Sermon Notes
Matthew 6:16–18 ESV
16 “And when you fast, do not look gloomy like the hypocrites, for they disfigure their faces that their fasting may be seen by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward. 17 But when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face, 18 that your fasting may not be seen by others but by your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.“
Matthew 9:14–17 NIV
14 Then John’s disciples came and asked him, “How is it that we and the Pharisees fast often, but your disciples do not fast?”
15 Jesus answered, “How can the guests of the bridegroom mourn while he is with them? The time will come when the bridegroom will be taken from them; then they will fast.
16 No one sews a patch of unshrunk cloth on an old garment, for the patch will pull away from the garment, making the tear worse. 17 Neither do people pour new wine into old wineskins. If they do, the skins will burst; the wine will run out and the wineskins will be ruined. No, they pour new wine into new wineskins, and both are preserved.”
Isaiah 58:9–10 NIV
9 Then you will call, and the Lord will answer; you will cry for help, and he will say: Here am I.
If you do away with the yoke of oppression, with the pointing finger and malicious talk, 10 and if you spend yourselves in behalf of the hungry and satisfy the needs of the oppressed, then your light will rise in the darkness, and your night will become like the noonday.
Matthew 4:1–4 NIV
1 Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. 2 After fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry. 3 The tempter came to him and said, “If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread.”
4 Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.’”
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Series Resources
Go deeper with additional resources from our teaching team.
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Discussion Igniters
(1) What is your experience with fasting?
(2) Read Matthew 6:1 and Matthew 6:16–18.
Have you ever considered fasting as a way to practice righteousness, the same as you would with prayer or giving to those in need?
(3) Why do you think it is important to fast?
(4) Read Matthew 9:14–17.
Why didn’t the disciples fast while Jesus was with them?
What does that tell us about fasting?
(5) How do you think practicing the discipline of fasting could impact your life?