Mat 6:16 | MHM | STEP | The Sermon on the Mount Here, Jesus teaches about fasting and warns against doing it for show. Like with giving to the poor and prayer, Jesus wants our fasting to be sincere and private, not for getting attention from others. True fasting is a way to humble ourselves before God and bring our hearts closer to him, not a way to impress people. v. 16 : Jesus expects his followers to fast sometimes, especially when they feel a need to seek God more seriously or when they are sad or troubled (Matthew 9:15 ). Fasting is helpful to humble ourselves and to make us more focused in prayer. Early Christians and faithful Jews fasted often (Luke 18:12; Acts 10:30 ; Acts 13:3 ). But fasting is not about making ourselves look sad or important. It is about humbling our hearts and drawing near to God. The Pharisees fasted to look holy, but Jesus warns against this kind of pride.

‏ Matthew 6:16

The Sermon on the Mount

Here, Jesus teaches about fasting and warns against doing it for show. Like with giving to the poor and prayer, Jesus wants our fasting to be sincere and private, not for getting attention from others. True fasting is a way to humble ourselves before God and bring our hearts closer to him, not a way to impress people.

v. 16: Jesus expects his followers to fast sometimes, especially when they feel a need to seek God more seriously or when they are sad or troubled (Matthew 9:15 ^a). Fasting is helpful to humble ourselves and to make us more focused in prayer. Early Christians and faithful Jews fasted often (Luke 18:12; Acts 10:30 ^b; Acts 13:3 ^c). But fasting is not about making ourselves look sad or important. It is about humbling our hearts and drawing near to God. The Pharisees fasted to look holy, but Jesus warns against this kind of pride.