Today’s Bible Verse: “Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. After fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry.” Matthew 4:1-2;
ENCOURAGING WORD:
I’m going to share with you the different traditions and ways that many churches of today celebrate the Lent season. Most of the traditions are man-made and are by no means supported in the Bible. These sects of Christianity take certain passages out of the Bible and apply them to mean something totally different than from what they are truly teaching. I will share some of these verses with you and you decide if they have anything to say about Lent. Always keep in mind, if something isn’t supported by the Bible, then it becomes legalism. Legalism has infiltrated most of the denominational churches of today. The word “legalism” does not occur in the Bible, nor does it encourage legalism as a way of salvation. It is a term Christians use to describe a doctrinal position emphasizing a system of rules and regulations for achieving both salvation and spiritual growth. Legalists believe in and demands a strict literal adherence to rules and regulations. Doctrinally, it is a position essentially opposed to grace. Those who hold a legalistic position often fail to see the real purpose for law, especially the purpose of the Old Testament law of Moses, which is to be our “schoolmaster” or “tutor” to bring us to Christ. We read this fact in the following Bible verse,
Galatians 3:24; “Therefore the law was our tutor to bring us to Christ, that we might be justified by faith.”
This means that we were given the Law to show us our need for a Savior. We can’t be saved by the Law. In order to be saved by the Law, we would have to obey every commandment of God to perfection. It can’t be done. That is why Jesus Christ had to be crucified on the cross so that we can be justified by faith, and not of good works as we just read. This is accomplished by accepting Jesus Christ as your personal Lord and Savior and then becoming Born-Again into the Holy Spirit.
Now let me share how Catholic and Eastern Orthodox churches celebrate the season of Lent. They hold to the belief that the forty days before Easter is a preparation time known as Lent. During these forty days, people in Protestant, Catholic, and Eastern Orthodox traditions choose to give up something (a certain food or activity) in the form of fasting. Again, this is a religion of legalism. Notice, these traditional religions say, “Do This, Do that” when Jesus said from the cross, “It is Done! It is Finished, Paid in full! He never said that He did His part and now the rest is up to us. If that were the case, we would all fail and all be headed toward the Lake of Burning Fire for all eternity. Just a side note, if you want to give up something, how about giving up sin, not only during Lent, but every day.
Many Catholic and Eastern Orthodox churches also follow Lenten dietary rules during this time. The goal of Lent is to grow closer to the Lord as one prepares for the anniversary of Jesus’ death and resurrection. There is nothing wrong with trying to draw nearer to Jesus Christ. We are told to transform into the image of Jesus Christ, but this can’t be done by obeying rules and regulations that are put on the people of these religions. In other words, there is nothing that we can do to earn Gods favor.
We read this truth in the following Bible verse, Romans 12:2; “And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.”
If you have accepted Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior, and have become Born-Again by receiving The Holy Spirit into your heart, then you are saved. There is nothing more than you can do. Obeying all these religious rules and rituals will have no bearing on your salvation.
Many Christians sects cherish the Lenten season, which in and of itself is not a problem. There is nothing wrong with honoring God, which we all should do, as long as it doesn’t turn into legalism or a way to earn salvation. But know this also, Lent is not mentioned in the Bible. Some believers have tried to point to different examples in the Bible as the basis for Lent, but there is no explicit evidence of Lent in Scripture.
Furthermore, there are no commands for Christians in the Bible regarding mandatory fasting or dietary rules during this time. Such acts are based purely on church and man-made traditions.
However, each Christian can choose whether or not they want to celebrate the Lenten season, but remember, certain activities and rituals do not gain God’s favor or grace where salvation is concerned.
The True Meaning of Lent
Lent did not begin in biblical times. According to the Oxford Concise Dictionary of the Christian Church, Lent was first mentioned in AD 325. The apostles and early church leaders did not observe Lent, but eventually it became a tradition in the fourth century AD as did many other Christian traditions and rituals.
