What Is Lent in the Christian Faith?

Understanding Matthew 4:1-2, Joel 2:12-13

Lent is a period of 40 days (excluding Sundays) before Easter during which Christians practice fasting, prayer, repentance, and self-denial as spiritual preparation for celebrating Christ's resurrection. It begins on Ash Wednesday and ends at the Easter Vigil (Holy Saturday).

Biblical foundations

Lent is not directly commanded in Scripture, but its practices are deeply rooted in biblical patterns:

Jesus' 40-day fast — Matthew 4:1-2: 'Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. After fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry.' Lent's 40-day duration mirrors this period of preparation before Jesus began His public ministry.

The number 40 in Scripture — 40 is consistently associated with periods of testing, preparation, and transformation:

• Noah's flood lasted 40 days and nights (Genesis 7:12)
• Moses spent 40 days on Mount Sinai receiving the Law (Exodus 24:18)
• Israel wandered 40 years in the wilderness (Numbers 14:33)
• Elijah fasted 40 days on his journey to Horeb (1 Kings 19:8)
• Nineveh was given 40 days to repent (Jonah 3:4)

Joel 2:12-13 — 'Even now, declares the Lord, return to me with all your heart, with fasting and weeping and mourning. Rend your heart and not your garments. Return to the Lord your God, for he is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and abounding in love.' This captures the spirit of Lent perfectly — genuine heart-level repentance, not mere external observance.

History of Lent

The earliest references to a pre-Easter preparatory season date to the 2nd and 3rd centuries, though the specific 40-day period was standardized by the Council of Nicaea (325 AD). Initially, Lent was primarily a period of instruction and fasting for catechumens (new converts) preparing for baptism at Easter. Over time, it expanded to the entire Christian community as a season of renewal.

Ash Wednesday — Lent begins with the imposition of ashes on the forehead in the sign of the cross. The priest or minister says: 'Remember that you are dust, and to dust you shall return' (echoing Genesis 3:19) or 'Repent and believe in the Gospel' (Mark 1:15). The ashes are traditionally made from burning the previous year's Palm Sunday palms.

What happens during Lent?

Fasting — The most visible Lenten practice. Catholic canon law requires fasting (one full meal, two smaller meals) on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday, and abstinence from meat on all Fridays in Lent. Many Christians also 'give something up' for Lent — food, social media, entertainment — as a voluntary discipline. The purpose is not deprivation for its own sake but creating space for God. When you remove something from your life, you notice how much you depended on it, and the empty space can be filled with prayer.

Prayer — Many Christians take on additional prayer practices during Lent: daily Scripture reading, the Liturgy of the Hours, the Stations of the Cross, contemplative prayer, or devotional reading. The goal is deepening one's relationship with God.

Almsgiving — Giving to the poor is the third pillar of Lenten practice. Jesus listed it alongside prayer and fasting in Matthew 6:1-18. Many churches organize special collections, food drives, or charitable projects during Lent.

Repentance — Lent is fundamentally a penitential season. Christians are called to examine their lives honestly, confess sins, and turn back toward God. Catholic and Orthodox Christians typically make a confession during Lent. Protestant churches may hold special services of repentance.

How different traditions observe Lent:

Catholic — Lent is a major liturgical season. The color purple (symbolizing penance) adorns the church. The Gloria and Alleluia are suppressed during Mass. Fasting and abstinence rules are formally binding. The Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults (RCIA) reaches its climax as catechumens prepare for Easter baptism.

Eastern Orthodox — Great Lent is even more rigorous. The Orthodox fast involves abstaining from all meat, fish, dairy, eggs, wine, and oil for the entire period (with some variations by tradition). Services include the Liturgy of the Presanctified Gifts, a special weekday liturgy unique to Lent. Orthodox Christians often describe Great Lent as 'bright sadness' — sorrowful over sin but joyful in anticipation of Pascha (Easter).

Protestant — Historically, many Protestant denominations rejected Lent as an unbiblical Catholic tradition. However, in recent decades, there has been significant recovery of Lenten practice among Anglicans, Lutherans, Methodists, Presbyterians, and even some evangelical churches. Many Protestants observe Lent voluntarily without considering it obligatory.

Common objections:

'Lent is not in the Bible' — Correct. Lent as a specific season is a church tradition, not a biblical command. However, fasting, prayer, repentance, and preparation for worship are thoroughly biblical. Jesus assumed His followers would fast ('When you fast...' — Matthew 6:16, not 'If you fast'). The early church fasted regularly (Acts 13:2-3; 14:23).

'It becomes legalistic' — This is a real danger. If Lent becomes about proving your discipline or checking boxes, it has missed the point entirely. Joel 2:13 warns: 'Rend your heart and not your garments.' The outward practice must reflect an inward reality. Jesus specifically condemned fasting done for show (Matthew 6:16-18).

'Giving up chocolate is trivial' — Fair criticism when the sacrifice is trivial. The most powerful Lenten disciplines are ones that genuinely cost something and create real space for growth — giving up complaining, practicing daily generosity, forgiving someone you have been holding a grudge against. The best Lenten practice is one that actually transforms you.

The culmination: Holy Week

Lent builds toward Holy Week — the most sacred week in the Christian calendar:

• Palm Sunday — Jesus' triumphal entry into Jerusalem
• Holy/Maundy Thursday — The Last Supper, foot washing, Gethsemane
• Good Friday — The crucifixion and death of Christ
• Holy Saturday — The day of silence and waiting
• Easter Sunday — The resurrection

The entire 40-day journey is designed to make the resurrection feel earned, longed for, and explosively joyful. Christians who practice Lent seriously often say that Easter means more — the contrast between the desert of Lent and the feast of Easter mirrors the contrast between death and life that the resurrection embodies.