\/span><\/p>\n

COMMENTARY: Religion always puts subtle, and sometimes not so subtle, pressure on religionists to observe the rules, regulations and traditions of the religion. Enforcers may be religious leaders or friends or family, but they will use whatever influence they have to keep others fully engaged in the religion into which they were born or which they have adopted.<\/p>\n

Anyone who acts as a judge regarding food and other religious traditions functions as a pharisee who is responsible for maintaining those traditions. This scripture says that we should not allow ourselves to be influenced by such people.<\/p>\n

Verse 17 says that these religious traditions (e.g. food, drink, holidays, holy days, etc.) are only shadows of true spiritual life which is found in the New Covenant (i.e. Christ). God does not want people to only worship with shadowy worship which has no real substance which he calls xxxDefiled Religion<\/a> which always has a physical (i.e. fleshly) aspect to it. The only worship substance that God recognizes is xxxPure Religion<\/a> which is accomplished totally in the spirit without any fleshly involvement.<\/p>\n

18<\/span> Let no<\/span> one<\/span> keep <\/a><\/a>defrauding<\/span> you of your prize<\/span> by <\/a>delighting<\/span> in <\/a>self-abasement<\/span> and the worship<\/span> of the angels<\/span>, <\/a>taking<\/span> his stand<\/span> on visions he has seen<\/span>, <\/a><\/a>inflated<\/span> without<\/span> cause<\/span> by his <\/a>fleshly<\/span> mind<\/span>, <\/span> 19<\/span> and not holding<\/span> fast<\/span> to <\/a>the head<\/span>, from whom<\/span> <\/a>the entire<\/span> body<\/span>, being supplied<\/span> and held<\/span> together<\/span> by the joints<\/span> and <\/a>ligaments<\/span>, grows<\/span> with a growth<\/span> <\/a>which is from God<\/span>. <\/span> 20<\/span> <\/a>If<\/span> you have died<\/span> with Christ<\/span> <\/a>to the <\/a>elementary<\/span> principles<\/span> of the world<\/span>, <\/a>why<\/span>, as if<\/span> you were living<\/span> in the world<\/span>, do you submit<\/span> yourself to <\/a>decrees<\/span>, such as, <\/span> 21<\/span> “Do not handle<\/span>, do not taste<\/span>, do not touch<\/span>!” <\/span> 22<\/span> (which<\/span> all<\/span> refer <\/a>to things destined to perish<\/span> <\/a>with use<\/span> )-in accordance<\/span> with the <\/a>commandments<\/span> and teachings<\/span> of men<\/span>? <\/span> 23<\/span> These<\/span> are matters<\/span> which<\/span> have<\/span>, to be sure<\/span>, the <\/a>appearance<\/span> of wisdom<\/span> in <\/a><\/a>self-made<\/span> religion<\/span> and self-abasement<\/span> and <\/a>severe<\/span> treatment<\/span> of the body<\/span>, but are of no<\/span> value<\/span> against<\/span> <\/a>fleshly<\/span> indulgence<\/span>. <\/span><\/p>\n

COMMENTARY: New Covenant disciples have been set free from legalism of all kinds. This includes formal or informal rules and traditions handed down from religious leaders about a wide variety of religious matters such as fasting, attending church, communion, baptism and so on. These are self-made religious activities conceived by fleshly minds. They are the substance of xxxDefiled Religion<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Dying with Christ means to end being an Old\/First Covenant religionist who practices these traditions.<\/p>\n

Despite this freedom, New Covenant disciples might still be influenced to backslide into old religious habits — including fasting.<\/p>\n

Religious leaders who “call”\u00a0 for a fast by people who will follow their direction show that they are Old\/First Covenant religionists. They call for fasting because it fits with their literal interpretation of the Bible. They also do it because fasting has an aura of spirituality and they appear to be super spiritual when they issue a proclamation for people to fast. They are leading people into self abasement which verse 18 calls a dis-qualifier (i.e. from New Covenant status).<\/p>\n

Fasts have no positive effect on God. The New Covenant has no rules and regulations of any kind — including fasting. Fasting is a religious activity based on nothing more than superstition that says “if we deny ourselves by fasting, God will, or might, do what we want him to do.”<\/p>\n

