To some who were confident of their own righteousness and looked down on everyone else, Jesus told this parable: “Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. The Pharisee stood by himself and prayed: ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other people—robbers, evildoers, adulterers—or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week and give a tenth of all I get.’ “But the tax collector stood at a distance. He would not even look up to heaven, but beat his breast and said, ‘God, have mercy on me, a sinner.’ “I tell you that this man, rather than the other, went home justified before God. For all those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.” Luke 18:9-14
“Let not your fastings be with the hypocrites, for they fast on the second and the fifth day of the week; but keep your fast on the fourth and on the preparation day (Friday). And do not pray like the hypocrites, but pray as the Lord commanded in His Gospel. Our Father, who are in heaven, hallowed be Your name; Your kingdom come; Your will be done, as in heaven, so also on earth; give us this day our daily bread; and forgive us our debt, as we also forgive our debtors; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one; for Yours is the power and the glory for ever and ever. Pray thus three times in the day.”
The Didache, or Teaching of the Apostles 8:1-11. On this text, viewed by scholars as the proverbial discipleship manual of the early church, J.B. Lightfoot offers these notes (18).
“Chapter 8 suggests that fasts are not to be on Monday and Thursday “with the hypocrites” – presumably non-Christian Jews – but on Wednesday and Friday. Nor must Christians pray with their Judaic brethren, instead they shall say the Lord’s Prayer three times a day. The text of the prayer is not identical to the version in the Gospel of Matthew, and it is given with the doxology “for Thine is the power and the glory for ever.” The Didache is the main source for the inclusion of the doxology. It does not occur within the oldest copies of the texts of Matthew and Luke. Most biblical scholars agree that it was included as a result of a later edit.”
At least four insights surface in this ancient document and modern commentary for us.
Firstly, fasting and giving can lead to pride. We must not allow this to occur in our hearts in life after Lent. The Pharisee in today’s Scripture was clearly prideful and expected answers from God based on his merit rather than God’s mercy. Don’t go there.
Secondly, we find the early church fasting on Wednesdays and Fridays to differentiate themselves from the “the hypocrites” (presumably non-Christian Jews) who fasted on Mondays and Thursdays. Fasting was a Christian rhythm that aimed to point people to Christ.
Thirdly, ever wonder why the phrase “for Thine is the power and the glory for ever” is not in your Bible but a part of tradition. This ancient document is likely the source of the ending of the prayer not found in Scripture. Everyone prayed it so it found its way into manuscripts.
Fourthly, three times a day (likely 9 am, 12 noon, and 3 pm) Christ followers would pause to pray the Lord’s prayer. Try it sometime. When you do this, throughout the course of your day, it’s like resetting your mind and heart to depend on God.
What will your fasting and prayer rhythms be in life after Lent?
Choose a discipline. If you don’t your schedule will just get filled with other things. I would encourage you to consider fasting twice a week and pausing to pray 3 times (or even 7 times) a day in life after Lent. Do this because God does not need our money or our fasting or hollow prayers. He wants our hearts.
These disciplines transform us into people who surrender our will, release financial resources, and have God’s heart. Only once that happens, do we exhibit Christian generosity. We serve others selflessly like Jesus with kindness and allow His money and other blessings to flow freely through us to the people and causes He cares about.
We do this to present Him as the power and the glory of our lives for ever and ever.
I am flying to Dallas today to meet with various Christian workers at the Christian Leadership Alliance Outcomes Conference and to speak tomorrow in an all-day session with Wes Willmer and Greg Henson on our book, The Council: A Biblical Perspective on Board Governance.
Thanks for your prayers for safe travel, receptive hearts, and Spirit-filled teaching.