The Meaning of Matthew 6:16 Explained

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.

YLT: '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.

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.

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.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

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. 

What does Matthew 6:16 Mean?

Study Notes

reward
i.e. the praise of men.

Verse Meaning

Fasting in Israel involved going without food to engage in a spiritual exercise, usually prayer, with greater concentration. Fasting fostered and indicated self-humiliation before God, and confession often accompanied it ( Nehemiah 9:1-2; Psalm 35:13; Isaiah 58:3; Isaiah 58:5; Daniel 9:2-20; Daniel 10:2-3; Jonah 3:5; Acts 9:9). People who felt anguish, danger, or desperation gave up eating temporarily to present some special petition to the Lord in prayer ( Exodus 24:18; Judges 20:26; Matthew 4:1-257; 2 Chronicles 20:3; Ezra 8:21-23; Acts 13:1-3; 1711716688_9; Esther 4:16; Acts 14:23). Some pious believers fasted regularly ( Luke 2:37). The Pharisees fasted twice a week ( Luke 18:12). God only commanded the Israelites to fast on one day of the year, the Day of Atonement ( Leviticus 16:29-31; Leviticus 23:27-32; Numbers 29:7). However during the Exile the Israelites instituted additional regular fasts ( Zechariah 7:3-5; Zechariah 8:19). Fasting occurred in the early church and seems to have been a normal part of Christian self-discipline ( 1 Corinthians 9:24-27; Philippians 3:19; 1 Peter 4:3). Hypocritical fasting occurred in Israel long before Jesus" day ( Isaiah 58:1-7; Jeremiah 14:12; Zechariah 7:5-6), but the Pharisees were notorious for it.
"Fasting emphasized the denial of the flesh, but the Pharisees were glorifying their flesh by drawing attention to themselves." [1]
Jesus" point in this verse was that His disciples should avoid drawing attention to themselves when they fasted. He did not question the genuine contrition of some who fasted, but He pointed out that the hypocrites wanted the admiration of other people even more than they wanted God"s attention. Since that is what they really wanted, that is all they would get.

Context Summary

Matthew 6:9-18 - How To Pray And How To Fast
This might more fitly be termed the "disciples' prayer." As we tread its stately aisles, we cannot but think of the myriads who have stood on the same pavement, and have found, in every age, that these seven brief petitions express sufficiently their deepest and holiest longings. Old men and little children, Roman Catholics and Protestants, the servant and his master, east and west, stand together in this noble temple not made with hands.
Prayer should be direct, simple and earnest. It must be reverent, hallowing the Name; and unselfish, employing, we, us, and our,-not "I," "me," "mine." It must breathe the filial spirit which cries, "Abba, Father." It must be conceived in love and breathe forgiveness and trust for the supply of all the hunger of our nature. When God forgives, He forth-gives; that is, He casts out of His hand and mind and memory every trace of our sin. We may claim that God should repair as well as forgive; but we must be willing to deal with all others as God has dealt with us. [source]

Chapter Summary: Matthew 6

1  Giving to the Needy
5  The Lord's Prayer
16  Proper Fasting
19  Store up Treasures in Heaven
25  Do Not Worry
33  but seek God's kingdom

Greek Commentary for Matthew 6:16

Of a sad countenance [σκυτρωποι]
Only here and Luke 24:17 in the N.T. It is a compound of σκυτρος — skuthros (sullen) and οπς — ops (countenance). These actors or hypocrites “put on a gloomy look” (Goodspeed) and, if necessary, even “disfigure their faces” They conceal their real looks that they may seem to be fasting, conscious and pretentious hypocrisy. [source]
Ye fast [νηστεύητε]
Observe the force of the present tense as indicating action in progress: Whenever ye may be fasting. [source]
Of a sad countenance [σκυθρωποί]
An uncommon word in the New Testament, occurring only here and at Luke 24:17. Trench (“Studies in the Gospels”) explains it by the older sense of the English dreary, as expressing the downcast look of settled grief, pain, or displeasure. In classical Greek it also signifies sullenness and affected gravity. Luther renders, Look not sour. [source]
Disfigure [ἀφανίζουσιν]
The idea is rather conceal than disfigure. There is a play upon this word and φανῶσιν (they may appear ) which is untranslatable into English: they conceal or mask their true visage that they may appear unto men. The allusion is to the outward signs of humiliation which often accompanied fasting, such as being unwashed and unshaven and unanointed. “Avoid,” says Christ, “the squalor of the unwashed face and of the unkempt hair and beard, and the rather anoint thy head and wash thy face, so as to appear ( αφνῇς ) not unto men, but unto God as fasting.” Wycliffe's rendering is peculiar: They put their faces out of kindly terms. [source]

