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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

Teaching about Fasting

16 “Whenever you fast, don’t be gloomy like the hypocrites, because they put on sad faces to show others they are fasting. I tell all of you[a] with certainty, they have their full reward! 17 But when you fast, put oil on[b] your head and wash your face, 18 so that your fasting will not be noticed by others but by your Father who is in the hidden place. And your Father who watches from the hidden place will reward you.”[c]

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Footnotes

  1. Matthew 6:16 The Gk. pronoun you is pl.
  2. Matthew 6:17 Or anoint
  3. Matthew 6:18 Other mss. read reward you openly