PER098

The Sermon on the Mount (14): fasting

The article analyses the Sermon on the Mount, in which Jesus criticises the Pharisees' religious formalism. It stresses the importance of sincere and discreet motives when practising fasting and other religious acts.

12 min fasting hypocrisy Sermon on the Mount 20 verses 3 books

Resources

You can consult:

Biblical texts

Matthew

Matthew 6.16-18 (King James Version)

Moreover when ye fast, be not, as the hypocrites, of a sad countenance: for they disfigure their faces, that they may appear unto men to fast. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward.

But thou, when thou fastest, anoint thine head, and wash thy face;

That thou appear not unto men to fast, but unto thy Father which is in secret: and thy Father, which seeth in secret, shall reward thee openly.

King James Version (1769), domaine public — texte : eBible.org

Mark

Mark (King James Version) not cited in the book

Luke

Luke (King James Version) not cited in the book

John

John (King James Version) not cited in the book

Technical details

Location: On the plateau below a mountain near Capernaum in Galilee

Date: After the Passover pilgrimage to Jerusalem on April 5, AD 31

Method: We continue with Matthew

Note on the approach: Matthew alone addressed this subject during this great discourse.

Jesus the Messiah's criticism of religious formalism, particularly concerning the practice of fasting.

The Sermon on the Mount: fasting

Comments

We are examining the Sermon on the Mount, divided into 23 sections.

Fasting is the third example Jesus mentions to denounce the hypocrisy of the . As with offering and prayer, he criticises those who practise their rites solely to attract attention. This passage emphasises the attitude of the person fasting rather than fasting itself: every action must be discreet, without seeking to impress.

In the three examples of the righteousness of the , Jesus follows a similar pattern. For almsgiving (Matthew 6.1-4), prayer (Matthew 6.5-15) and fasting (Matthew 6.16-18), he denounces hypocrisy (Matthew 6.2, Matthew 6.5, Matthew 6.16), criticises public display (Matthew 6.1-2, Matthew 6.5, Matthew 6.16), emphasises the importance of secret actions (Matthew 6.4, Matthew 6.6, Matthew 6.18), and concludes by mentioning that the Father sees and rewards these acts (Matthew 6.4, Matthew 6.6, Matthew 6.8, Matthew 6.18).

A person's relationship with God must remain personal and is no one else's business. Jesus never questioned the value of fasting but denounced religious formalism. In various confrontations with the (Matthew 9.14-15, Mark 2.18-20, Luke 5.33-35), it is clear that Jesus wanted every action done discreetly, out of genuine need rather than mere formalism, between the disciple and God, who will know how to reward it.

Le sermon sur la montagne (14), le jeûne. L'article analyse le Sermon sur la montagne, où Jésus critique le formalisme religieux des pharisiens. Il insiste sur l'importance de motivations sincères et discrètes lors de la pratique du jeûne et d'autres actes religieux. Commentaires. Nous examinons le sermon sur la montagne, divisé en 23 sections. Le jeûne est le troisième exemple que Jésus mentionne pour dénoncer l'hypocrisie des pharisiens. Comme pour l'offrande et la prière, il critique ceux qui pratiquent leurs rites uniquement pour attirer l'attention. Ce passage souligne l'importance de l'attitude du jeûneur plutôt que le jeûne lui-même : chaque action doit être discrète, sans chercher à impressionner. Dans les trois exemples de justice des pharisiens, Jésus suit un schéma similaire. Pour les aumônes (Matthieu 6, versets 1 à 4), la prière (Matthieu 6, versets 5 à 15) et le jeûne (Matthieu 6, versets 16 à 18), il dénonce l’hypocrisie (Matthieu 6, verset 2, Matthieu 6, verset 5, Matthieu 6, verset 16), critique l’étalage public (Matthieu 6, versets 1 à 2, Matthieu 6, verset 5, Matthieu 6, verset 16), souligne l'importance des actions secrètes (Matthieu 6, verset 4, Matthieu 6, verset 6, Matthieu 6, verset 18), et conclut en mentionnant que le Père voit et récompense ces actes (Matthieu 6, verset 4, Matthieu 6, verset 6, Matthieu 6, verset 8, Matthieu 6, verset 18). La relation d'une personne avec Dieu doit demeurer personnelle et n'est l'affaire de personne d'autre. Jésus n'a jamais remis en question la valeur du jeûne, mais a dénoncé le formalisme religieux. Dans diverses confrontations avec les pharisiens (Matthieu 9, versets 14 à 15, Marc 2, versets 18 à 20, Luc 5, versets 33 à 35), il est évident que Jésus souhaitait que toute action soit accomplie discrètement, non par pur formalisme mais par besoin authentique, entre le disciple et Dieu, qui saura le récompenser.