Giving to Needy, Praying and Fasting (Mosaic and New Covenant Part 3)

Giving to the Needy, Praying and Fasting (Mosaic and New Covenant Part 3)

Matthew 6:1-18; Luke 11:2-4

I didn’t know where the study would lead when I posed the question, “Did Jesus command any of the Mosaic Laws in his own words using the Red Letter Version of scripture?” I have been studying each topic extensively. I’m being led by the Spirit and pray I can present a concise but tight explanation of my study. I am using my NIV Study Bible, my late grandfather’s NKJV complete concordance and I read many different versions on my Bible App. This is a large undertaking, but by no means an exhaustive study. It is huge, but “I’m love’n every minute of it.” I also reserve the right to say, "Hey, I learned something else about .... in part ...!" The Word is active and alive so I'm sure I will learn more over and over. Sorry this is so long. I DO try to keep it brief. 

Today’s focus is on Jesus’ words in Matthew 6:1-18. The three topics are giving to the needy, praying and fasting. There are two common threads for each: 1) Jesus says, “When you [give, pray, fast]…”. We know Jesus is expecting us to do each (keep reading to find our why he expects it. Is it a rule or a heart issue?). 2) Jesus says, for each, “Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you,” (6:4,6,18). The secret part is not for deception. It shows that you want to be anonymous with no recognition for giving, praying or fasting from others. Doing these in secret acknowledges motives from the heart that are not based on a selfish ambition or acknowledgement.

Giving to Needy

Jesus does not command that we give to the needy, but knows people that love their neighbor will act from their compassionate heart so He says, “When you give.…” He does not give rules about times, amounts or items. Moses recites the law in Deuteronomy 15:7-11 that tells the people that the poor will always be with you so give freely. Jesus stated that truth in the same words in Matthew 26:11 and Mark 14:7, “The poor you will always have with you and you can help them any time you want. But you will not always have me.”

A perfect example of giving is Jesus’ teaching in Luke 10:30-37 entitled the Good Samaritan. Jesus says the man who was robbed was half dead. The priest passed by probably because he was adhering to the Law in Leviticus 21 that says priest may not make themselves ceremonially unclean because of a dead body. The Levite passed by also probably for the same reason. It is interesting that the two religious people did not do anything because they were following the Law. The person who was hated by society, the Samaritan, was commended for being the neighbor. He gave of his resources, he gave aid, he gave time, he gave money and he gave a promise. The Samaritan’s actions describe that the words of Jesus and his teachings trump the Law sometimes. Love should trump the Law. Jesus tells the experts in the law to “Go and do likewise.” 

Praying

Jesus does not command prayer, but knows people will pray when He says, “When you pray…” However, He does not make laws about when, where, why and how many times you should pray. He gives individuals free will to show what is in their heart. 

There are two Mosaic Laws in the list by Tracey R. Rich that I discussed in Part 1.(www.jewfaq.org/613) #22 and #24 refer to prayer. However, in the Bible, the word pray is not used for either and Mr. Rich acknowledges that. The Bible used serve and praise in the KJV and the NIV. So, serve, praise and pray combined are in the Bible over 1100 times. They are all very similar and used for the same purpose: to glorify and communicate with God. It was customary to pray three times a day toward Jerusalem. Daniel did it. It is mentioned in Psalm 55:17 and Peter went to the roof to pray about noon. Prayer is important and is how we communicate with the Lord. It was the very first wireless connection, by the way. 

Jesus describes a person who prays with wrong motives and explains it is inconsistent with a heart for the Lord. Jesus gives the people an example of prayer. Jesus expanded what was written and told people to “pray for people who persecute and mistreat them” (Mt 5:44). This would show what was really in their heart. Jesus went alone and prayed many times and when his disciples asked him to teach them how to pray, he did in Luke 11. 

Jesus tells a parable about prayer in Luke 18. The parable explains that God is not like the unworthy judge who only deals with a helpless individual when compelled by persistence. Jesus explains God will not delay his support and he will answer the prayers of his chosen ones. Jesus says, “God will bring about justice for his chosen ones who cry out to him day and night.” (Luke 18:7) Persistence in prayer is the concept Jesus wanted his followers to understand.