Reverse Greek Commentary Search for Matthew 6:16

Matthew 23:13 Hypocrites [υποκριται]
This terrible word of Jesus appears first from him in the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 6:2, Matthew 6:5, Matthew 6:16; Matthew 7:5), then in Matthew 15:7 and Matthew 22:18. Here it appears “with terrific iteration” (Bruce) save in the third of the seven woes (Matthew 23:13, Matthew 23:15, Matthew 23:23, Matthew 23:25, Matthew 23:27, Matthew 23:29). The verb in the active The MSS. that insert it put it either before Matthew 23:13 or after Matthew 23:13. Plummer cites these seven woes as another example of Matthew‘s fondness for the number seven, more fancy than fact for Matthew‘s Gospel is not the Apocalypse of John. These are all illustrations of Pharisaic saying and not doing (Allen). [source]
Luke 6:24 Have received [ἀπέχετε]
In Matthew 6:5, Matthew 6:16, the Rev. has properly changed “they have their reward” to “they have received. ” The verb, compounded of ἀπό , off orfrom, and ἔχω , lo have, literally means to have nothing left to desire. Thus in Philemon 4:18, when Paul says, “I have all things ( ἀπέχω πάντα ),” he does not mean merely an acknowledgment of the receipt of the Church's gift, but that he is fully furnished. “I have all things to the full.” [source]
Luke 24:17 And are sad [σκυθρωποί]
Only here and Matthew 6:16, on which see note. The best texts put the interrogation point after walk, add καὶ ἐστάθησαν , and render, and they stood still, looking sad. So Rev. [source]
Luke 12:1 Many thousands [μυριαδων]
Genitive absolute with επισυναχτεισων — episunachtheisōn (first aorist passive participle feminine plural because of μυριαδων — muriadōn), a double compound late verb, επισυναγω — episunagō to gather together unto. The word “myriads” is probably hyperbolical as in Acts 21:20, but in the sense of ten thousand, as in Acts 19:19, it means a very large crowd apparently drawn together by the violent attacks of the rabbis against Jesus.Insomuch that they trode one upon another (ωστε καταπατειν αλληλους — hōste katapatein allēlous). The imagination must complete the picture of this jam.Unto his disciples first of all This long discourse in Luke 12 is really a series of separate talks to various groups in the vast crowds around Jesus. This particular talk goes through Luke 12:12.Beware of (προσεχετε εαυτοις απο — prosechete heautois apo). Put your mind (νουν — noun understood) for yourselves (dative) and avoid (απο — apo with the ablative).The leaven of the Pharisees which is hypocrisy In Mark 8:15 Jesus had coupled the lesson of the Pharisees with that of Herod, in Matthew 16:6 with that of the Sadducees also. He had long ago called the Pharisees hypocrites (Matthew 6:2, Matthew 6:5, Matthew 6:16). The occasion was ripe here for this crisp saying. In Matthew 13:33 leaven does not have an evil sense as here. See note on Matthew 23:13 for hypocrites. Hypocrisy was the leading Pharisaic vice (Bruce) and was a mark of sanctity to hide an evil heart. [source]
Luke 12:1 Unto his disciples first of all [προς τους ματητας αυτου πρωτον]
This long discourse in Luke 12 is really a series of separate talks to various groups in the vast crowds around Jesus. This particular talk goes through Luke 12:12.Beware of (προσεχετε εαυτοις απο — prosechete heautois apo). Put your mind (νουν — noun understood) for yourselves (dative) and avoid (απο — apo with the ablative).The leaven of the Pharisees which is hypocrisy In Mark 8:15 Jesus had coupled the lesson of the Pharisees with that of Herod, in Matthew 16:6 with that of the Sadducees also. He had long ago called the Pharisees hypocrites (Matthew 6:2, Matthew 6:5, Matthew 6:16). The occasion was ripe here for this crisp saying. In Matthew 13:33 leaven does not have an evil sense as here. See note on Matthew 23:13 for hypocrites. Hypocrisy was the leading Pharisaic vice (Bruce) and was a mark of sanctity to hide an evil heart. [source]
Luke 12:1 The leaven of the Pharisees which is hypocrisy [της ζυμης ητις εστιν υποχρισις των Παρισαιων]
In Mark 8:15 Jesus had coupled the lesson of the Pharisees with that of Herod, in Matthew 16:6 with that of the Sadducees also. He had long ago called the Pharisees hypocrites (Matthew 6:2, Matthew 6:5, Matthew 6:16). The occasion was ripe here for this crisp saying. In Matthew 13:33 leaven does not have an evil sense as here. See note on Matthew 23:13 for hypocrites. Hypocrisy was the leading Pharisaic vice (Bruce) and was a mark of sanctity to hide an evil heart. [source]
Galatians 4:12 I am as ye are [κἀγὼ ὡς ἐγώ]
Rather, I became. Supply ἐγενόμην or γέγονα . Become as I am, for I became a Gentile like you. Comp. Philemon 3:7, Philemon 3:8. For the phrase γινέσθαι ὡς tobecome as, see Matthew 6:16; Romans 9:29; 1 Corinthians 4:13; 1 Corinthians 9:20-22. [source]
Philippians 4:18 I have all things [απεχω παντα]
As a receipt in full in appreciation of their kindness. Απεχω — Apechō is common in the papyri and the ostraca for “receipt in full” (Deissmann, Bible Studies, p. 110). See Matthew 6:2, Matthew 6:5, Matthew 6:16. [source]