Fasting is a kind of law. People invoke this law in especially difficult circumstances when they want God to do something miraculous to solve a problem. It is an unwritten law, but it is a law nonetheless, to fast and pray when trouble comes. See The Law <\/a>for understanding about religious laws and why they do not apply to New Covenant disciples.<\/p>\n

People who participate in such legalistic activities prescribed by men show that they have not really died to the elemental spirits mentioned in verse 20, that they still belong to the World of Religion <\/a>where men lead, and are not following the Spirit. They willfully choose to submit the “Do not handle, Do not taste, Do not touch”\u00a0regulations mentioned in verse 21.<\/p>\n

Fasting is included in the “do not …” category, because it involves not eating. God considers both doing and not doing to be religious, Old\/First Covenant practices. In doing this they deny the freedom they have from religious regulations.<\/p>\n

The “call” for\u00a0fasting and prayer reinforces the position and authority of religious leaders. It has the potential to separate people who are more spiritual from those who are less spiritual. It accrues religious esteem to those who recommend it and to those who practice it. In this sense it is divisive. This is a problem for God as\u00a0 revealed in this scripture:<\/p>\n

Romans 14:13-22<\/a>\u00a0Then let us no more pass judgment on one another, but rather decide never to put a stumbling block or hindrance in the way of a brother. 14 I know and am persuaded in the Lord Jesus that nothing is unclean in itself; but it is unclean for any one who thinks it unclean. 15 If your brother is being injured by what you eat, you are no longer walking in love. Do not let what you eat cause the ruin of one for whom Christ died. 16 So do not let your good be spoken of as evil. 17 For the kingdom of God is not food and drink but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit; 18 he who thus serves Christ is acceptable to God and approved by men. 19 Let us then pursue what makes for peace and for mutual upbuilding. 20 Do not, for the sake of food, destroy the work of God. Everything is indeed clean, but it is wrong for any one to make others fall by what he eats; 21 it is right not to eat meat or drink wine or do anything that makes your brother stumble. 22 The faith that you have, keep between yourself and God; happy is he who has no reason to judge himself for what he approves.<\/p>\n

COMMENTARY: Understanding of this scripture is possible only when it is understood that the concept of “clean and unclean” symbolically refers to good and evil. Thus fasting may be represented as clean, even though it does not satisfy the conditions for effective fasting which are described later in this page.<\/p>\n

Although this scripture is not primarily about fasting, it may be fairly applied to fasting because a call to fast by a religious leader may cause an immature believer to stumble. For example, people who know that they are under no legal obligation to fast may be criticized for failure to fast. Such failure may be seen by other religionists as spiritual backsliding or immaturity. Under such pressure, the one who declined to fast because it is a legalistic command from a religious leader might lose favor within the religious community and\u00a0be offended by such treatment. Alternatively, one who might want to resist fasting because it is a legalistic command may choose to fast anyway so as to gain acceptance within the religious community and\u00a0thus offend\u00a0God due to hypocrisy.\u00a0Either way the one who fasts loses.<\/p>\n

Worse yet, perhaps, is the possibility that fasting is established in the minds of people as a kind of righteousness that is achieved by\u00a0religious works that are accomplished through the body and not by the Spirit. Verse 17 says that the kingdom of God is not about food and drink. Therefore, to say that righteousness might be obtained by declining to eat or drink is misleading to immature believers.<\/p>\n

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FASTING AND MOURNING<\/strong>
\nIn the Old Testament, fasting is typically done in the context of mourning<\/a>. But we should not take that literally. Therefore, we need to understand the symbolism of mourning. As we typically find in Bible interpretation, we tend to apply the conventional interpretation to the Biblical meaning. Thus, in the case of mourning<\/a>, we default to visions of people crying because a death has occurred or because of impending death and\/or destruction. Our challenge is to understand how God uses these visions to represent his idea of mourning. Biblical associations with the natural concepts of mourning exist but the symbolic connections are hard to make.<\/p>\n

