Matthew 6:17 kjv
But thou, when thou fastest, anoint thine head, and wash thy face;
Matthew 6:17 nkjv
But you, when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face,
Matthew 6:17 niv
But when you fast, put oil on your head and wash your face,
Matthew 6:17 esv
But when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face,
Matthew 6:17 nlt
But when you fast, comb your hair and wash your face.
Matthew 6 17 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Mt 6:4 | "That thine alms may be in secret: and thy Father...shall reward thee..." | God sees and rewards secret acts of charity. |
| Mt 6:6 | "Enter into thy closet, and...pray to thy Father which is in secret..." | God sees and rewards secret prayer. |
| Mt 6:16 | "...be not, as the hypocrites, of a sad countenance: for they disfigure their faces..." | Direct contrast to the behavior described in 6:17. |
| Isa 58:3-7 | "Is not this the fast that I have chosen? to loose the bands of wickedness..." | True fasting involves spiritual righteousness and social justice. |
| Joel 2:12-13 | "Turn ye even to me with all your heart...and rend your heart, and not your garments..." | Emphasizes inward repentance over outward show. |
| Zec 7:5-6 | "When ye fasted...did ye at all fast unto me, even to me?" | Fasting's true audience should be God, not self. |
| Neh 8:9-10 | "...mourn not, nor weep...for the joy of the LORD is your strength." | Believers should have a spirit of joy, even in devotion. |
| Eccl 9:8 | "Let thy garments be always white; and let thy head lack no ointment." | Normal grooming practices associated with wellbeing. |
| Ruth 3:3 | "Wash thyself therefore, and anoint thee, and put thy raiment upon thee..." | Example of anointing as part of preparing oneself. |
| 2 Sam 12:20 | "Then David arose from the earth, and washed, and anointed himself..." | After a period of mourning/fasting, one returns to normalcy. |
| Ps 23:5 | "Thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over." | Anointing as a sign of blessing, refreshment, hospitality. |
| Lk 7:46 | "My head with oil thou didst not anoint: but this woman hath anointed my feet..." | Reference to the common custom of anointing with oil. |
| 1 Sam 16:7 | "...for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the LORD looketh on the heart." | God's focus is always on internal condition. |
| Jer 17:10 | "I the LORD search the heart, I try the reins..." | God knows the true motives of the heart. |
| Lk 12:2 | "For there is nothing covered, that shall not be revealed..." | Everything hidden will ultimately be made known. |
| Lk 14:11 | "For whosoever exalteth himself shall be abased..." | Warnings against seeking self-exaltation. |
| Phil 4:4 | "Rejoice in the Lord always: and again I say, Rejoice." | A general exhortation to maintain joy in Christ. |
| Rom 12:1-2 | "...present your bodies a living sacrifice...be not conformed to this world..." | Call to sincere, transformed living not reliant on external norms. |
| Col 3:23-24 | "And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men..." | Perform all tasks, including spiritual duties, for God. |
| Heb 4:13 | "Neither is there any creature that is not manifest in his sight..." | Everything is exposed before God. |
| 1 Cor 8:8 | "But meat commendeth us not to God..." | Outward practices don't determine standing with God. |
| Tit 1:16 | "They profess that they know God; but in works they deny him..." | Contrasts outward profession with internal reality. |
Matthew 6 verses
Matthew 6 17 Meaning
This verse instructs disciples how to engage in the spiritual discipline of fasting with the right heart. In direct contrast to the hypocritical practices of those who fast conspicuously to be seen and praised by others, believers are told to perform normal grooming routines like anointing their head with oil and washing their face. The purpose is to conceal their fasting from human observers, ensuring their act of devotion is known only to God, who sees in secret and will reward them. It emphasizes the internal purity of motivation over external display.
