In these few verses Jesus speaks about what has become an often ignored and rarely practiced discipline — fasting. Once again Jesus is helping us look deeply within to our motives as he warns us not to practice our righteousness in unrighteous ways. But we also do well to think past just the call to let Jesus “gospelize” our motives to contemplating this spiritual discipline in its own right — reflecting on its purpose and its benefit in our lives. It can serve as a wonderful means of grace by which Jesus transforms our lives.
