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Matthew 6

Take heed that ye do not your alms before men, to be seen of them: otherwise ye have no reward of your Father which is in heaven.

Therefore when thou doest thine alms, do not sound a trumpet before thee, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may have glory of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward.

But when thou doest alms, let not thy left hand know what thy right hand doeth:

That thine alms may be in secret: and thy Father which seeth in secret himself shall reward thee openly.

And when thou prayest, thou shalt not be as the hypocrites are: for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and in the corners of the streets, that they may be seen of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward.

But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly.

But when ye pray, use not vain repetitions, as the heathen do: for they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking.

Be not ye therefore like unto them: for your Father knoweth what things ye have need of, before ye ask him.

After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name.

Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.

Give us this day our daily bread.

And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.

And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.

For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you:

But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.

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.

But thou, when thou fastest, anoint thine head, and wash thy face;

That thou appear not unto men to fast, but unto thy Father which is in secret: and thy Father, which seeth in secret, shall reward thee openly.

Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal:

But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal:

For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.

The light of the body is the eye: if therefore thine eye be single, thy whole body shall be full of light.

But if thine eye be evil, thy whole body shall be full of darkness. If therefore the light that is in thee be darkness, how great is that darkness!

No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.

Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on. Is not the life more than meat, and the body than raiment?

Behold the fowls of the air: for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are ye not much better than they?

Which of you by taking thought can add one cubit unto his stature?

And why take ye thought for raiment? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin:

And yet I say unto you, That even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.

Wherefore, if God so clothe the grass of the field, which to day is, and to morrow is cast into the oven, shall he not much more clothe you, O ye of little faith?

Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed?

(For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things.

But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.

Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof.

What does Matthew 6:17 mean?

Explanation

Matthew 6:17 is part of the Sermon on the Mount, where Jesus Christ is giving instructions on various aspects of righteousness to his disciples and the gathered crowd.

This particular verse focuses on the appropriate way to fast, which is a practice of deliberately abstaining from food, drink, or both for a period of time, often for religious purposes.

Unlike the hypocrites who disfigure their faces to show others their fasting (as described in the previous verse, Matthew 6:16), Jesus instructs his followers to anoint their head and wash their face.

The instruction implies that one's fasting should be a private matter between the individual and God, rather than a public display of piety.

The anointing of the head and washing the face are acts to maintain a normal appearance, preventing fasting from becoming a spectacle for others to notice.

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Historical Context

During the time of Jesus, fasting was a common religious practice among Jews.

It was often done as a sign of repentance, mourning, or a way to focus on prayer and spiritual matters.

Public displays of fasting were common, with some individuals intentionally making themselves look disheveled or miserable to draw attention to their piety.

In the culture of the time, anointing the head with oil was a customary way to prepare for a feast or celebration, thus signifying joy, and washing was a normal part of personal hygiene.

By instructing his followers to anoint and wash, Jesus was teaching them to break from the external show of religiosity and shift the focus to the internal, heartfelt devotion to God.

Theological Insights

Different theological traditions may glean various insights from this verse. For example:

Catholic Perspective: Fasting is still observed, particularly during the season of Lent.

This verse may be seen as a guideline for the internal disposition Catholics should adopt during such times. It emphasizes sincerity in one's religious practices.

Protestant Perspective: Some Protestants may view this verse as reinforcing the idea that faith and practice are a personal matter between the individual and God, cautioning against legalistic displays of faith.
Eastern Orthodox Perspective: Fasting is a significant part of Eastern Orthodox spirituality. This passage could emphasize the transformative power of fasting when done with the right spirit.

Practical Applications

Practically, Matthew 6:17 suggests that followers of Christ should practice their faith with sincerity and not for the approval of others.

This teaching can be applied beyond fasting to any form of religious or spiritual discipline.

It calls for authenticity in one's faith journey, encouraging believers to focus on the substance of their relationship with God rather than on outward appearances.

Cross-References

Matthew 6:16: "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."

Isaiah 58:5-6: "Is it such a fast that I have chosen? a day for a man to afflict his soul?...

Is not this the fast that I have chosen? to loose the bands of wickedness, to undo the heavy burdens, and to let the oppressed go free, and that ye break every yoke?"

1 Samuel 16:7: "For man looketh on the outward appearance, but the Lord looketh on the heart."

Language Study

The key words in the original Greek text for this verse are:

νήστευσης (nēsteuēs): This verb corresponds to "thou fastest" and is derived from the noun "nēstis," which means fasting or not eating.
κρύψον (krypson): Translated as "anoint," it literally means "to cover" or "to hide," indicating a covering of the head with oil.
νίψαι (nipsai): The word "wash" in Greek, which emphasizes the act of cleaning or purification.

Exploring the original language reveals the emphasis on discreetness and normalcy in one's fasting practices.

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

In the ancient world, various religious traditions had fasting rituals. For instance, in ancient Greek religion, fasting might be practiced before certain holy days.

In contrast, the Hebrew tradition required fasting on specific days such as Yom Kippur. Jesus' teachings in this passage, while rooted in the Jewish custom of fasting, refocus the practice away from a public display and towards a personal, intimate act of devotion.

Scientific Perspectives

From a scientific viewpoint, modern research supports the idea that fasting can have various health benefits, such as improved metabolic health, increased longevity, and improved brain function.

However, Jesus' teaching does not focus on the physical but rather on the spiritual and ethical dimensions of fasting, guiding believers to focus on inward transformation over outward appearance.

Commentaries

Various Bible commentators have offered insights on this verse:

John Calvin: Emphasizes the contrast between the outward show of the hypocrites and the inward, secret discipline that Jesus advocates.
Matthew Henry: Suggests that Jesus does not abolish the duty of fasting but corrects the manner of it, ruling out all ostentation and advocating for sincerity.
William Barclay: Notes the importance of spiritual discipline being conducted with the aim of pleasing God, not gaining human approval.

Matthew 6

Matthew 6

What does Matthew 6:17 mean?

Explanation

Top Rated Matthew Books

Historical Context

Theological Insights

Practical Applications

Cross-References

Language Study

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

Scientific Perspectives

Commentaries

Want more context?

What does Matthew 6:17 mean?

Explanation

Top Rated Matthew Books

Historical Context

Theological Insights

Practical Applications

Cross-References

Language Study

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

Scientific Perspectives

Commentaries

Want more context?