Luke 18:12

I fast twice. Having drawn up a catalogue of the vices of which he is not guilty, the Pharisee now turns to enumerate the virtues of which he is particularly proud, ones that evidently he is counting on to purchase his salvation. Not even all Pharisees fasted “twice in the week,” that is, on Mondays and Thursdays (see on Matt. 6:16-18). The Pharisees prided themselves on fasting and tithing more than the letter of the law required, thinking that God would appreciate their voluntary efforts beyond the call of duty, as they liked to think (see on Matt. 23:23). They fasted particularly during the seasons between the Passover and Pentecost, and between the Feast of Tabernacles and the Feast of Dedication (see Vol. II, p. 108; Vol. I, pp. 709, 710; Lev. 23:2-42; see on John 10:22).

According to Pharisaic theology, a sufficient credit of supposedly meritorious deeds would cancel out a debit of evil deeds. The Feast of Dedication (see p. 30) came on the 25th day of the 9th month, approximately two months after the Feast of Tabernacles, which closed on the 22d day of the 7th month. Seven weeks, inclusive, elapsed between the Passover and Pentecost.

Later on, zealous Christians fasted on Wednesdays and Fridays at certain seasons of the year, in order to avoid being mistaken for Jews, who fasted on Mondays and Thursdays. In the Didache (ch. 8:1), a noncanonical Christian document of the 2d century, the admonition is given, “But let not your fasting be appointed in common with the hypocrites; for they fast on the second day of the week and on the fifth; but do ye fast during the fourth, and the preparation [day].”

Tithes of all. Even of things not specifically mentioned in the Mosaic law on tithing (see on Matt. 23:23) — such things as “mint and anise and cummin.” Perhaps this was more, even, than rabbinical teaching required.

I possess. Literally, “I acquire,” that is, of his increase.