Expository sermon on fasting on Jesus' sermon on the Mount, Mathew 6:16 to 18

1. RIGHT SIDE OUT Part 3 – Fasting without hypocrisy, Three part series – Mathew 6:1 to 18 For this Sunday: Mathew 6:16 to 18

2. I – INTRODUCTION - Historical and Contextual background Mathew 5:21 to 48 - WHAT MEN BELIEVE . INSIDE MORAL RIGHTOUESNESS through 6 illustrations Mathew 6:1 to 18 focuses on the practice of the law, WHAT MEN DO. In here Jesus gives three illustrations to emphasize his point A.) Acts towards others (vs. 2 to 4) – Giving B.) Acts towards God (vs. 5 to 15) – Praying C.) Acts towards ourselves (16 to 18) – Fasting Once again Jesus here contrast the true teaching of God from the hypocritical, emphasis on the outside teaching of the Pharisees. This time he discusses OUTSIDE FORMAL RIGHTOUSNESS.

4. I – THE AUDIENCE OF PRAYER A.) Pretentious fasting “ Moreover when ye fast, be not, as the hypocrites, of a sad countenance: for they disfigure their faces, that they may appear unto men to fast. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward.” (vs. 16) "Ug sa magapuasa kamo, ayaw kamo pagpadayag nga masulob-on, ingon sa mga maut, kay sila magapadautdaut sa ilang mga nawong aron lang makita sa mga tawo nga sila nanagpuasa. Sa pagkatinuod, magaingon ako kaninyo, nga sila nakadawat na sa ilang balus.”

5. B.) Proper Fasting “ But thou, when thou fastest, anoint thine head, and wash thy face; That thou appear not unto men to fast, but unto thy Father which is in secret: and thy Father, which seeth in secret, shall reward thee openly.” (vs. 17 & 18) “ Apan ikaw, sa magapuasa ka, kina-hanglan manghiso ka hinoon sa imong ulo ug manghilam-os ka sa imong nawong,aron ang imong pagpuasa dili makita sa mga tawo kondili sa imong Amahan nga anaa sa tago; ug ang imong Amahan nga nagatan-aw sa tago magabalus kanimo.” (Cebuano)

6. A.) Instances of proper fasting in Scripture: 1.) Fasting is appropriate during times of sorrow (Psalm 35:13) (2 Chronicles 20:3) (Esther 4:16) (1 Kings 21:27) (Jonah 3:5,7) 2.) Fasting was sometimes associated with the receiving or proclaiming of special revelation from God (Daniel 9:2,3, 21 and 22) 3.) Fasting often accompanied the beginning of an important task or ministry (Mathew 4:1-11) (Acts 13:2,3)

7. B.) Necessities of biblical fasting 1.) Biblical fasting is linked with prayer. – You can pray without fasting, but you cannot fast biblically without praying. Fasting is an affirmation of intense prayer, an indication of a deep spiritual struggle before God. 2.) Fasting is always linked with a pure heart (Zechariah 7:5, 9,10)

8. Speak unto all the people of the land, and to the priests, saying, When ye fasted and mourned in the fifth and seventh month, even those seventy years, did ye at all fast unto me, even to me? . . . Thus speaketh the LORD of hosts, saying, Execute true judgment, and shew mercy and compassions every man to his brother: And oppress not the widow, nor the fatherless, the stranger, nor the poor; and let none of you imagine evil against his brother in your heart. (Zechariah 7:5, 9,10) Sultihi ang tanang katawohan sa yuta, ug ang mga sacerdote, nga magaingon: Sa pagpuasa ug sa pagbangotan ninyo sa ikalima ug sa ikapito ka bulan, bisan niining kapitoan ka tuig, nagpuasa ba gayud kamo kanako, bisan pa kanako? . . . Mao kini ang gisulti ni Jehova sa mga panon, nga nagaingon: Magpahamtang ka sa matuod nga paghukom, ug magpakita sa kalooy ug malomong pagbati ang tagsatagsa ka tawo sa iyang igsoon; Ug dili mo pagdaugdaugon ang mga balong babaye, ni ang mga ilo, ni ang dumuloong, ni ang kabus; ug bisan kinsa kaninyo ayaw pahunahunaa ug dautan batok sa iyang igsoon sulod sa iyang kasingkasing. (Cebuano)

9. B.) Necessities of biblical fasting 1.) Biblical fasting is linked with prayer. – You can pray without fasting, but you cannot fast biblically without praying. Fasting is an affirmation of intense prayer, an indication of a deep spiritual struggle before God. 2.) Fasting is always linked with a pure heart (Zechariah 7:5, 9,10) 3.) Biblical fasting should always be in secret (vs. 18 )