Fast
Mt 6:16-18 "And when you fast, do not be like the hypocrites, of a sad face. For they disfigure their faces so that they may appear to men to fast. Truly I say to you, they have their reward.
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 in secret. And your Father who sees in secret shall reward you openly.
Mt 9:14-15 Then the disciples of John came to Him saying, "Why do we and the Pharisees fast often, but Your disciples do not fast?"
And Jesus said to them, "Can the sons of the bridechamber mourn as long as the bridegroom is with them? But the days will come when the bridegroom shall be taken away from them, and then they shall fast."
Mark 2:18-19 The disciples of John and those of the Pharisees were fasting. And they came and said to Him, "Why do John's disciples and those of the Pharisees fast, but your disciples do not fast?"
And Jesus said to them, "Can the sons of the bridechamber fast while the bridegroom is with them? As long as they have the bridegroom with them they cannot fast."
Luke 5:33-35 And they said to Him, "Why do John's disciples fast often and make prayers, and also the disciples of the Pharisees, but yours eat and drink?"
But He said to them, "Can you make the sons of the bridechamber fast while the bridegroom is with them? But the days will come when the bridegroom shall be taken away from them, and then they shall fast in those days."
"Fasting" held a different meaning then. One didn't eat breakfast or lunch and ate only after sundown of that day. The fast wasn't for diet or self-improvement, but to take time from ALL focus on the self and place focus on the Lord. It meant a sacrifice, a consideration of all God gave including every meal and prayer time in communion with Him. One fasted on the Sabbath so one was thinking of God, not the meal before or after contemplation. It may have had similar healthful effects as cleansing fasts today, but the stated purpose was obedience to God.
If we consider fasting, those rules should apply.
Along with our Lord's order not to tell anyone about it. His taboo on hypocrisy laces it's way through many of the commands. Making it worthy of much contemplation as well.
