Who are you fasting for?

Even if it seems surprisingly, many people fast to show to others how religious they are, that they respect the traditions, etc. A wrong opinion was spread since old times, according to which it is thought that people who fast are more spiritual than those who don’t fast. So, some that have an outside religion fast only to show to others how religious they are. The Lord Jesus Christ said in the Sermon on the Mountain:

Whenever you fast, do not put on a gloomy face as the hypocrites do, for they neglect their appearance so that they will be noticed by men when they are fasting Truly I say to you, they have their reward in full. But you, when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face so that your fasting will not be noticed by men, but by your Father who is in secret; and your Father who sees what is done in secret will reward you. (the Gospel of Matthew 6:16–18)(NASB)

Do you respect the fast? When did you fast the last time? What is the reason of your fast? Why do you fast?

Translated by Djugostran Felicia