Zechariah 7:5

Disobedience And Fasting

⁴ Then the word of the Lord of Hosts came to me: ⁵ “Ask all the people of the land and the priests: When you fasted and lamented in the fifth and in the seventh months for these 70 years, did you really fast for Me? ⁶ When you eat and drink, don’t you eat and drink simply for yourselves?

People of the Land

Seventy Years

Zechariah 1:12

Then the Angel of the Lord responded, “How long, Lord of Hosts, will You withhold mercy from Jerusalem and the cities of Judah that You have been angry with these 70 years?”

Isaiah 1:11-12

“What are all your sacrifices to Me?”
asks the Lord.
“I have had enough of burnt offerings and rams
and the fat of well-fed cattle;
I have no desire for the blood of bulls,
lambs, or male goats.

Zechariah 7:3

by asking the priests who were at the house of the Lord of Hosts as well as the prophets, “Should we mourn and fast in the fifth month as we have done these many years?”

2 Kings 25:23

When all the commanders of the armies—they and their men—heard that the king of Babylon had appointed Gedaliah, they came to Gedaliah at Mizpah. The commanders included Ishmael son of Nethaniah, Johanan son of Kareah, Seraiah son of Tanhumeth the Netophathite, and Jaazaniah son of the Maacathite—they and their men.

Isaiah 58:4-6

You fast with contention and strife
to strike viciously with your fist.
You cannot fast as you do today,
hoping to make your voice heard on high.

Jeremiah 25:11

This whole land will become a desolate ruin, and these nations will serve the king of Babylon for 70 years.

Jeremiah 41:1-4

In the seventh month, Ishmael son of Nethaniah, son of Elishama, of the royal family and one of the king’s chief officers, came with 10 men to Gedaliah son of Ahikam at Mizpah. They ate a meal together there in Mizpah,

Zechariah 7:6

When you eat and drink, don’t you eat and drink simply for yourselves?

Zechariah 8:19

“The Lord of Hosts says this: The fast of the fourth month, the fast of the fifth, the fast of the seventh, and the fast of the tenth will become times of joy, gladness, and cheerful festivals for the house of Judah. Therefore, love truth and peace.”

Matthew 5:16-18

In the same way, let your light shine before men, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven.

Matthew 6:2

So whenever you give to the poor, don’t sound a trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and on the streets, to be applauded by people. I assure you: They’ve got their reward!

Matthew 6:5

“Whenever you pray, you must not be like the hypocrites, because they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by people. I assure you: They’ve got their reward!

Matthew 6:16

“Whenever you fast, don’t be sad-faced like the hypocrites. For they make their faces unattractive so their fasting is obvious to people. I assure you: They’ve got their reward!

Matthew 23:5

They do everything to be observed by others: They enlarge their phylacteries and lengthen their tassels.

Romans 14:6-9

Whoever observes the day, observes it for the honor of the Lord. Whoever eats, eats for the Lord, since he gives thanks to God; and whoever does not eat, it is for the Lord that he does not eat it, yet he thanks God.

Romans 14:17-18

for the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit.

1 Corinthians 10:31

Therefore, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do everything for God’s glory.

2 Corinthians 5:15

And He died for all so that those who live should no longer live for themselves, but for the One who died for them and was raised.

Colossians 3:23

Whatever you do, do it enthusiastically, as something done for the Lord and not for men,