A proper fast

“Is not this the fast that I have chosen? to loose the bands of wickedness, to undo the heavy burdens, and to let the oppressed go free, and that ye break every yoke? Is it not to deal thy bread to the hungry, and that thou bring the poor that are cast out to thy house? when thou seest the naked, that thou cover him; and that thou hide not thyself from thine own flesh?” - Isaiah 58v6-7

In words that are much like what Jesus will use to later condemn the Pharisees Isaiah condemns “fasting for show” where people fast and abuse themselves in some kind of religiosity. There is no good in this, it is a vain attempt to placate ones own sin without dealing with the heart.

In these verses God gives us two things that should accompany our fasting. First, our fasting must be accompanied doing the spiritual work of “loosing the bands of wickedness, undoing burdens, and breaking the yoke of sin.” However, that is not really enough, there is a second component which most of us miss – there is a physical work that God wants His people to do – “deal bread to the hungry, bring the homeless to protection, and to clothe the naked.” Combined with what Jesus says about taking care of the needy as an indication of how we feel about Him, it at least appears that we must be doing something to care for the needy.