Lent Christian Season of Prayer and Fasting Overview
Lent is a Christian season of prayer and fasting that traditionally precedes Easter. While not explicitly commanded in the New Testament, the practices of prayer and fasting are deeply rooted in biblical tradition and are often connected [2].
The concept of fasting as a spiritual discipline appears throughout the Old Testament. For instance, the Day of Atonement in Leviticus 23:27 was a time when the Israelites were commanded to "afflict their souls," which was understood to include fasting [4]. Nehemiah 9 describes a day of general fasting and prayer where the people humbled themselves before God, confessed sins, and heard the reading of the law [3].
In the New Testament, Jesus himself practiced fasting and taught his followers about it. In Matthew 6:16-18, Jesus instructs his disciples on how to fast, emphasizing sincerity and avoiding outward displays of piety. He contrasts this with the "vain repetition of pagan prayers" and offers the Lord's Prayer as a model of simplicity [1, 2]. The connection between prayer and fasting is evident in various biblical passages [2].
The season of Lent typically lasts for forty days, recalling Jesus' forty days of fasting in the wilderness before beginning his public ministry (Matthew 4:1-11). This period is observed by many Christian denominations as a time for spiritual reflection, repentance, and preparation for the celebration of Easter. During Lent, believers often commit to giving up certain foods or habits, dedicating more time to prayer, and engaging in acts of charity. The focus is on drawing closer to God through self-denial and spiritual discipline.
Sources
- Matthew (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Matthew 6:9: 6:9-13 The Lord’s Prayer is similar in form to a common Jewish prayer (the qaddish). Jesus gave this prayer to his followers as a succinct expression of their new faith. 6:9 Pray like this: In contrast to the vain repetition of pagan prayers (6:7-8), “the Lord’s Prayer” is a model of simplicity. • Jews rarely addressed God as Father, but Jesus did so in every prayer but one (Mark 15:34). • may your name be kept holy: God’s name is profaned by the sin of his people (Isa 29:22-24; Jer 34:15-16; Ezek 39:7; Amos 2:7).”
- Matthew (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Matthew 6:16: 6:16 Prayer and fasting are frequently connected (Lev 23:27-32; Neh 9:1-2; Zech 7:3-5; 8:19; Luke 18:12). The practice had been abused before Jesus’ time (Isa 58:3-12).”
- Nehemiah (Lutheran) “Keil & Delitzsch on Nehemiah 9 (introduction): The day of general fasting and prayer. - On the twenty-fourth day of the month, i.e., two days after the termination of the feast of tabernacles, the children of Israel re-assembled in the temple to humble themselves before God with mourning and fasting, and, after the reading of the law, to confess their own sins and the sins of their fathers (Neh 9:1-3). After the Levites had invited them to praise God (Neh 9:4, Neh 9:5), a general confession was made, in which the congregation was reminded of all the grace and favour shown by God to His people,”
- Leviticus (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Leviticus 23:27: Also on the tenth day of this seventh month,.... Tisri, the same as before, answering to part of our September, and part of October: there shall be a day of atonement; for all the sins of the year past; see Lev 16:29, it shall be an holy convocation unto you: when they should be called together for the exercise of holy duties: and ye shall afflict your souls; their souls, by repentance, contrition, and humiliation for sin, and their bodies by fasting; and, as the Targum of Jonathan paraphrases it,"by abstaining from eating and drinking, and the advantage of ”