In the New Testament, fasting is presented as a practice connected with prayer and serving God, but these texts establish no single standard for how often, on which days, or how to fast. Jesus says “when you fast” and teaches not to display fasting publicly; He says of His disciples that they will fast when the bridegroom is taken away, while in Acts believers pray with fasting when choosing ministers and sending them out to serve.
What Does the Bible Say About This?
- Jesus speaks of fasting as something His listeners do (“when you fast”) and instructs them not to display it publicly, like hypocrites with gloomy faces: fasting should be seen by the Father, who sees in secret, not by people (Matt. 6:16–18).
- Jesus is asked why John’s disciples and the Pharisees fast, but His disciples do not. He replies that while the bridegroom is with them, they do not mourn, but the days will come when the bridegroom will be taken away, and then they will fast (Matt. 9:14–15; the parallel account is in Mark 2:18–20).
- Acts 13:1–3: while the prophets and teachers in Antioch were serving the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit instructed them to set apart Barnabas and Saul; after fasting and praying and laying on of hands, they sent them out. This is an account of one event.
- Acts 14:23: after appointing elders in the churches, Paul and Barnabas prayed with fasting and entrusted them to the Lord. Luke 2:36–37 says that Anna served God with fastings and prayers night and day.
This brief answer was prepared by the editorial team; the verse texts are from the “Father’s Blessing” Bible.
Key Scriptures
7 Scriptures · Father’s Blessing Bible
Matthew 6:16–18
16 Also, when you fast, do not be gloomy like the hypocrites, for they disfigure their faces so that people may see that they are fasting. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward. 17 But when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face, 18 so that your fasting may not be seen by people but by your Father who is in secret; and your Father, who sees in secret, will reward you openly.
Matthew 9:14–15
14 Then John’s disciples came to Him, saying, Why do we and the Pharisees fast often, but Your disciples do not fast? 15 And Jesus said to them, Can the wedding guests mourn while the bridegroom is with them? But the days will come when the bridegroom will be taken away from them, and then they will fast.
Acts 13:1–3
1 Now in the church at Antioch there were prophets and teachers: Barnabas, Simeon called Niger, Lucius of Cyrene, Manaen, a close friend of Herod the tetrarch, and Saul. 2 While they were serving the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, Set apart for Me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them. 3 Then, after fasting and praying and laying hands on them, they sent them away.
Acts 14:23
Having appointed elders in each church, they prayed with fasting and committed them to the Lord, in whom they had believed.
Mark 2:18–20
18 John's disciples and the Pharisees were fasting. They came and said to Him, “Why do John's disciples and the Pharisees fast, but Your disciples do not fast?” 19 And Jesus said to them, “Can the friends of the bridegroom fast while the bridegroom is with them? As long as they have the bridegroom with them, they cannot fast. 20 But the days will come when the bridegroom will be taken away from them, and then they will fast in those days.”
Matthew 4:2
And He fasted forty days and forty nights, and afterward He was hungry.
Luke 2:36–37
36 There was also Anna, a prophetess, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was of a great age, having lived with her husband seven years from her virginity, 37 and was a widow of eighty-four years, who did not depart from the temple, but served God with fastings and prayers night and day.
