"Moreover when ye fast, be not, as the hypocrites, of a sad countenance: for they disfigure their faces, that they may ap…" — Matthew 6:16

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

Verse 15

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

Verse 17

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

Matthew 6 — Context

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.

Cross References

Isaiah 58:3-5

Wherefore have we fasted, {say they}, and thou seest not? {wherefore} have we afflicted our soul, and thou takest no knowledge? Behold, in the day of your fast ye find pleasure, and exact all your labours. {labours: or, things wherewith ye grieve others: Heb. griefs}

Matthew 9:14-15

Then came to him the disciples of John, saying, Why do we and the Pharisees fast oft, but thy disciples fast not?

Nehemiah 1:4

And it came to pass, when I heard these words, that I sat down and wept, and mourned {certain} days, and fasted, and prayed before the God of heaven,

Daniel 9:3

And I set my face unto the Lord God, to seek by prayer and supplications, with fasting, and sackcloth, and ashes:

Luke 18:12

I fast twice in the week, I give tithes of all that I possess.

Psalms 69:10

When I wept, {and chastened} my soul with fasting, that was to my reproach.

Acts 14:23

And when they had ordained them elders in every church, and had prayed with fasting, they commended them to the Lord, on whom they believed.

Mark 2:18

And the disciples of John and of the Pharisees used to fast: and they come and say unto him, Why do the disciples of John and of the Pharisees fast, but thy disciples fast not?