In Matthew 6, Jesus turns to the spiritual discipline of fasting, one of the most overlooked and countercultural practices in Christian faith. Following his teaching on giving and prayer, Jesus warns against fasting as a performance designed to gain attention or religious status. In this video, we explore what Christian fasting is meant to accomplish, why it requires intentional self-denial, and how fasting can redirect our attention from physical desires toward God and our dependence on God’s provision.

This session also examines common misunderstandings about fasting, including using it to punish ourselves, follow religious peer pressure, or try to force God to answer our prayers. Jesus instead presents fasting as a private and purposeful spiritual practice—one that intensifies prayer, clarifies our desires, and draws us into deeper relationship with God. Like giving and prayer, fasting is ultimately about motivation: not performing for the empire or seeking human approval, but cultivating an authentic relationship with God within the kingdom community.