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Teaching About Fasting. 16 “When you fast,[a] do not look gloomy like the hypocrites. They neglect their appearance, so that they may appear to others to be fasting. Amen, I say to you, they have received their reward. 17 But when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face, 18 so that you may not appear to others to be fasting, except to your Father who is hidden. And your Father who sees what is hidden will repay you.

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Footnotes

  1. 6:16 The only fast prescribed in the Mosaic law was that of the Day of Atonement (Lv 16:31), but the practice of regular fasting was common in later Judaism; cf. Didache 9:1.

Concerning Fasting

16 “And whenever you fast, do not look dismal, like the hypocrites, for they disfigure their faces so as to show others that they are fasting. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward. 17 But when you fast, put oil on your head and wash your face, 18 so that your fasting may be seen not by others but by your Father who is in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you.[a]

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Footnotes

  1. Matthew 6:18 Other ancient authorities add openly

Showy fasting

16 “And when you fast, don’t put on a sad face like the hypocrites. They distort their faces so people will know they are fasting. I assure you that they have their reward. 17 When you fast, brush your hair and wash your face. 18 Then you won’t look like you are fasting to people, but only to your Father who is present in that secret place. Your Father who sees in secret will reward you.

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Fasting; The True Treasure; Wealth

16 “Now (A)whenever you fast, do not make a gloomy face as the hypocrites do, for they [a]distort their faces so that they will be noticed by people when they are fasting. (B)Truly I say to you, they have their reward in full. 17 But as for you, when you fast, [b](C)anoint your head and wash your face, 18 so that your fasting will not be noticed by people but by your Father who is in secret; and your (D)Father who sees what is done in secret will reward you.

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Footnotes

  1. Matthew 6:16 I.e., leave unwashed, or discolor their faces with makeup
  2. Matthew 6:17 I.e., rub oil in the hair

Fasting

16 “When you fast,(A) do not look somber(B) as the hypocrites do, for they disfigure their faces to show others they are fasting. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full. 17 But when you fast, put oil on your head and wash your face, 18 so that it will not be obvious to others that you are fasting, but only to your Father, who is unseen; and your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.(C)

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