In both the Bible and life, mourning is associated with death that has already happened or is expected to happen soon. In the natural world we think of death of the physical body or something that is very dear to us. This includes people, objects, jobs, relationships, habits, or the loss of anything tangible or intangible that is life-giving for us and to which we are strongly attached physically, emotionally or spiritually (i.e. body, soul or spirit<\/a>). Regardless of what has died or is about to end, death always inspires some measure of mourning — sometimes to the point of tears.<\/p>\n

While God is not insensitive to any kind of loss which we may endure or anticipate, he is especially concerned with mourning over spiritual things. We should not be surprised at that since he is spirit and he is always working in the spiritual realm. Therefore, when it comes to mourning, God’s focus is on spiritual mourning.<\/p>\n

In the Bible, the spiritual mourning that is primarily in view is over the death of personal Old\/First Covenant religion in anticipation of the new life of a New Covenant disciple. Anyone who has ever been faced with the prospect of leaving a religious community, whether voluntarily or involuntarily, knows that this can be a very difficult transition. There is the breaking of long-held religious habits and traditions plus the thought of separation from friends and family who have not yet come to understand the difference between Old\/First Covenant religion and the New Covenant.<\/p>\n

AUTHORS’ NOTE: See Two Covenants<\/a> and all of its subordinate pages for understanding of the differences between\u00a0Old\/First Covenant religion and the New Covenant.<\/p>\n

Also see Death, Resurrection and New Life<\/a> for understanding of the death and resurrection process.<\/p>\n

The prospect of going through this spiritual death and resurrection process is as real and agonizing as dying physically.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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<\/a>REST<\/a><\/strong>
\nThe spiritual truth about fasting is best represented in the concept of rest. Fasting conveys the idea of going without something like food, water and sex that feed the body and arouse discomfort when the body goes without them for an extended period of time. This is exactly the kind of consequence that religious people experience when they try to go without practicing religion. And that is exactly why they need to fast\/rest from religion.<\/p>\n

Having built up a toxic dependence on religion, <\/a>religious people don’t feel quite right unless they get their daily, weekly, or seasonal dose of religion. In fact, the Bible says that religious people who don’t do their religious duties will be bothered in their conscience because religious gifts and sacrifices cannot make worshipers perfect in conscience<\/a>. And if they don’t worry about their relationship to God, they will worry that their fellow religionists will wonder if they are backsliding. These are powerful, guilt-producing influences that keep people devoted to religious activity. Thus people never get to the point that they are confident that they have done everything necessary to get to heaven after they die. And for lack of such confidence, they are enslaved to religion<\/a>. The simple remedy for this condition is rest, or fasting, from religion.<\/p>\n

Some deeply religious people might try to ease into resting\/fasting, because they do not want to draw attention to themselves by being absent from religious activities. This strategy is understandable, of course, because the toxicity of religion predicts that people will want to keep doing it.<\/p>\n

The big problem is fear of man. If people who might want to quit religion are afraid of what people will say, they do not trust what God has said about fearing man and trusting him.<\/a> The truth is that anyone who fears man and practices religion as a way of earning the praise of men<\/a> does not fear God. They fear rejection from men more than they fear rejection from God. It is that black and white. Thus, people who want to ease into resting\/fasting from religion, rather than doing cold turkey, are not ready for New Covenant life. Because they love their religious life they hang onto it<\/a>. If that is what they want, that is what God allows them to have. Having made that choice, they must spend more time in the wilderness of legalistic religion.<\/a><\/p>\n

The cold turkey<\/a> strategy is best because no man can serve two masters<\/a>, and because a casual approach does not line up with loving God with all of our heart, mind, soul and strength<\/a>. Furthermore, because religion is idolatry, God, being jealous, does not tolerate even a little bit of idolatry<\/a>.<\/p>\n

God makes the point about a quick and decisive move away from religion when he says that failure to enter into his rest (i.e. fast from religion) today is the result of a hardened heart<\/a>. Because God does not strive with man forever, man should be careful that he does not test God’s patience<\/a> by being slow to quit religion.<\/p>\n

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WHAT TO DO WHILE FASTING AND RESTING<\/strong>
\nThe goal of fasting\/resting from religion is not to just do nothing. There is work to do but it is spiritual work — not religious work. Here is a short list:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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