Notably, the forty-day period of fasting differed from a few earlier examples, based on Irenaeus and Tertullian, that some Christians would fast for only a couple of days before Easter, but once again, not Biblical.
The Eastern and Western churches observe Lent at somewhat different times during the Easter season. Western Catholic churches begin their observance of Lent on what is known as “Ash Wednesday.” In contrast, the beginning of Lent in the Eastern Orthodox churches start on a day called “Clean Monday.” Which is again, not supported in the scriptures. Neither “Ash Wednesday” or “Clean Monday” ever mentioned in the scriptures, they are totally manmade!
Historically, both traditions would normally place a large emphasis on fasting from certain foods. However, today the Catholic church in the West places a larger emphasis on abstaining from certain activities, while still following Lenten dietary rules.
In contrast, the Eastern Orthodox tradition has continued in the tradition of fasting from specific foods throughout the Lenten season.
According to the liturgical tradition of Lent, there are multiple activities which should be carried out during this period, although there are differences between the Western and Eastern traditions. Most of the foods that a person would abstain from during Lent are animal products, including meat, eggs, milk, and cheeses.
Many will also partake in fasting and abstaining from alcohol and cigarette use. Other activities during Lent generally include an increased emphasis on prayer. Doing a Lenten devotional or Bible reading plan, giving to charity, and abstaining from a certain activity to spend more time with God, which once again, is not a bad thing depending on why you are doing it. We should be doing these things all year round, not because we’re told to, but because we want too. Make sure that whatever you do, it’s a way of praising God and not trying to gain favor with Him or gain points so-to-say.
For instance, a person may choose to abstain from watching TV or going on the internet to spend time reading the Bible or praying. Once again, a good thing to do, but we should be doing these things all year round if we are Born-Again, not just during the forty days before Resurrection Sunday, or Easter if you prefer.
Furthermore, a major emphasis is also placed on repentance during the forty days of observance. We should repent of our sins every day. Another side note. Most of those that follow this tradition, behave for forty days, and then right after words, they go back to their sinful life style. What did they gain…nothing! They might think that they took one more step to heaven. What ever you do during Lent, will have no bearing on how God feels about you. He loves us all equally, regardless of how we live our lives.
Let me share a Bible verse that puts all these traditions to rest. Acts 16:30-31; “And he (The Jailor) brought them out and said, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?” So they (Paul and Silas) said, “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved, you and your household.”
Read this again, what did Paul and Silas say about being saved? Do we read anywhere in this verse or anywhere else in the Bible where any kind of works can save us. Only Jesus can save us! I’ll share another verse that also puts this false doctrine to bed.
Ephesians 2:8-9; “For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast.” (Another Teaching from The Apostle Paul)
Here is a good time to mention this, As we can see, most of the traditional churches of today put “The Apostle Paul” high of a pedestal, but yet they don’t believe what He teaches. This is most applicable in the Roman Catholic church and I know why, but I’m not going to get into this right now.
No traditions or works of the flesh can save anybody. As a matter of fact, hear what the Apostle Paul has to say about this,
Romans 11:6; “And if by grace, then is it no more of works: otherwise grace is no more grace. But if it be of works, then it is no more grace: otherwise work is no more work.”
Another verse written by “The Apostle Paul” that is ignored or taken out of context by most of the denominational churches. Just so you understand what I am saying, I’m not bashing these churches, I’m just stating facts straight out of the Bible.
If you choose to earn your way into heaven by performing good works, you will definitely come up short and you will spend eternity in the ”Lake of Burning Fire” for all eternity. If we accept the free gift of grace offered to all who choose to believe on Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior, then we will spend all eternity in an environment that we can’t even imagine, it is so perfect We read this fact in the following Bible verse.
1 Corinthians 2:9; “Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, Nor have entered into the heart of man the things which God has prepared for those who love Him.”
