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Fasting

16 (A)Now whenever you fast, do not put on a gloomy face as the hypocrites do, for they [a]neglect their appearance so that they will be noticed by men when they are fasting. (B)Truly I say to you, they have their reward in full. 17 But you, when you fast, (C)anoint 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 (D)Father who sees what is done in secret will reward you.

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Footnotes

  1. Matthew 6:16 Discolor their faces with makeup; lit distort their faces

How to Fast

16 “Whenever you fast, don’t be gloomy like the hypocrites. For they disfigure their faces (A) so that their fasting is obvious to people. Truly I tell you, they have their reward. 17 But when you fast, put oil on your head and wash your face,(B) 18 so that your fasting isn’t obvious to others but to your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.[a]

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Footnotes

  1. 6:18 Other mss add openly