Matthew 6:16 Meaning and Explanation
“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.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →Fasting turned into a gloomy display earns human pity but nothing from God; the showy face has its whole reward already.
What Does Matthew 6:16 Mean?
Jesus comes to the third pillar of devotion, fasting, and the familiar pattern returns. He pictures those who advertise their fasting with downcast, neglected faces, deliberately looking miserable so that everyone will know what they are enduring.
The play on words is sharp: they 'disfigure' their faces in order to 'appear' to others -- they ruin their looks to be looked at. The whole point has shifted from seeking God to being seen by people. Such fasting collects its full payment in human admiration and reaches no further. Jesus does not abolish fasting; he rescues it from vanity. True fasting is a private hunger for God, not a costume of holiness worn for the crowd to notice and praise.
Frequently Asked Questions About Matthew 6:16
What does Matthew 6:16 mean?
Fasting turned into a gloomy display earns human pity but nothing from God; the showy face has its whole reward already.