All I can say about this is, it must be a pretty incredible place if we can’t even imagine what it will be like. I can imagine a pretty nice environment, but according to the scriptures, I can’t even get close to what awaits us in heaven. Think about this, It took God six days to create the world, He had six thousand years to build your heavenly home. If that doesn’t excite us, then our belief is obviously in vain.
Is Lent Biblical?
As I have already proven, Lent is not mentioned in the Bible, but rather started in the fourth century AD. Even though there is no explicit evidence of Lent in Scripture, many believers have tried to argue that Lent is based on Jesus’ temptation in the desert for forty days. If they want to honor Jesus in that way, that is fine, but don’t use it as a way to get closer to earning your way to heaven.
According to this theory, Jesus’ forty days of fasting in the desert is the basis of fasting for the season of Lent. Matthew 4:1-2; “Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. And when He had fasted forty days and forty nights, afterward He was hungry.”
Mark 1:13; “And He was there in the wilderness forty days, tempted by Satan, and was with the wild beasts; and the angels ministered to Him.”
Luke 4:1-2; Then Jesus, being filled with the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan, and was led by the Spirit into the wilderness, being tempted for forty days by the devil. And in those days He ate nothing, and afterward when they had ended, He was hungry.
The problem with this belief is that there is nothing in these passages about Jesus’ temptation that links it to an establishment of Lent. Instead, the temptation demonstrates the Son of God’s success, where Israel failed in their temptation in the desert. No where in the scriptures does Jesus liken this to fasting forty days before His crucifixion.
Joshua 5:6: “For the children of Israel walked forty years in the wilderness, till all the people who were men of war, who came out of Egypt, were consumed, because they did not obey the voice of the Lord, to whom the Lord swore that He would not show them the land which the Lord had sworn to their fathers that He would give us, “a land flowing with milk and honey.”
Also, the Lord’s forty days of fasting in the desert remind believers that He experienced temptation just as all people do yet He was without sin
Hebrews 4:15; “For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin.”
Another biblical example that is used in support of Lent is Matthew 9:15 where Jesus explains that the disciples will fast once He is gone, but not while He is still with them. “And Jesus said to them, “Can the friends of the bridegroom mourn as long as the bridegroom is with them? But the days will come when the bridegroom will be taken away from them, and then they will fast.” Jesus never asked the Disciples to fast while He was in the dessert. There is no example in the Bible of anybody but Jesus Christ fasting during this time. He didn’t fast as an example of what we should do at any specific time of the year.
Fasting is a discipline of abstaining from something good, like food, so we can concentrate on our spiritual lives and find satisfaction in God. Fasting is all about a desire for God. The decision to fast should not be motivated by arrogance or legalism. It should be an individual commitment brought on by one’s self. It should be brought on by the heart, not a rule or law to live by.
The period that Christ is referring to in Matthew 9:15 is the time after His crucifixion. In discussing that sorrowful time, Jesus said in, John 16:20; “Most assuredly, I say to you that you will weep and lament, but the world will rejoice; and you will be sorrowful, but your sorrow will be turned into joy.”
Once Jesus was resurrected, the disciples rejoiced and possessed a joy that nothing could shatter John 16:22; “ Therefore you now have sorrow; but I will see you again and your heart will rejoice, and your joy no one will take from you.”
Therefore, recreating the sorrowful period before Resurrection Sunday may be helpful in better understanding the disciples’ experience, but there is nothing in these verses which suggests or requires a forty-day period of fasting. Followers of Jesus can choose to fast voluntarily but fasting is not a command or requirement. In other words, it has no bearing on your eternal dwelling!
While observing a period of fasting (whether from certain foods or certain activities) is not prohibited in the Bible, there are important considerations to keep in mind. First, Jesus never commanded His disciples to fast, as was shown in Matthew 9:15, as we just read a few verses ago.
