Matthew 6:18

18 so that you don't show your fasting to people but to your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you. [a]

Matthew 6:18 Meaning and Commentary

Matthew 6:18

That thou appear not unto men to fast
Which is just the reverse of the hypocrites, the Scribes and Pharisees; and quite contrary to the customs of the Jews, who when they fasted, particularly on their noted fasts F12,

``brought out the ark into the street of the city, and put burnt ashes upon it, and upon the head of the prince, and upon the head of the president of the sanhedrim, and every man upon his own head.''

All which was done, to be seen of men to fast; but Christ directs to such sorts of fasting, and which is to be done in such a manner, as only to be seen by God:

but unto thy Father which is in secret;
who is invisible, and who sees what is done in secret, and takes notice of the internal exercise of grace; which he approves of, and prefers to outward fastings; and

thy Father which seeth in secret, shall reward thee openly:
and to have honour from God, is infinitely more than to have the applause of men; for as God delights in, so he will reward his own grace with glory.


FOOTNOTES:

F12 Misn. Taanith, c. 2. sect. 1.

Matthew 6:18 In-Context

16 "Whenever you fast, don't be sad-faced like the hypocrites. For they make their faces unattractive so their fasting is obvious to people. I assure you: They've got their reward!
17 But when you fast, put oil on your head, and wash your face,
18 so that you don't show your fasting to people but to your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.
19 "Don't collect for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal.
20 But collect for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys, and where thieves don't break in and steal.

Footnotes 1

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