Matthew 6:16-21

Fasting; The True Treasure; Wealth (Mammon)

16 "¹Whenever you fast, do not put on a gloomy face as the hypocrites do, for they neglect their appearance so that they will be noticed by men when they are fasting. ²Truly I say to you, they have their reward in full.

17 "But you, when you fast, ³anoint your head and wash your face

18 so that your fasting will not be noticed by men, but by your Father who is in secret; and your ⁴Father who sees what is done in secret will reward you.

19 "⁵Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal.

20 "But store up for yourselves ⁶treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys, and where thieves do not break in or steal;

21 for ⁷where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

Cross References

• 1. Isaiah 58:5
• 2. Matthew 6:2
• 3. Ruth 3:3; 2 Samuel 12:20
• 4. Matthew 6:4, 6
• 5. Proverbs 23:4; Matthew 19:21; Luke 12:21, 33; Luke 18:22; 1 Timothy 6:9, 10; Hebrews 13:5; James 5:2
• 6. Matthew 19:21; Luke 12:33; 1 Timothy 6:19
• 7. Luke 12:34

Footnotes

• [a]. Lit "distort their faces", i.e. discolor their faces with makeup