Matthew 6:18

18 that thou appear not unto men to fast, but unto thy Father who is in secret; and thy Father, who sees in secret, shall reward thee openly.

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.

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FOOTNOTES:

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

Matthew 6:18 In-Context

16 Moreover when ye fast, be not, as the hypocrites, of a sad countenance, for they disfigure their faces that they may appear unto men to fast. Verily I say unto you, They already have their reward.

17 But thou, when thou dost fast, anoint thine head, and wash thy face

18 that thou appear not unto men to fast, but unto thy Father who is in secret; and thy Father, who sees in secret, shall reward thee openly.

19 Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon the earth, where moth and rust corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal;

20 but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust corrupt and where thieves do not break through nor steal;