Matthew 6:18

18 Then people will not know that you are giving up eating, but your Father, whom you cannot see, will see you. Your Father sees what is done in secret, and he will reward you.

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 "When you give up eating, don't put on a sad face like the hypocrites. They make their faces look sad to show people they are giving up eating. I tell you the truth, those hypocrites already have their full reward.

17 So when you give up eating, comb your hair and wash your face.

18 Then people will not know that you are giving up eating, but your Father, whom you cannot see, will see you. Your Father sees what is done in secret, and he will reward you.

19 "Don't store treasures for yourselves here on earth where moths and rust will destroy them and thieves can break in and steal them.

20 But store your treasures in heaven where they cannot be destroyed by moths or rust and where thieves cannot break in and steal them.