Matthew 6 17 Context
Matthew 6:17 is embedded within Jesus' Sermon on the Mount, specifically in the section dealing with acts of righteousness (alms, prayer, and fasting). This chapter strongly emphasizes that genuine spiritual acts are performed with pure motives for God's glory, not for human acclaim. The verse follows directly from Matthew 6:16, which describes the hypocritical practice of disfiguring oneself to display fasting publicly. Therefore, verse 17 is a direct, imperative counter-instruction to adopt practices that would conceal the fasting, ensuring the devotion remains a private transaction between the individual and God. This passage reflects a consistent polemic throughout the Sermon against external shows of piety that lack true inward devotion, contrasting them with humble and sincere acts performed in secret before God.
Matthew 6 17 Word analysis
- But thou: This phrase sets up a stark contrast (ἀντί – anti, 'but, on the contrary') with the hypocrites described in the previous verse (Mt 6:16). It signifies a personal, direct instruction from Jesus to His true disciples, distinguishing their behavior from that of external observers. It signals a shift from negative example to positive command.
- when thou fastest: This acknowledges that fasting is a legitimate and expected practice within the disciples' lives. Jesus does not prohibit fasting but corrects the manner of its execution. The Greek is nistεύῃς (nēsteuēis), an assumed future or general practice.
- anoint thine head: The Greek word for "anoint" here is ἀλείφω (aleiphō), which means to rub with oil or salve. This was a common daily hygienic and refreshing practice in the ancient Near East, especially in hot climates. Oil was used for moisturising skin, keeping hair supple, and often for perfume. It implies presenting oneself as refreshed and well-kept. It contrasts with ceremonial anointing (χρίω - chriō), used for prophets, priests, and kings. During fasting or mourning, people typically omitted anointing and washing (2 Sam 14:2). Jesus commands His followers to perform this normal grooming routine to disguise their fast.
- and wash thy face: The Greek word is νίπτω (niptō), meaning to wash specific parts of the body, distinct from general bathing (λούω - louō). Like anointing, washing the face was a daily routine that kept a person looking clean and presentable. Those who wanted to conspicuously show their fasting often neglected personal hygiene, looking unkempt and solemn.
- But thou, when thou fastest, anoint thine head, and wash thy face: This entire phrase forms the core command. It emphasizes that the believer’s actions during fasting should reflect normalcy and even joy, rather than austerity or visible self-denial. The underlying message, completed in verse 18, is to make the fast an act of devotion witnessed solely by God, thus ensuring genuine piety rather than performance for human applause.
Matthew 6 17 Bonus section
The concept presented in Matthew 6:17 is not merely about fasting; it embodies a foundational principle for all spiritual disciplines. Whether giving, praying, or fasting, the instruction remains consistent: true righteousness is practiced for an audience of one—God—not for human accolades. This approach encourages inner integrity, where actions are motivated by love for God rather than the desire for personal commendation. It implies that true joy in God should permeate even disciplines that involve self-denial, negating any somber public display of sacrifice. This principle also protects against the corruption of piety into a vehicle for pride or manipulation. Furthermore, this passage is often cited to underscore the need for discretion in personal acts of faith, promoting humility and preventing the self-congratulatory spirit that Jesus vehemently condemned.
Matthew 6 17 Commentary
Matthew 6:17 delivers a vital lesson on authenticity in religious practice. Jesus contrasts the self-promoting, outwardly visible piety of the hypocrites with the humble, secret devotion of His true followers. For the hypocrite, fasting became a performative act, a visible declaration of their self-imposed righteousness meant to solicit praise from onlookers. By deliberately appearing disheveled and sorrowful, they broadcast their sacrifice.
Jesus radically overturns this. Instead of conforming to the societal expectation of displaying piety, He instructs His disciples to engage in everyday grooming—anointing their heads and washing their faces. These actions were routine parts of daily life, signalling freshness and normalcy. The command, therefore, is to present oneself as if not fasting, effectively concealing the spiritual discipline from public view. This instruction redirects the worshipper's gaze from horizontal (men) to vertical (God). The true value of an act of devotion lies not in its visibility to others, but in its sincere motivation and the fact that it is known to the Omniscient Father. God, who perceives what is hidden, values genuine intent over public show and will, in His time, acknowledge and reward such sincere, private devotion. This fosters an intimate relationship where faith is lived out for God alone.