Luke 18:12

“I fast twice in the week, etc.] Not “on the sabbath”, as the words may be literally rendered, and as they are in the Vulgate Latin and Ethiopic versions; for the sabbath was not a fasting, but a feasting day with the Jews; for they were obliged to eat three meals, or feasts, on a sabbath day, one in the morning, another at evening, and another at the time of the meat offering: even the poorest man in Israel, who was maintained by alms, was obliged to keep these three feasts f582. It was forbidden a man to fast, until the sixth hour, on a sabbath day; that is, till noon f583: wherefore, it is a great mistake in Justin f584 and Suetonius f585, that the sabbath was kept by the Jews as a fast.…”

“I fast twice ... - This was probably the Jewish custom. The Pharisees are said to have fasted regularly on the second and fifth days of every week in private. This was “in addition” to the public days of fasting required in the law of Moses, and they, therefore, made more a matter of “merit” of it because it was voluntary. I give tithes - A tithe means the tenth part of a thing. A tenth part of the possessions of the Jews was required for the support of the Levites, Numbers 18:21. In addition to the tithes required strictly by law, the Pharisees had tithed everything which they possessed even the smallest matters - as mint, anise, cummin, etc., Luke 11:42. It was “this,” probably, on which…”

“I fast twice in the week - So did all the strict Pharisees: every Monday and Thursday. I give tithes of all that I possess - Many of them gave one full tenth of their income in tithes, and another tenth in alms. the sum of this plea is, I do no harm: I use all the means of grace: I do all the good I can. Luke 18:13”

“18:12 I fast twice a week, and I give you a tenth of my income: Fasting and tithing were signs of piety in Judaism. The law required fasting only once a year (Lev 16:29-31), but pious Jews in Jesus’ day fasted twice a week (see also Luke 5:33; 11:41-42).”

“fast: Luk 17:10; Num 23:4; Sa1 15:13; Kg2 10:16; Isa 1:15, Isa 58:2, Isa 58:3; Zac 7:5, Zac 7:6; Mat 6:1, Mat 6:5, Mat 6:16, Mat 9:14, Mat 15:7-9; Rom 3:27, Rom 10:1-3; Co1 1:29; Gal 1:14; Eph 2:9; Ti1 4:8 I give: Luk 11:42; Lev 27:30-33; Num 18:24; Mal 3:8; Mat 23:23, Mat 23:24 Luke 18:13”