Are Christians Supposed to fast on the Sabbath?

The Sabbath is the day when we meet with God. It is the day of rest that God blessed and sanctified. (Genesis 2:2-3)

Fasting is a great way to get closer to God and understand better spiritual things.

The Bible tells us the flesh lusts against the spirit, and the spirit against the flesh because they are contrary one to another. (Galatians 5:17)

Thus, when we fast, we are more inclined to “tune into the spiritual things”.

The Sabbath is the perfect day to fast, pray, study the Scriptures, and get closer to God.

Table of Contents

What is the Sabbath?

The Sabbath is the day of rest that has been blessed and sanctified by God after the six literal creation days.

And on the seventh day God ended his work which he had made; and he rested on the seventh day from all his work which he had made.

And God blessed the seventh day, and sanctified it: because that in it he had rested from all his work which God created and made.
Genesis 2:2-3 KJV

It is also the fourth commandment of God!

Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy.

Six days shalt thou labour, and do all thy work:

But the seventh day is the sabbath of the LORD thy God: in it thou shalt not do any work, thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter, thy manservant, nor thy maidservant, nor thy cattle, nor thy stranger that is within thy gates:

For in six days the LORD made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and rested the seventh day: wherefore the LORD blessed the sabbath day, and hallowed it.
Exodus 20:8-11 KJV

It is the sign between God and His people!

Moreover also I gave them my sabbaths, to be a sign between me and them, that they might know that I am the LORD that sanctify them.
Ezekiel 20:12 KJV

It is the day when we have an appointment with God! A day when we can gather together to pray and study His Word!

What does the Bible say about fasting?

When we search the Scriptures, we do find many instances when fasting and prayer are used together.

When people are going through hard times and when they do not see any solution to their problems, fasting, and prayer are great weapons in this spiritual battle.

In the book of Esther, when Haman wanted to destroy the Jewish people, we find them fasting and weeping due to their distress.

And in every province, whithersoever the king’s commandment and his decree came, there was great mourning among the Jews, and fasting, and weeping, and wailing; and many lay in sackcloth and ashes.
Esther 4:3 KJV

The Prophet Daniel also used fasting and prayer in hard times.

And I set my face unto the Lord God, to seek by prayer and supplications, with fasting, and sackcloth, and ashes:
Daniel 9:3 KJV

Jesus Christ, before He began His Ministry on Earth, fasted for 40 days and 40 nights.

Being forty days tempted of the devil. And in those days he did eat nothing: and when they were ended, he afterward hungered.
Luke 4:2 KJV

In the book of Matthew, we also find a story about a child possessed by an evil spirit. The disciples tried to cast it out but they could not. (Matthew 17:14-18)

Then, when they asked Jesus why could they not cast the evil spirit out, He said to them:

Howbeit this kind goeth not out but by prayer and fasting.
Matthew 17:21

Conclusion

In conclusion, fasting is a great tool in the life of a Christian. While we do not find a specific commandment to fast on the Sabbath, if we feel so we can do it.

We need not wait for hard times to fast, but instead on the Sabbath, we can do so.

Because this is the day when we disconnect from the world, from work, shopping, and cooking, we can also fast to get closer to God.

Fasting is great for our spiritual life. When there is no blood in the stomach and intestines to digest food, there is more blood and oxygen available to the brain.

Thus, we can understand better the spiritual things, whether we study the Scriptures or pray.

If you never fasted, try it once for at least 24 hours. You will see that your prayer will have more power, and you will understand better the Word of God.

My Letter To A Sunday Keeper – Sabbath Documentary