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Ash Wednesday – What Does the Bible Say About It?

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Updated:- Saturday, November 4th, 2023

Is Ash Wednesday in the Bible?

There are many religious practices that many so-called Christians perpetuate that are not biblical, Easter and Ash Wednesday are two such.

Here are three things about Ash Wednesday that we need to know. It’s not biblical; it’s not a day of repentance and why didn’t Jesus mention it?

It’s a great and grave deception that Ash Wednesday “is a Christian holy day of prayer and fasting.”

Which Bible character observed it? Which Scriptures show this? And why didn’t Jesus observe Ash Wednesday?

If this were true the Holy Bible would mention Ash Wednesday by name at least once. But it doesn’t!

There is no mention of Ash Wednesday in the Holy Bible. Therefore, to me, it is of no spiritual significance.

However, the usage of ashes at certain times was a popular Jewish tradition. And maybe it still persists in Israel today.

Ash Wednesday’s Cross of Ashes a Symbol of Repentance?

Nevertheless, the Bible is silent concerning the marking or placing of ashes on the forehead. This is a religious practice that the Roman Catholic Church (RCC) perpetuates. But it’s not in the Bible.

But the placing of ashes on the head and not on the forehead is a Jewish practice and thus found throughout the Bible.

The Jews place ashes on the head to indicate mourning. This was never a symbol of repentance. In the Bible, Tamar one of King David’s daughters was the first person to demonstrate this.

Even then, it had no spiritual significance. But the RCC has blown it out of proportion and taken it to another level.

And Tamar put ashes on her head, and rent her garment of divers [colors] that was on her, and laid her hand on her head, and went on crying” (2 Samuel 13:19).

Tamar placed ashes on her head because her half-brother Amnon raped her. By placing ashes on her head, she was indicating to all that she was mourning and in distress.

She didn’t place it on her forehead but on her head and in her hair. 

The marking of the cross with ashes on the forehead and on “Ash Wednesday” is a deception of Satan.

Such practices keep the spiritually ignorant enslaved to ignorance and religion.

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Could Babies Repent?

Ashes on the Face – A Great Disguise

However, the next person to utilize ashes wasn’t mourning but he was using it as a creative and simple disguise.

“The Prophet” of God, the Bible didn’t provide his name, placed ashes on his face to disguise himself which allowed him to get close to Ahab, king of Israel, and remained unrecognizable.

So[,] the prophet departed, and waited for the king by the way, and disguised himself with ashes upon his face” (1 Kings 20:38).

However, as soon as he delivered the word from God to Ahab, he removed his disguise.

Recall, I wrote that the Lord God is a Spirit. Therefore, He doesn’t speak to us directly. Most times, He uses one of his angels or a person to speak to us.

This is a perfect example of that. Read the entire narrative in 1 Kings 20:1-43.

And he hasted, and took the ashes away from his face; and the king of Israel discerned him that he was of the prophets” (1 Kings 20:41).

Again, note that “the prophet” didn’t just place ashes on his forehead but it was covering his entire face. It was his disguise.

What is the Religious Significance of Ash Wednesday?

As a result, we observe from the scriptures above, that neither Tamar nor “The Prophet” placed ashes on their forehead, nor did they repent while it was on them.

Don’t make the mistake of believing that marking a cross-of-ashes on your forehead on Ash Wednesday displays a time of repentance. It doesn’t.

And as a side note, babies cannot repent. They don’t know how to execute that!

This is a deception! This is not biblical.

In the Scriptures, the Jews utilized sackcloth and ashes to indicate fasting, repenting, and mourning.

But marking ashes on your face on “Ash Wednesday” is not the same thing (Esther 4:1; Daniel 9:3; Luke 10:13).

The former practice is scriptural but the latter is a spawn of Satan.

The world celebrates Ash Wednesday as the start of Lent. But is it even biblical?

What Is The Meaning of Lent?

They say, that Lent is a period of approximately 40 days of fasting, prayer, and repentance observed by many Christians, particularly in the Western Church.

They also say that it begins on Ash Wednesday and ends on Holy Saturday, the day before Easter Sunday.

However, the word “Lent” comes from the Old English word “lencten,” which means “springtime” or “lengthening of days.

Globally, many Christians, observe Lent as a time of preparation for Easter. They see it as one of the most important Christian holidays commemorating the resurrection of Jesus Christ.

During Lent, Christians may choose to fast or give up certain luxuries or indulgences as a form of self-discipline and sacrifice.

They may also attend special religious services, engage in acts of charity and penance, and reflect on their spiritual lives and relationship with God.

Finally, they say that the purpose of Lent is to deepen one’s faith and to prepare oneself for the joyous celebration of Easter.

Conclusion

Did Jesus Teach About Ash Wednesday?

So, to conclude, “Ash Wednesday” is not in the Holy Bible. Additionally, all its rituals and practices are man-made and Satanic-inspired.

Neither does it represent a day of repentance. Christians don’t need Ash Wednesday to repent. We repent daily!

Consequently, nowhere in Scripture or history did Jesus mention it.

Not only did Jesus not teach about this day but he never practiced it.

If it’s not in the Bible, and Jesus never taught it nor did his disciples, how could it be important?

If It’s Not in the Bible Don’t Embrace It

Folks, be wary of the customs and traditions that you follow. If they are not biblical discard them.

By keeping them you could be worshipping devils and demons in ignorance and furthering the kingdom of darkness instead of the kingdom of heaven.

I would rather follow Jesus than the RCC!

Finally, taking all of the above into consideration both Easter and Ash Wednesday are sailing in the same boat. They are the seeds of religion and not of Christ.

Worship the Lord God by adoring Jesus Christ. And one of the ways we do this is by adhering to his teachings.

We should never empower Satanic doctrines to scatter our focus from Jesus by practicing rituals that he never sanctioned.

So, be steadfast, unmovable, and always trusting in Jesus Christ.


Leroy A. Daley

Leroy A. Daley is an author, blogger, YouTuber, and Bible teacher. Globally, he's helped hundreds of Christians understand the Bible better. He has been studying and teaching the Bible for more than forty years. He is passionate about the Lord and spends quality time with the Word of God every day. His Books are available for purchase wherever books are sold.

This Post Has 2 Comments

  1. Becky

    This has been an incredibly wonderful Bible Study. Tһanks for pr᧐viding these dеtails on Ash Wednesday.

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