Did Jesus drink water when He was fasting for 40 days?

Bible Question:

Did Jesus drink water when He was fasting for 40 days?

Bible Answer:

Matthew, Mark and Luke recorded the events that took place during  Christ’s temptation in the wilderness. The three gospels report that initially Jesus fasted for 40 days, and then the temptation of Christ followed. From these gospel accounts, we learn some important lessons about how to resist temptation when it comes from Satan. We are going to discover what Jesus did when He was fasting for 40 days. Did Jesus drink water when He was fasting for 40 days?

Testimonies of the Gospels

Some people are concerned that the three gospels might disagree about the events that occurred during Jesus’ temptation. But a good trial lawyer would expect this to be the situation. In a criminal trial, a  lawyer would charge three witnesses with collusion if they reported the details of an event exactly the same way. That would imply their testimonies were coordinated. In fact, most trial lawyers and judges are suspicious when the witnesses give the exact same information.

So, we should not be surprised that each gospel writer reported different details as each one had a different focus in what he wrote. The beauty of the three gospels is that the differences in detail actually give us a more complete picture of what happened. Luke gives us the most complete and exact chronological sequence of events (Luke 1:3). Here is the picture the gospels give us.

What Jesus’ Fast Included

None of the gospels say anything about Jesus drinking water or sleeping, but they do report that He fasted. Then Matthew 4:2 helps us understand that His fasting included not eating food. Matthew 4:3 adds that Satan tempted Jesus to turn stones into bread. That helps us understand Jesus’ fast included not eating food.

And after He had fasted forty days and forty nights, He then became hungry. And the tempter came and said to Him, “If You are the Son of God, command that these stones become bread.” Matthew 4:2-3 (NASB)

Luke 4:2-3 gives us the same information except that Luke 4:2 explicitly says, “He ate nothing during those days.”  Matthew 4:1 and Luke 4:1 add that Jesus had fasted for forty days and forty nights.

Even though there are no comments about Christ drinking water, it appears that Jesus did drink water. Medical experts state that the typical man or woman cannot live more than ten days without water. However, some individuals are on record for having lived 21 days without water. We can live much longer without food.  Therefore, it is reasonable to conclude that Jesus drank water but did not eat. For information about what is included in fasting, visit, “Is fasting going without food?” and Biblical Fasting — What is included in fasting? How to fast?

Conclusion:

It is wonderful that Satan tempted Jesus but He did not sin. All three gospels teach that Jesus did not sin.

For we do not have a high priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but One who has been tempted in all things as we are, yet without sin. Hebrews 4:15 (NASB)

Jesus is sinless!

Suggested Links:

Temptation of Jesus
Where in the Bible can I find the next time the devil tested Jesus?
Could Jesus have sinned?