Next we come to fasting, and again the principle of doing this for God and not for show is the key. The habit in those days was for the Pharisees to make it obvious to all and sundry when they were fasting, which they tended to do twice a week.
Jesus tells us not to make it at all obvious. The bit on putting oil on our head and washing our face is a simple of example of interpreting Scripture properly. It is clear that we do not need to put oil on our head when we fast, it does not make any sense these days. It is still a good idea to wash your face though! It is the principle that matters, and that is what we need to observe.
Yet again there is the phrase about our Father in Heaven rewarding us. We have a tendency to get all coy about God rewarding us. We think it is somehow more noble to do something expecting no reward. Now there is something in this, but Jesus is forever talking about rewards, so we need to listen. The best thing we have is to know God better, to have more of His life within us, that is what we should be seeking, and what we should be expecting.
Our lives will be better the more we devote ourselves to the Lord. Indeed, Hebrews 11:6 tells us that not only must we believe in order to please God, but that we must believe that He rewards those who earnestly seek Him.
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