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.

Matthew 6:16

What is the motivation for doing what you do? This is really what Jesus is getting at, what is our motivation for fasting? Fasting is giving up food or other things for a short time to devote ourselves completely to God, help us focus on God’s will for our lives.

Often people fast during destress in their lives, junctures of roads in one life, where deep decisions are made that can’t be un-done. We are not called to make decisions lightly, we need to go to God with supplication, prayer and fasting. During this time we need to devote ourselves to reading God’s word and listening to wise counsel and teaching.

But here Jesus is giving us some insight to the human soul, you see it can become fashionable to fast. So the hypocrites, as Jesus calls them, would look sad and disfigure their faces so people know they are fasting, people would say “Look at him, he must be fasting” and “how spiritual he must be since he’s fasting”.

Jesus is telling us, look, if other people know what you are doing, that is your reward. You don’t care about God’s response, you probably aren’t even looking for it. You are looking for a response from people who will think your better than everyone else.

Lord, help me to keep an even keel external outward appearance, that when I do fast, it’s an issue between me and You alone. Help me not to seek the favor of men, but to seek Your Heart alone!