Matthew 6:16 kjv
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 have their reward.
Matthew 6:16 nkjv
"Moreover, when you fast, do not be like the hypocrites, with a sad countenance. For they disfigure their faces that they may appear to men to be fasting. Assuredly, I say to you, they have their reward.
Matthew 6:16 niv
"When you fast, do not look somber 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.
Matthew 6:16 esv
"And when you fast, do not look gloomy like the hypocrites, for they disfigure their faces that their fasting may be seen by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward.
Matthew 6:16 nlt
"And when you fast, don't make it obvious, as the hypocrites do, for they try to look miserable and disheveled so people will admire them for their fasting. I tell you the truth, that is the only reward they will ever get.
Matthew 6 16 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Mt 6:1 | "Beware of practicing your righteousness before other people..." | General principle of hidden acts of devotion. |
| Mt 6:4, 6, 18 | "...your Father who sees in secret will reward you." | God sees secret devotion and rewards openly. |
| Mt 23:5 | "They do all their deeds to be seen by others..." | Jesus condemns all actions done for public show. |
| Isa 58:3-7 | "Is such the fast that I choose... but to loose the bonds of wickedness?" | God defines true, righteous fasting (justice, compassion). |
| Joel 2:12-13 | "Rend your hearts and not your garments." | Emphasizes internal repentance over outward display. |
| Zech 7:5-6 | "When you fasted... was it actually for Me?" | God questions the motive behind their fasting. |
| Rom 12:9 | "Let love be genuine. Abhor what is evil..." | Principle of genuine actions without hypocrisy. |
| 2 Cor 5:12 | "...not to boast in outward appearance but in the heart." | Contrasting outward show with inner truth. |
| Phil 2:3 | "Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit..." | Humility and genuine service. |
| Jas 3:17 | "The wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable... without hypocrisy." | Purity and sincerity as marks of true wisdom. |
| Jn 5:44 | "How can you believe, when you receive glory from one another..." | Those who seek human glory cannot believe in Christ. |
| Gal 1:10 | "Am I now seeking the approval of man, or of God?" | Paul contrasts seeking human approval vs. divine. |
| 1 Thess 2:6 | "Nor did we seek glory from people..." | Apostolic example of not seeking human praise. |
| Prov 16:2 | "All the ways of a man are pure in his own eyes, but the Lord weighs the spirit." | God examines motives, not just actions. |
| 1 Sam 16:7 | "...for the Lord sees not as man sees: man looks on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart." | Divine insight into true motivations. |
| Ps 51:17 | "The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart..." | True worship comes from a humble and penitent heart. |
| Mt 9:14-15 | Jesus' disciples don't fast while He's with them. | Fasting is context-dependent, not an absolute rule. |
| Acts 13:2-3 | Disciples fasted and prayed before sending out missionaries. | Example of purposeful, sincere fasting in NT church. |
| Neh 1:4 | Nehemiah fasts and mourns, weeping before God. | Example of genuine, not public, mourning and fasting. |
| 1 Pet 1:22 | "Having purified your souls by your obedience to the truth for a sincere brotherly love..." | Purity and sincerity in Christian love. |
| Lk 6:24 | "But woe to you who are rich, for you have received your comfort in full." | Parallel warning about those who receive their earthly reward. |
Matthew 6 verses
Matthew 6 16 Meaning
Matthew 6:16 warns against hypocritical fasting done for public admiration rather than genuine devotion to God. Jesus teaches that true spiritual practices, including fasting, should be done in sincerity, for God alone, and not as a display to earn human praise. Those who fast publicly for recognition have already received their complete, earthly reward and will receive no further heavenly commendation from the Father.
Matthew 6 16 Context
Matthew chapter 6 is part of Jesus' Sermon on the Mount, where He outlines the ethics and righteousness of the Kingdom of Heaven, contrasting it with the superficial religiosity common among some Jewish leaders of His time. Verses 1-18 address three core practices of Jewish piety: giving to the needy (alms), prayer, and fasting. In each case, Jesus instructs His disciples to perform these acts with genuine motives, doing them in secret so that only God, who sees in secret, is their audience and rewarder. He directly challenges the "hypocrites" who perform these duties openly to gain human approval. Matthew 6:16 specifically tackles the issue of ostentatious fasting, immediately following His teaching on prayer and preceding a warning against seeking earthly treasures. Historically, fasting was a widely practiced spiritual discipline in Judaism, both ritually commanded (like Yom Kippur) and voluntarily observed. The problem Jesus addresses is not the practice itself, but its corruption into a public performance for social status or piety display.