Secondly, fasting should be voluntary, not forced. Thirdly, the temptation of pride is very strong when fasting, which is why Jesus told His disciples to not let others know when they were fasting. Matthew 6:1; “Take heed that you do not do your charitable deeds before men, to be seen by them. Otherwise you have no reward from your Father in heaven.,
Matthew 6: 17-18; “But you, when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face, so that you do not appear to men to be fasting, but to your Father who is in the secret place; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly."
To boast about one’s long period of fasting during Lent would match the Pharisees’ hypocritical pride and not be pleasing to the Lord. Matthew 6:16; “Moreover, when you fast, do not be like the hypocrites, with a sad countenance. For they disfigure their faces that they may appear to men to be fasting. Assuredly, I say to you, they have their reward.”
Finally, Jesus has declared all foods clean, which is why requiring people to restrain from meat or any food for that matter is problematic biblically.
Mark 7:19; “because it does not enter his heart but his stomach, and is eliminated, thus purifying all foods?”
Acts 10:15; “And a voice spoke to him again the second time, “What God has cleansed you must not call common.”
Christians were commanded to avoid meat sacrificed to idols during the early church period. Acts 15:29, “that you abstain from things offered to idols, from blood, from things strangled, and from sexual immorality. If you keep yourselves from these, you will do well.” But a mandatory fast of meat products or anything else seems to fall in line with legalistic rules rather than a form of spiritual practice.
1 Timothy 4:2-3; “speaking lies in hypocrisy, having their own conscience seared with a hot iron, forbidding to marry, and commanding to abstain from foods which God created to be received with thanksgiving by those who believe and know the truth.”
Lent is known by certain sects of Christianity as a season of preparation looking forward to the remembrance of Jesus’ death and resurrection. Such a period can be helpful in preparing oneself for the significance of the most foundational events of the Christian faith.
The problem, however, is that many people view Lent legalistically as a way to earn favor with God. There is also a risk of placing too much emphasis on Lent that one forgets the real meaning of what Good Friday and Resurrection Sundays is all about. Jesus came to die on the cross and was raised according to the scriptures to bring eternal life to all who would believe in Him. John 3:16; “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.”
Although Lent is not mentioned in the Bible, Christians can still choose whether to observe the forty-day period or not. If a believer decides to join in the Lenten season by fasting from an activity or certain food to spend more time with God, then it would be wise to remember that such an act should be done voluntarily. And from the heart, not because you feel that you have too.
Furthermore, Christians would be discerning to avoid publicly discussing their fast and remember that such an act does not earn special merit from God. The forty-day period of Lent can be an insightful time, which promotes spiritual growth, but it is not the main event of Good Friday and Resurrection Sunday. Jesus’ sacrificial death on the cross and victorious resurrection should remain center stage, even if that might means laying aside tradition and rituals if needed.
This event that most people refer to as Easter Sunday should really be referred to as Resurrection Sunday. Without getting into a lot of the pagan roots that most of Easter came from, let me just say this, no matter what distractions come about during the time from Passover to the rising of Jesus from the grave, just make sure that you keep your focus on what Jesus did for us and why. Let me end with these couple of verse that sum up the Gospel perfectly.
1 Corinthians 15:3-4; “For I delivered to you first of all that which I also received: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, and that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures,”
Jesus didn’t have to do this, He could have said at any time, enough is enough, but He didn’t. And just so you know, it wasn’t the nails that held Him to the cross, it was His love for you and I. He could have gotten down from the cross at any time. When Jesus was hanging on the cross, imagine yourself at the feet of the cross. Then in all His pain and agony, He looks down at you and says, “I DID THIS FOR YOU.” If you were there, that is exactly what He would have said to you.
How would you have felt?
Now, let me end with this; Hebrews 13:20-21;”Now may the God of peace who brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, the great shepherd of the sheep, by the blood of the eternal covenant, equip you with everything good that you may do his will, working in us that which is pleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen.”
May God continue to bless you in all you do and take care!
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