After His extended discussion on prayer, Jesus returns to another way in which some religious people had become actors (hypocrites) and not real people of faith. Fasting is another private spiritual discipline. It is between the believer and God. It should never be a play-act for the sake of those who we seek to impress with our spirituality.

And yet in Jesus' day, everybody knew who was fasting; they looked dreadful, their hair was bedraggled, their faces were smeared with dirt and they paraded themselves publically to draw attention to their own 'holiness'. Jesus said that they would have no recognition from God because they had attracted applause from other people.

The combination of prayer with fasting is a helpful way to focus on God; and avoids all the distractions associated with buying, preparing, cooking, eating and cleaning up the food (and the sleepy feeling afterwards!). Jesus expected that worshippers would fast at times, but said that they should preserve it as a secret between them and God. So, their appearance should be normal and joyful instead of unkempt and doleful. There is no need for anybody else to know.

God sees into every secret place and knows every secret. He knows those who give themselves to the work of prayer and those who play at it. He rewards those who fully commit themselves to seeking His face in this life and the next. We cannot determine the reward: it is entirely in God's hand to give it to us, it is the product of His grace and our faithfulness. Prayer with fasting is still a very helpful discipline, especially at times when we need to know the Lord's will or seek His interventions in some matter. But don't forget that it is secret business between you and your God. Now that we know how He wants us to do it, let us obey.