What does the Bible say about fasting and prayer?
Bible Topic · WEB
The Bible teaches that fasting joined with prayer is a humble, voluntary way of seeking God, expressing repentance, dependence, and earnest desire for his will, not a means of earning his favor. Jesus commands sincerity rather than public display in Matthew 6:16-18. Joel calls God’s people to return to him with fasting and mourning, while Isaiah 58:6 shows that true fasting bears fruit in justice, mercy, and care for the oppressed. The early church prayed and fasted when worshiping, sending missionaries, and appointing elders in Acts 13:2-3 and Acts 14:23. Esther’s fast and Luke 2:37 also portray urgent, persevering reliance on God. Christians may fast wisely and willingly, trusting Christ alone for acceptance.
Top passages, ranked by readers
Rankings: OpenBible.info Topical Bible (CC BY) · Scripture: World English Bible
- Matthew 6:16-18
[16] "Moreover when you fast, don't be like the hypocrites, with sad faces. For they disfigure their faces, that they may be seen by men to be fasting. Most assuredly I tell you, they have received their reward. [17] But you, when you fast, anoint your head, and wash your face; [18] so that you are not seen by men to be fasting, but by your Father who is in secret, and your Father, who sees in secret, will reward you.
- Acts 14:23
When they had appointed elders for them in every assembly, and had prayed with fasting, they commended them to the Lord, on whom they had believed.
- Joel 2:12
"Yet even now," says Yahweh, "turn to me with all your heart, And with fasting, and with weeping, and with mourning."
- Mark 9:29
He said to them, "This kind can come out by nothing, except by prayer and fasting."
- Esther 4:16
Go, gather together all the Jews who are present in Shushan, and fast you for me, and neither eat nor drink three days, night or day: I also and my maidens will fast in like manner; and so will I go in to the king, which is not according to the law: and if I perish, I perish.
- Acts 13:2
As they served the Lord and fasted, the Holy Spirit said, "Separate Barnabas and Saul for me, for the work to which I have called them."
- Acts 13:3
Then, when they had fasted and prayed and laid their hands on them, they sent them away.
- Isaiah 58:6
Isn't this the fast that I have chosen: to loose the bonds of wickedness, to undo the bands of the yoke, and to let the oppressed go free, and that you break every yoke?
- Joel 1:14
Sanctify a fast. Call a solemn assembly. Gather the elders, And all the inhabitants of the land, to the house of Yahweh, your God, And cry to Yahweh.
- Luke 2:37
and she had been a widow for about eighty-four years), who didn't depart from the temple, worshipping with fastings and petitions night and day.
Related topics
Go deeper
Ask Explain Bible AI about fasting and prayer and get a fuller answer from a Reformed theological perspective.
Ask what the Bible says about fasting and prayer