Devine Scripture

Matthew 6:16

What does Matthew 6:16 mean?

A plain-English look at Matthew 6:16 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.

What Matthew 6:16 means

Jesus now addresses the practice of fasting, once again highlighting the danger of hypocrisy. He warns against adopting a somber or disfigured appearance when fasting, as the hypocrites did, explicitly "that they may be seen of men to fast." Their aim was to elicit pity or admiration through their visible asceticism. Just as with almsgiving and prayer, Jesus states that such showy displays receive their only reward from people, meaning no divine recognition or recompense.

Parallel translations

WEB

World English Bible · 2000

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.

KJV

King James Version · 1611

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.

ASV

American Standard Version · 1901

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.

BBE

Bible in Basic English · 1949

And when you go without food, be not sad-faced as the false-hearted are. For they go about with changed looks, so that men may see that they are going without food. Truly I say to you, They have their reward.

YLT

Young's Literal Translation · 1862

`And when ye may fast, be ye not as the hypocrites, of sour countenances, for they disfigure their faces, that they may appear to men fasting; verily I say to you, that they have their reward.

DRA

Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752

And when you fast, be not as the hypocrites, sad. For they disfigure their faces, that they may appear unto men to fast. Amen I say to you, they have received their reward.

DBY

Darby Bible · 1890

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.

Context

This verse marks the shift to the third and final example of righteous practices in this section of Matthew 6: fasting. It directly parallels Jesus' warnings in verse 2 (almsgiving) and verse 5 (prayer), using the same condemnation of hypocritical, public displays motivated by human praise. This sets the stage for Jesus to provide the proper, private way to fast, mirroring His previous instructions.

v.15But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.

v.16This passage

v.17But thou, when thou fastest, anoint thy head, and wash thy face;

Cross references

Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.

  • Isaiah 58:3

    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 your own pleasure, and exact all your labors.

  • Daniel 9:3

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

  • Acts 10:30

    And Cornelius said, Four days ago, until this hour, I was keeping the ninth hour of prayer in my house; and behold, a man stood before me in bright apparel,

  • Zechariah 7:3

    and to speak unto the priests of the house of Jehovah of hosts, and to the prophets, saying, Should I weep in the fifth month, separating myself, as I have done these so many years?

  • Malachi 3:14

    Ye have said, It is vain to serve God; and what profit is it that we have kept his charge, and that we have walked mournfully before Jehovah of hosts?

  • 1 Corinthians 7:5

    Defraud ye not one the other, except it be by consent for a season, that ye may give yourselves unto prayer, and may be together again, that Satan tempt you not because of your incontinency.

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