SOTM 26—Fast

<p>For additional notes and resources check out Douglas’ <a href="https://www.douglasjacoby.com/som-26-fast/" target="_blank"><strong>website.</strong></a></p><p><strong>Moreover, when you fast, do not put on a sad face like the hypocrites. For they disfigure their faces so that they may appear to men to fast. Truly I say to you, they have their reward.</strong></p><p><strong>But you, when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face, so that you do not appear to men to fast, but to your Father who is in secret. And your Father, who sees in secret, will reward you openly (Matthew 6:16-18)</strong></p><p><strong>Introduction</strong></p><ul><li>Corporate fast days in Judaism—principally the Day of Atonement (“the Fast”), although the prophets refer to other fast days as well.</li><li>Jesus did not say, “<i>if</i> you fast,” but “<i>when </i>you fast.” He assumed that his followers would fast on a regular basis. </li><li>In addition to personal fasting, the early Christians collectively fasted on Wednesdays and Fridays. Didache 8.1 (ANF 1.379); Clement of Alexandria (ANF 2.544); Tertullian (ANF 4.109); Tertullian (ANF 4.112); Victorinus (ANF 7.341); and Peter of Alexandria (ANF 6.278). Wednesdays because it was on that day that Judas made his pact with the priests to betray Jesus (Victorinus, ANF 7.341; Peter of Alexandria, ANF 6.278; and Apostolic Constitutions, ANF 7.445). Fridays because Jesus died on that day (Tertullian, ANF 4.111). There were also occasional fasts for the whole church, as wise leadership decided (Tertullian, ANF 4.111.</li><li>The oil, or lotion, was part of daily hygiene. When we don't take care of ourselves, we draw others' sympathy or interest, thus undermining the point of the fast.</li></ul><p><strong>Different kinds of fasting</strong></p><ul><li>Some early Christians abstained totally from all food and drink.</li><li>Others took bread and water only.</li><li>In our day, we might fast from social media, or meat, or sweets.</li><li>But the early Christians turned their days of fasting i