In Isaiah, chapter fifty-eight, verse three, “Wherefore have we fasted, say they, and thou seest not? Wherefore have we afflicted our soul, and thou takest no knowledge? Behold, in the day of your fast ye find pleasure, and exact all your labours.” God’s people were complaining that He would not help them. But God knew that their worship and fasting were hypocritical rather than from a pure heart. He tells them that no religious act has any value to Him if it does not come from those who humbly seek to obey His commandments and who compassionately reach out to those in need.
A fast is a day to afflict the soul; if it does not express true sorrow for sin, and does not promote the putting away of sin, it is not a fast. These professors had shown sorrow on stated or occasioned fasts. But they indulged pride, covetousness, and malignant passions. To be liberal and merciful is more acceptable to God than mere fasting, which, without them, is vain and hypocritical. Many who seem humble in God’s house are hard at home and harass their families. But no man’s faith justifies, which does not work by love. Yet persons, families, neighbourhoods, churches, or nations show repentance and sorrow for sin by keeping a fast sincerely, and, from right motives, repenting, and doing good works.
The works of any Christian done before God must be done by love for Him and for others. There are people today who proclaim they are believers, ministers, servants of God and desire everyone to recognise or acknowledge them, as they travel around society. However, these same people may not even pray or speak to God, not even ask Him what they can do for Him. Some of them do not even greet Him.