Many Christians are unfamiliar with spiritual fasting. Some believe that fasting is an Old Testament tradition neither required nor relevant to the New Testament grace under which we now live. In truth, however, fasting is a necessary though underutilized spiritual discipline that Jesus addressed right along with giving and prayer (reference Matthew 6). Fasting was never replaced, rescinded, or superseded in the New Testament, and it is not just Old Testament legalism. Jesus came to fulfill the Old Testament, not to render it irrelevant. As Randy Alcorn so eloquently stated in Money, Possessions & Eternity, "Being under grace does not mean living by lower standards than the law." In fact, Jesus assumed that we believers would fast. Jesus said, "When you fast" (Matthew 6:16) not "if you fast".

The verses below emphasize that we are saved by grace, not by works. Fasting, like prayer, is a spiritual tool that believers should use not to earn righteousness but to embrace it.

"I do not set aside the grace of God, for if righteousness could be gained through the law, Christ died for nothing." (Galatians 2:21)

"For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking, but of righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit, because anyone who serves Christ in this way is pleasing to God and approved by men." (Romans 14:17-18)

"But food does not bring us near to God; we are no worse if we do not eat, and no better if we do." (1 Corinthians 8:8)

Fasting unto the Lord goes beyond rote, superficial sacrifice of food. Fasting unto the Lord, when done with the proper heart and the proper spirit, cleaves you to the Lord; everything on earth takes a back seat to worshiping and communing with your Heavenly Father. It is about "holding fast" to Him regardless of your circumstances (reference Deuteronomy 10:20, 11:22, 13:4, 30:20; Joshua 22:5, 23:8; 2 Kings 18:6; Psalm 119:31, 139:10; 1 Peter 5:12).

In Jeremiah 14:12, the Lord proclaims, "Although they fast, I will not listen to their cry." His refusal to listen to His people was based on their continued wickedness; their superficial sacrifice meant nothing because they persisted, unrepentant, in sinful behavior. Jesus, too, warned about fasting as an empty, perfunctory ritual. Jesus spoke to the Pharisees about hypocrisy and hardened hearts in Matthew 15:8-11, 18-20: "You hypocrites! Isaiah was right when he prophesied about you: 'These people honor Me with their lips, but their hearts are far from Me. They worship Me in vain; their teachings are but rules taught by men.' Jesus called the crowd to Him and said, 'Listen and understand. What goes into a man's mouth does not make him 'unclean', but what comes out of his mouth, that is what makes him 'unclean'. ... But the things that come out of the mouth come from the heart, and these make a man 'unclean'. For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false testimony, slander. These are what make a man 'unclean'. ..."

Below, in chronological order, is a representation of those who fasted in the Bible, but it is not a complete or exhaustive list.

Moses

(Exodus 34:28), in a 40-day radical fast (no food or water), sustained by the Lord as he received the 10 commandments

The Israelites

(Judges 20:26-27), in a corporate fast, to seek the Lord's guidance

(Nehemiah 9:1), in a corporate fast, confessing their sins and worshiping the Lord

(1 Samuel 7:6), led by Samuel in a corporate and intercessory fast, repenting for their sins

King David

(2 Samuel 12:16), in intercession for his ill son

(Psalm 35:13) in mourning and intercession for the illness of others

(Psalm 69:10) in humble repentance, asking God for personal mercy and restoration

Elijah

(1 Kings 19:8) in a 40-day radical fast, prompted and sustained by the Lord

Ezra

(Ezra 8:21-23), in humble petition before the Lord

Esther

(Esther 4:16), in a three-day fast, accompanied by fasting intercessors, as she sought the Lord's favor in interceding for the Jews

The Ninevites and the King of Nineveh

(Jonah 3:5-10), in a corporate fast, earnestly repenting of their evil ways

Jesus

(Matthew 4:2, Luke 4:2), in preparation for His earthly ministry

New Testament Leaders and Prophets

(Acts 13:1-3), in worship of the Lord before He instructed them to set apart Barnabus and Saul for His designated missionary appointment

Paul and Barnabus

(Acts 14:23), in committing the appointed church elders to the Lord