What do the individual words in Matthew 6:16 mean?

Whenever now you fast not be like the hypocrites gloomy they disfigure for the appearance of them so that they might appear - to men [as] fasting Truly I say to you they have the reward
Ὅταν δὲ νηστεύητε μὴ γίνεσθε ὡς οἱ ὑποκριταὶ σκυθρωποί ἀφανίζουσιν γὰρ τὰ πρόσωπα αὐτῶν ὅπως φανῶσιν τοῖς ἀνθρώποις νηστεύοντες ἀμὴν λέγω ὑμῖν ἀπέχουσιν τὸν μισθὸν

Ὅταν  Whenever 
Parse: Conjunction
Root: ὅταν  
Sense: when, whenever, as long as, as soon as.
δὲ  now 
Parse: Conjunction
Root: δέ  
Sense: but, moreover, and, etc.
νηστεύητε  you  fast 
Parse: Verb, Present Subjunctive Active, 2nd Person Plural
Root: νηστεύω  
Sense: to abstain as a religious exercise from food and drink: either entirely, if the fast lasted but a single day, or from customary and choice nourishment, if it continued several days.
ὡς  like 
Parse: Adverb
Root: ὡς 
Sense: as, like, even as, etc.
ὑποκριταὶ  hypocrites 
Parse: Noun, Nominative Masculine Plural
Root: ὑποκριτής  
Sense: one who answers, an interpreter.
σκυθρωποί  gloomy 
Parse: Adjective, Nominative Masculine Plural
Root: σκυθρωπός  
Sense: of a sad and gloomy countenance.
ἀφανίζουσιν  they  disfigure 
Parse: Verb, Present Indicative Active, 3rd Person Plural
Root: ἀφανίζω  
Sense: to snatch out of sight, to put out of view, to make unseen.
πρόσωπα  appearance 
Parse: Noun, Accusative Neuter Plural
Root: πρόσωπον  
Sense: the face.
αὐτῶν  of  them 
Parse: Personal / Possessive Pronoun, Genitive Masculine 3rd Person Plural
Root: αὐτός  
Sense: himself, herself, themselves, itself.
ὅπως  so  that 
Parse: Conjunction
Root: ὅπως  
Sense: how, that.
φανῶσιν  they  might  appear 
Parse: Verb, Aorist Subjunctive Passive, 3rd Person Plural
Root: φαίνω  
Sense: to bring forth into the light, cause to shine, shed light.
τοῖς  - 
Parse: Article, Dative Masculine Plural
Root:  
Sense: this, that, these, etc.
ἀνθρώποις  to  men 
Parse: Noun, Dative Masculine Plural
Root: ἄνθρωπος  
Sense: a human being, whether male or female.
νηστεύοντες  [as]  fasting 
Parse: Verb, Present Participle Active, Nominative Masculine Plural
Root: νηστεύω  
Sense: to abstain as a religious exercise from food and drink: either entirely, if the fast lasted but a single day, or from customary and choice nourishment, if it continued several days.
ἀμὴν  Truly 
Parse: Hebrew Word
Root: ἀμήν  
Sense: firm.
λέγω  I  say 
Parse: Verb, Present Indicative Active, 1st Person Singular
Root: λέγω 
Sense: to say, to speak.
ὑμῖν  to  you 
Parse: Personal / Possessive Pronoun, Dative 2nd Person Plural
Root: σύ  
Sense: you.
ἀπέχουσιν  they  have 
Parse: Verb, Present Indicative Active, 3rd Person Plural
Root: ἀπέχω  
Sense: have.
μισθὸν  reward 
Parse: Noun, Accusative Masculine Singular
Root: μισθός  
Sense: dues paid for work.