Matthew 6:16
14 For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you.
15 But if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive yours.
When you fast, do not be somber like the hypocrites, for they disfigure their faces to show men they are fasting. Truly I tell you, they already have their full reward.
17 But when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face,
18 so that your fasting will not be obvious to men, but only to your Father, who is unseen. And your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.
Do read the surrounding verses too, because the context often says more than a single verse.
Compare
- BSB
- When you fast, do not be somber like the hypocrites, for they disfigure their faces to show men they are fasting. Truly I tell you, they already have their full reward.
- 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.
- WEB
- “Moreover when you fast, don’t be like the hypocrites, with sad faces. For they disfigure their faces that they may be seen by men to be fasting. Most certainly I tell you, they have received their reward.
- ASV
- Moreover when ye fast, be not, as the hypocrites, of a sad countenance: for they disfigure their faces, that they may be seen of men to fast. Verily I say unto you, They have received their reward.
- DARBY
- And when ye fast, be not as the hypocrites, downcast in countenance; for they disfigure their faces, so that they may appear fasting to men: verily I say unto you, They have their reward.
- BLB
- And when you⁺ may fast, do not be as the hypocrites, gloomy-faced; for they disfigure their faces so that they might appear to men [as] fasting. Truly I say to you⁺, they have their reward in full.
- ÅB
- «Når dere faster skal dere ikke gå med sorgfult ansikt slik som hyklerne; for de forvrenger ansiktet sitt for at menneskene skal se at de faster. I sannhet sier jeg dere: De har allerede fått sin lønn.
- OTB
- "Når du faster, skal du ikke se dyster ut som hyklerne, for de fordreier ansiktene sine for å vise andre at de faster. Sannelig, jeg sier dere, de har fått sin belønning i fullt monn.
- B1930
- Når I faster, da skal I ikke gå med mørkt åsyn som hyklerne; for de gjør sitt ansikt ukjennelig, forat menneskene skal se at de faster; sannelig sier jeg eder: De har allerede fått sin lønn.
Study notes (Tyndale)
Original text and word study
Cross references
Isaiah 58:3–5
“Why have we fasted, and You have not seen? Why have we humbled ourselves, and You have not noticed?” “Behold, on the day of your fast, you do as you please, and you oppress all your workers.
Read in contextMatthew 9:14–15
At that time John’s disciples came to Jesus and asked, “Why is it that we and the Pharisees fast so often, but Your disciples do not fast?”
Read in contextNehemiah 1:4
When I heard these words, I sat down and wept. I mourned for days, fasting and praying before the God of heaven.
Read in contextDaniel 9:3
So I turned my attention to the Lord God to seek Him by prayer and petition, with fasting, sackcloth, and ashes.
Read in contextPsalms 69:10
I wept and fasted, but it brought me reproach.
Read in contextLuke 18:12
I fast twice a week and pay tithes of all that I acquire.’
Read in contextPsalms 35:13
Yet when they were ill, I put on sackcloth; I humbled myself with fasting, but my prayers returned unanswered.
Read in contextMark 2:18
Now John’s disciples and the Pharisees were often fasting. So people came to Jesus and asked, “Why don’t Your disciples fast like John’s disciples and those of the Pharisees?”
Read in context