Biblical Answer

Jesus did not say to fast in secret, but rather to fast when you fast. This means that Jesus assumed his disciples would continue to practice voluntary fasting, and that he was not discouraging them from doing so. In fact, Jesus taught that fasting would become a spiritual discipline again in the future, and that his disciples would fast when they were mourning the loss of the Bridegroom (Jesus). He emphasized the importance of fasting as a sign of repentance before God, rather than as an effort to impress others with personal piety.

Jesus taught his disciples to fast in a way that is not noticeable to others. He instructed them to use a little makeup, so as not to appear as if they had been fasting (Mt 6:17-18). This suggests that Jesus was not encouraging his disciples to fast in a way that would draw attention to themselves, but rather to do so in a way that was humble and unassuming. He also taught that when they did fast, they should not do so in a way that would make them look like hypocrites, but rather as a genuine expression of their spiritual hunger.

Jesus assumed that his disciples would fast in the future, and that they would do so in response to the absence of the Bridegroom (Jesus). He taught that when they fasted, they should do so in secret, and that they should not draw attention to themselves. This suggests that Jesus was encouraging his disciples to fast in a way that was humble and unassuming, and that was focused on their spiritual growth and relationship with God, rather than on impressing others with their piety.