Fasting

Jesus does not command fasting, but it is implied that people will fast when He says, “When you fast…” Even so, He does not make laws about when, where, why and how many times to fast. He leaves that up to the individual and their relationship with the Lord about the matter. The Mosaic Law only commanded fasting one day a year during the Day of Atonement (#133 and #134)? Sometime after the Babylonian exile there were four days a year to fast (mentioned below). In Jesus’ day, the Pharisees fasted twice a week on Monday and Thursday. (That is more than 100 a year!)

Both commands about fasting in the Old Law were in regard to Yom Kippur which is the Day of Atonement. I read that Yom Kippur was “a time to afflict your soul and atone for sins of the year. This is your last appeal, your last chance to change the judgement, to demonstrate your repentance and make amends.” I believe fasting for atonement on Yom Kippur is no longer required (but you can if you feel you should in your heart; Romans 14) because Jesus transitioned old to new. He atoned for our sins, he appealed to God with his own blood, he made amends for us and he took our judgement upon himself on the cross. Jesus did not do this for us to gain our Salvation by works and rules; He did this so the free gift of Salvation could be freely given...DONE! I acknowledge my sinfulness, I examine myself, I refocus and recommit every morning (or I strive to) and with my congregation on Sunday when I participate in communion—remembering his broken body and blood for me.

The four fasts mentioned in Zechariah: 4th month— fast that lamented the breaching of the wall of Jerusalem by Nebuchadnezzar; 5th month— commemorated the burning of the temple; 7th month— marked anniversary of Gedaliah’s assassination; 10th month— mourned the beginning of Nebuchadnezzar siege of Jerusalem. In Zech. 7:5 God tells Zech. to ask the people “Was it really for me that you fasted?” That implies it was not. 

Fasting is a way to humble yourself before the Lord (Ps 35:13). Fasting helps chasten/correct/discipline your soul (Ps69:10). It is good to humble yourself and correct and examine yourself. Fasting is also a way to intercede for others and shows you are willing to sacrifice your own needs to be in prayer for others. Isaiah 58:6 has an explanation of fasting. "Is not this the kink of fasting I [God] have chosen: loose the chains of injustice, untie the cords of the yoke, set the oppressed free, break every yoke? Share food with the hungry, provided wanderer with shelter, clothe naked, do not turn away from your own flesh and blood." Fasting can take many forma.  

Jesus brings a newness to fasting that cannot be confined in an old covenant form. The concept of fasting transcends and goes beyond the Law; it becomes a personal, heart issue based on one’s intimate relationship with God.

People fasted and prayed for the following reasons: 

1. when tribes have conflicts with other tribes Judges 20:26 (pubic calamities)
2. at death of special people 2 Samuel 1:12
3. sickness of a child 2 Samuel 12:16-22 (afflictions) 
4. interceding prayer for a friend Psalm 35:13
5. in prayer for self and adversaries Psalm 109:4
6. invasions 2 Chronicles 20:3
7. idolatrous marriages Ezra 10:6
8. for divine deliverance and and guidance
9. at times of conversions Acts 9:9
10. at times of consecrations Acts 14:23 
11. approaching danger

The Law did an important thing: it revealed the presence and fact of sin. Romans 7:7 “I would not have known what sin was had it not been for the law.” Jesus set aside the Mosaic Law to establish the New Covenant. Hebrews 10:9 says, “He set aside the first to establish the second.” The second is so much more than the first. Hebrews 7:18, "On one hand the former command is set aside because it was weak and useless, for the law made nothing perfect. On the other hand a better hope is introduced to which we draw near to God." Now, we know what grace is. Grace is so much more than law. And, just because we follow a new covenant now, that does not mean we act contrary to the old. The new expanded the old. Our life is not just a check list any more; life is lived by following the heart and the two greatest commands, "Love the Lord your God with all your heart, mind, strength and soul and love your neighbor as yourself," Matthew 22:37-39 And, in doing this, you will follow many of the Mosaic Laws because many were based on loving others, too. 

I hope you are seeing a shift from the Mosaic Law (check-it-off-your-list) to the New Covenant (live-from-your-heart). Jesus is not laying down a new fountain. He is expanding the expectations of the foundation from a check list (very legalistic) to a heart issue (very relational). The Old Covenant was handled by priest and mediators and many blood sacrifices at specific times of day, months and years because a barrier was between us and God. The New Covenant torn down the barrier, made our relationship with God personal through Jesus’ blood, once, to allow us to come to God at any time of day or night; 365 (and 366) days a year and in many ways that are unique to each of us.