No need to fast to atone for sins (Jesus did)

The Jews fasted on the Day of Atonement in particular.

This fast was instituted after the death of Aaron's sons, who had appeared before God drunk.

Before that, Moses entered the tent every day and saw God face to face.

"7 Moses took the tent and pitched it for himself outside the camp, some distance away; he called it the Tent of Meeting; whoever wanted to consult the LORD went out to the Tent of Meeting, which was outside the camp. 8 When Moses went out to the tent, all the people got up; everyone stood at the door of his tent and watched Moses until he went into the tent. 9 When Moses went into the tent, the pillar of cloud came down and stopped at the door of the tent; then he talked with Moses. 10 All the people saw the pillar of cloud come to rest at the door of the tent; then all the people got up and worshipped, every man at the door of his tent. 11 The LORD spoke to Moses face to face, as a man speaks to his friend. Then he returned to the camp; but his helper, young Joshua son of Nun, did not move from inside the tent." (Exodus 33:7-11 NBS)

"1 The LORD spoke to Moses after the death of the two sons of Aaron who came before the LORD and died. 2 The LORD said to Moses, 'Speak to Aaron your brother, so that he may not enter the sanctuary at any time, inside, beyond the veil, before the atonement which is on the Chest; so that he may not die; for I will appear in the cloud above the atonement." (Leviticus 16:1-2 NBS)

"This will be a perpetual law for you. In the seventh month, on the tenth day of the month, you shall fast, and do no work, neither the citizen nor the stranger who dwells among you." (Leviticus 16:29 Jer)

Fasting here was associated with the forgiveness of sins. It helped the people to remember the separation between themselves and God.

Jesus came to take away our sins. He shed his blood on God's altar, and we are now reconciled to him. We have free access to his presence.

"Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace for help in time of need." (Hebrews 4:16 NBS)

No more fasting out of tradition, habit, or duty.

1 In the fourth year of King Darius (the word of Yahweh came to Zechariah), on the fourth day of the ninth month, in the month Kisleu, 2 Bethel-Sar-Ezer, the king's chief officer, and his men sent a delegation to appease the face of Yahweh, 3 and to say to the priests attached to the Temple, and to the prophets, "Shall I weep in the fifth month, doing abstinence as I have done so many years already?" "4 Then the word of Yahweh Sabaot came to me, saying: 5 "Say to all the people of the land and to the priests, 'When you fasted and wailed in the fifth and seventh months for seventy years already, was it for my sake that you multiplied your fasts?" (Zechariah 7:1-5 Jer)

God reproached his people for fasting without love.

A ritual fast, without love, without seeking a heart-to-heart relationship with God.

The people imposed fasts on themselves, but it was fruitless.

Tradition, empty religiosity, is useless.

Fasting is no longer necessary to rise close to God.

"10 Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. 11 The Pharisee stood and prayed to himself: "O God, I thank you that I am not like the rest of men, who are greedy, unjust, adulterous, or like that tax collector: 12 I fast twice a week, I give tithes of all my income". 13 But the tax collector stood at a distance, not even daring to look up to heaven, but beating his breast and saying, "O God, have pity on me, a sinner! 14 Well, I tell you, it was this one who went home justified, rather than that one. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but he who humbles himself will be exalted." (Luke 18:10-14 NBS)

No outward practice can bring us holiness or righteousness.

It is in Jesus that we find salvation, holiness, and wisdom.

"Through him you are in Christ Jesus, who was made for us not only wisdom from God, but also righteousness, consecration and redemption" (1 Corinthians 1:30 NBS).

I invite you to thank God for his salvation, for the atonement for your sins through the blood of Jesus, and for the free access you have into his presence.

Jesus says we should no longer fast like the Pharisees, but fast anyway.

So how do we fast?

That's what we'll see tomorrow.

David Théry