Matthew 6 16 Word analysis
Moreover: (Greek: kai) A conjunction linking this teaching on fasting to the preceding discussions on almsgiving and prayer, indicating a continuous theme of authentic piety versus hypocritical show.
When you fast: (Greek: hotan nēsteuēte) Indicates an expectation or assumption that His followers would fast, rather than a direct command to do so. It was a common, voluntary spiritual practice. Nēsteuō means to abstain from food for religious reasons, to humble oneself before God.
Do not be like the hypocrites: (Greek: mē ginesthe hōs hoi hypokritai) A direct prohibition. Hypokritai literally means "actors" or "pretenders" in a play, who wear masks to assume roles. Here, it refers to those whose outward actions contradict their inward intentions, feigning piety for human applause. This is a severe indictment against insincere religiosity.
with their sad faces / dismal faces: (Greek: skythrōpoi) Literally "of a gloomy, sad, sorrowful countenance." It describes the facial expression typically associated with mourning or deep distress. In this context, it describes a deliberate attempt to appear gaunt, unkempt, or sorrowful to signal their fasting to others.
for they disfigure their faces: (Greek: aphanizousin ta prosōpa autōn) Aphanizō means to make unseen, deface, neglect, or cause to disappear. It suggests a conscious effort to alter their appearance—perhaps by neglecting to wash, apply oil (which was common for daily grooming), or by sprinkling ash/dust—to look pale, drawn, or miserable. This was done to draw attention to their perceived piety.
so that others may see they are fasting: (Greek: hopōs phanōsin tois anthrōpois nēsteuontes) Reveals the clear, condemned motive: to be publicly observed and praised. Their spiritual exercise became a performative act.
Truly I tell you: (Greek: Amēn legō hymin) A common, authoritative declaration used by Jesus, emphasizing the absolute truth and solemnity of what follows. It asserts His divine authority and truthfulness.
they have received their reward in full: (Greek: apechousin ton misthon autōn) Apechō is a commercial or legal term meaning "to have received in full," like a receipt marked "paid." It implies a complete and final transaction. Their "reward" (misthos) was the human praise, admiration, or recognition they sought. Since they've already "cashed out" that earthly glory, there is no more reward awaiting them from God. This underscores the mutually exclusive nature of human and divine approbation.
Words-group analysis:
- "When you fast... do not be like the hypocrites": This contrasts the expected, authentic spiritual practice with its distorted, public-facing counterpart, immediately setting up the central warning against pretense.
- "sad faces... disfigure their faces so that others may see they are fasting": This phrase details the specific external actions of the hypocrites, linking their appearance to their ulterior motive of seeking human recognition. It vividly illustrates their manipulative display of piety.
- "Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full": This authoritative declaration reveals the ultimate consequence of such performative piety. It functions as a judicial verdict: they have already gotten what they desired from humanity, thus forfeiting any heavenly reward.
Matthew 6 16 Bonus section
The teaching in Matthew 6:16 underscores the holistic nature of faith. God is concerned not just with our actions but, more profoundly, with our motivations and the condition of our hearts. True righteousness, according to Jesus, stems from a pure heart directed towards God, seeking His approval alone. This contrasts sharply with the common human tendency to perform good deeds for social validation. Jesus implies that performing a good deed for public praise actually drains it of its spiritual value in God's eyes. It serves as a reminder that disciplines like fasting are tools for spiritual growth, meant to cultivate intimacy with God, rather than ends in themselves or means to demonstrate piety to others. This principle applies not only to fasting but to all areas of Christian living, challenging believers to examine their innermost intentions.
Matthew 6 16 Commentary
Matthew 6:16 is a poignant warning from Jesus against the performative aspects of spiritual disciplines, specifically focusing on fasting. It's a foundational teaching on sincerity in one's devotion to God. Jesus doesn't condemn fasting itself—He assumes His followers will fast—but the motive behind it. The "hypocrites" He addresses are not merely pretending to fast, but fast with the ulterior motive of being seen and praised by others. Their disfigured or mournful appearances are deliberate signals designed to attract public attention and elicit commendation for their perceived piety. This outward display, chosen over inner devotion, directly negates any spiritual benefit. By stating "they have received their reward in full," Jesus emphasizes a profound spiritual truth: human applause and divine approbation are mutually exclusive for acts intended for public display. If one's primary aim is earthly recognition, that recognition is their reward, leaving no heavenly recompense from the Father who sees in secret. The true purpose of fasting, and all spiritual disciplines, is to draw closer to God, not to gain human admiration. It cultivates humility, reliance on God, and repentance, meant to be a private act of communion between an individual and their Creator.