Matthew 6:16

But when ye fast, do not ye be made as (the) hypocrites (be, looking) sorrowful, for they deface themselves, [or they put their faces out of kindly (or natural) terms], to seem fasting to men; truly I say to you, they have received their meed, (or I tell you the truth, they have received their reward).

Wycliffe Modern Spelling

In The King James Version

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.

In Context

15Soothly if ye forgive not to men [the sins of them], neither your Father shall forgive to you your sins.

17But when thou fastest, anoint thine head, and wash thy face,

Read all of Matthew 6

Cross References

2 Samuel 12:16And David prayed to the Lord for the little child; and David fasted by fasting, and entered asides half, and lay on the earth (or and lay on the floor all night).

1 Kings 21:27Therefore when Ahab had heard these words, he rent his cloth (or he tore his cloak), and covered his flesh with an hair-shirt, and he fasted, and slept in a sackcloth, and went with the head cast down.

Esther 4:16Go thou, and gather together all the Jews, which thou findest in Susa, and pray ye for me; eat ye not, that is, fast ye, neither drink ye, in three days and three nights, and I with mine handmaidens shall fast in like manner; and then I not called, shall enter in to the king, and I shall do against the law, and I shall betake me to death and to peril. (Go thou, and gather together all the Jews, whom thou findest in Susa, and pray ye for me; eat ye not, that is, fast ye, and drink ye not, for three days and three nights, and I shall fast with my servantesses in like manner; and then though I be not called, I shall go to the king, and I shall go against the law, and I shall deliver myself unto peril and even death.)

Psalms 69:10And I covered my soul with fasting; and it was made into shame to me. (I humbled myself by fasting; and I was reproached for even that.)

Isaiah 58:3Why fasted we, and thou beheldest not; we meeked our souls, and thou knewest not? Lo! your will is found in the day of your fasting, and ye ask all your debtors. ( But they also say, Why did we fast, if thou beheldest not? why did we meek, or humble, our souls, if thou knewest not? And I replieth, Behold! ye pursue your own desires on the day of your fast, and ye oppress all your workers.)

Zechariah 7:3that they should say to priests of the house of the Lord of hosts, and to prophets, and speak, Whether it is to weep to me in the fifth month, either I shall hallow me, as I did now many years? (and so that they could ask the priests of the House of the Lord of hosts, and the prophets, Is it for me to weep and to consecrate, or to dedicate, myself in the fifth month, as I have done now for so many years?)

Matthew Henry on Matthew 6:10-16

The Sermon on the Mount. 9 After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. 10 Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven. 11 Give us this day our daily bread. 12 And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. 13 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. 14 For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you: 15 But if ye… Read the whole commentary →

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Study Matthew 6:16