asting is one of those biblical themes that has gotten a lot of unwarranted bad press over the past couple of millennia.

Most of us look to Jesus' warnings about fasting (Matt. 6:16; Mark 2:19, 20) as an explanation of why we shouldn't fast. However, nowhere does Jesus say we shouldn't fast. He merely states that we shouldn't use it as an act of merit or as a means of appearing more virtuous or spiritual than the rest of our fellow Christians: "Do not look dismal, like the hypocrites, for they disfigure their faces so as to show others that they are fasting" (Matt. 6:16).*

Many instances prevail throughout the prophetic books, especially Isaiah (chap. 58), that show how fasting was abused. However, we also read of Esther, who asked her uncle and fellow Israelites to fast and pray for her as she prepared to approach the king on their behalf (Esther 4:16). And David, who fasted until his son died; then he ate, accepting that God's will had been accomplished and that, thus, there was no more need to approach God's throne through prayer and fasting for an answer (2 Sam. 12:21-23). Even the early Christians practiced the spiritual discipline of fasting on certain occasions (Acts 13:2, 3; 14:23).

Fasting is not commanded by Jesus. But if one chooses to fast for a brief period of time for the purpose of engaging in some intense spiritual activity, remember Jesus' words: "But when you fast, put oil on your head and wash your face, so that your fasting may be seen not by others but by your Father who is in secret" (Matt. 6:17, 18).

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*All Scripture texts in this article are taken from the New Revised Standard Version of the Bible.

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Bonita Shields is an assistant editor of the Adventist Review.