Matthew 4:2

Thursday, 12 September 2024

And when He had fasted forty days and forty nights, afterward He was hungry. Matthew 4:2

“And, having fasted forty days and forty nights, afterward He hungered” (CG).

In the previous verse, it noted that Jesus was led by the Spirit into the desolate where He was to be tested by the Traducer. Next, it says, “And, having fasted.”

The word is nésteuó, to fast or abstain from food. Strong’s adds in a note that such a fast is connected to religion. In other words, it is a period of self-denial to meet a set religious purpose. This word concerning fasting is mentioned eighteen times in the gospels, speaking to Israel under the law. It is almost mentioned twice in Acts 13 –

“Now in the church that was at Antioch there were certain prophets and teachers: Barnabas, Simeon who was called Niger, Lucius of Cyrene, Manaen who had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch, and Saul. 2 As they ministered to the Lord and fasted [nésteuó], the Holy Spirit said, “Now separate to Me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.” 3 Then, having fasted [nésteuó] and prayed, and laid hands on them, they sent them away.” Acts 13:1-3

This same word, nésteuó, is also used in some manuscripts in 1 Corinthians 7:5. Of this Spirit-led but self-imposed fast, it next says that it was for “forty days and forty nights.”

The words are drawn in parallel to two accounts from the Old Testament. The first is when Moses fasted for this period on two separate occasions, found in Exodus 24:18 & again in 34:28. These periods are repeated in Deuteronomy 9:9-18. The second is at the time of Elijah in 1 Kings 19:8 as the prophet went to Horeb, the same location where Moses had twice fasted while receiving the law.

It is not uncommon to read that the number forty here is a round number. Unlike the number 10, which is at times used idiomatically to signify an indeterminate period or set of events, there is nothing to suggest this with the period now being set forth. The narrative indicates forty days and forty nights is the amount of time Jesus fasted. Stating both days and nights highlights this. This is especially so because it was not forty days where He broke His fast each evening, but an entire cycle of time inclusive of both days and nights.

In the parallel account in Luke, it notes that Jesus’ testing was throughout this entire period. There it says, “days forty being tested by the devil.” Therefore, what this appears to mean is that the fasting itself was a part of the testing. In both accounts, only after it notes that He was hungry is the active trial by the devil then noted.

Jesus was led by the Spirit into this time of testing, the entire time of which is a testing by the devil. Because of this, one can see the logical reason why translating the word peirazó from the previous verse as “test” rather than “tempt” is preferred. God does not tempt anyone to sin (James 1:13 – where the same word peirazó is used, but obviously with a different intended meaning). Jesus was tested during His Spirit-led time, and we likewise are tested in our lives at times.

Therefore, even if the devil tempted Jesus after His fasting, the entire period is better described as one of testing, not temptation. As for Jesus’ time of forty days and forty nights, it next says, “afterward He hungered.”

Such a fast would certainly lead to this state. But it was during this time of fasting that the miraculous nature of Christ and His being sustained by God is truly placed on prominent display. A human cannot normally exist without food and water for even a much shorter time. Without food, yes, but water is absolutely necessary to sustain us. However, God was miraculously sustaining Moses and Elijah, and He did this through Jesus as well.

As Moses is reflective of the law and Elijah is reflective of the prophets, each requiring God’s miraculous hand to sustain them, we are seeing Jesus, the fulfillment of the law and the prophets being sustained by the power of God in Christ to carry Him through what the law and prophets anticipated.

Life application: It is a common question for people to ask if fasting is required for believers. The answer must be, “No.” Though it is referred to in Scripture, and even though Jesus speaks of it as something that was commonly done, His words were to Israel, under the law. As such, those verses cannot be considered prescriptive for the church.

Likewise, in Acts, fasting is mentioned, but Acts is a descriptive account of what was occurring. It prescribes nothing. On the other hand, in the epistles – from where we are to derive our doctrine on such matters – fasting is never explicitly directed. It is mentioned once in 1 Corinthians 7:5 (in some manuscripts), but it is not a prescription. Rather, it is an allowance.

The other two times fasting is mentioned are in 2 Corinthians 6:5 and 11:27. Both are involuntary fasts. Paul was forced to fast because of a lack of food. Other than these three references, fasting is never addressed, and it is certainly not prescribed. As this is true, any fast you conduct – for whatever reason – is between you and the Lord, between you and your doctor, or between you and your spouse (as indicated in some manuscripts of 1 Corinthians 7:5).

If fasting is something that interests you, study up on it. A water diet, meaning a diet that consists of only drinking water for a set amount of time, is something that has benefitted many. The longest recorded water fast was by Angus Barbieri (1939 – 7 September 1990). He was a Scottish man who fasted for 382 days, from June 1965 to July 1966. He went from an immensely overweight and unhealthy person to a slimmed-down, healthy person in this manner. His fast, and many others, can be seen on YouTube or through general internet searches.

Study up on fasting, but: 1) It is not required according to a proper study of the New Testament. 2) It should never be mandated by a Christian leader. 3) If it is mandated by someone, you should consider not fellowshipping with that person any longer as this may lead to a form of tyrannical authoritarian leadership. 4) You will have to give up bacon. In the end, the pluses and minuses must be personally weighed.

Lord God, may our doctrine be set based on what Your word prescribes when taken in the proper context of what is being said. Help us to not get caught up in strange teachings that have nothing to do with a close and personal relationship with You. Instead, may we hold fast to Your word and be sound in our thinking in all ways. Amen.