Short answer: Matthew 6:16–18 shows Jesus teaching how to fast properly. He assumes believers will fast but warns against doing it for show. True fasting happens privately before God, who sees and rewards what others cannot. This contrasts with hypocritical religious displays seeking human admiration.
Jesus contrasts public fasting with secret devotion
Jesus addresses fasting right after teaching on prayer and forgiveness, showing these spiritual practices belong together. He warns against performing religious acts for human applause, picturing hypocrites who deliberately look miserable while fasting. Their disheveled appearance broadcasts their piety, but Jesus says that public recognition is their only reward. The setting matters: this comes in the Sermon on the Mount where Jesus repeatedly contrasts true righteousness with showy religion. His disciples must not use spiritual disciplines as performance art, especially fasting which was a twice-weekly practice for some religious leaders.
Jesus' alternative is startlingly ordinary: wash your face and groom yourself when fasting. This isn't about hiding your faith but refusing to manufacture spiritual-looking signals. The point isn't secrecy for its own sake but redirecting attention from human observers to “your Father who is in secret.” God sees what others miss, the quiet sacrifices, the unseen obedience. Jesus assumes His followers will fast but redefines its purpose: not to impress people but to engage God. The reward comes not from human admiration but from the Father who attends to hidden faithfulness with perfect knowledge and care.
This teaching fits between forgiveness and eternal treasures because all three topics expose counterfeit spirituality. Forgiving others, fasting and storing wealth all tempt us to perform for an audience. Jesus strips away the pretense: real devotion happens before God's eyes alone. The passage's structure reinforces this, public acts get earthly applause (6:16), while private ones receive God's reward (6:18). Jesus isn't banning corporate spiritual practices but targeting the heart's orientation. The next verses (6:19–21) will extend the principle to money, showing how all of life must be lived before the Audience of One.
Fasting with sincerity, not showmanship
Jesus warns against fasting for public approval. He describes hypocrites who disfigure their faces to make their fasting obvious. These individuals seek attention, not transformation. Their reward is the admiration of others, not the approval of God. Jesus contrasts this with fasting done in secret, where only God sees. The key is motive: fasting becomes a performance when it’s meant to impress people. Jesus redirects focus from outward appearances to inward authenticity. Fasting is not about displaying piety but about drawing near to God in humility and dependence.
Jesus instructs his followers to fast discreetly. They are to anoint their heads and wash their faces, maintaining their normal appearance. This practical advice underscores the importance of avoiding ostentation. Fasting isn’t a spectacle but a private act of devotion. Anointing and washing were everyday practices, signaling that fasting shouldn’t disrupt ordinary life. Jesus calls for a balanced approach, where fasting is integrated into daily routines without drawing attention. The goal is to honor God, not to signal personal sacrifice to others.
The reward of fasting comes from God, who sees in secret. Jesus emphasizes that God knows the heart and motives behind our actions. Fasting isn’t a transaction to earn favor but an expression of devotion. God’s reward is not material but spiritual, rooted in relationship with him. This teaching reassures us that hidden acts of faith are valued by God. Fasting becomes meaningful when it’s done for him alone, not for recognition. Jesus invites us to trust in God’s unseen work, knowing he honors sincere hearts.
Jesus expects fasting but rejects performance
Jesus assumes his followers will fast (“when you fast,” 6:16) but warns against turning it into religious theater. The hypocrites deliberately make themselves look miserable so others will admire their devotion. Their reward is exactly what they wanted, human applause, but nothing more. Jesus exposes the emptiness of spirituality designed for public approval. True fasting isn’t about appearing holy before others; it’s about engaging God privately. The contrast is stark: disfigured faces for show versus washed faces that hide the fast. One approach seeks human eyes, the other God’s.
The alternative to hypocritical fasting isn’t abandoning the practice but redirecting it toward God. Jesus instructs his disciples to groom themselves normally (“anoint your head and wash your face,” 6:17) so only the Father knows they’re fasting. This preserves the integrity of devotion as a personal exchange with God, not a social performance. The passage doesn’t debate whether to fast but how, not for reputation but relationship. God’s reward comes to what is done in secret (6:18), just as his forgiveness flows to those who forgive others (6:14–15). Authentic devotion connects vertically before it impacts horizontally.
This teaching fits Jesus’ broader theme in the Sermon on the Mount: true righteousness exceeds external compliance. Between instructions on prayer and warnings about wealth, fasting becomes another test of spiritual integrity. Like forgiving others (6:14–15) and storing treasures in heaven (6:19–20), fasting reveals whether we live for God’s approval or human praise. The passage guards against two errors, abandoning spiritual disciplines or corrupting them into self-promotion. Jesus calls for disciplines that nurture private communion with the Father, trusting he sees and responds. The reward isn’t controlled by the act but by the heart behind it.
Fasting as a private act of devotion
In Matthew 6:16–18, Jesus addresses fasting as a spiritual practice, but he focuses on motive rather than technique. He criticizes those who fast for public recognition, saying they “disfigure their faces” to appear pious. Their reward is human applause, not divine approval. Jesus contrasts this with a private approach: washing your face and anointing your head so others won’t notice. The point isn’t to hide fasting but to avoid turning it into a performance. Fasting, when done sincerely, is between you and God, who sees what is done “in secret” and rewards it accordingly.
Some readers see fasting here as a command for all believers, while others view it as a critique of first-century Jewish customs. Both agree Jesus assumes fasting is a valid spiritual practice but rejects its misuse for gaining social status. The text doesn’t prescribe fasting as a universal obligation but critiques performative piety. Whether or not Christians fast today, the principle remains: spiritual disciplines should draw us closer to God, not impress others. Authentic worship seeks God’s approval, not human praise.
Jesus’ teaching on fasting also clarifies that spiritual practices aren’t tools to manipulate God or earn favor. In Matthew 6:18, he promises reward for sincere devotion but doesn’t specify what that reward looks like. The focus is on intimacy with God, not transactional benefits. Fasting, like prayer and giving, is about aligning our hearts with God’s purposes. It’s a means of grace, not a merit badge. This passage reminds us that God values the posture of our hearts over the outward display of our actions.
Jesus redefines fasting as hidden devotion
Jesus critiques religious theater in 6:16–18, where fasting becomes a performance. Hypocrites “disfigure their faces” to broadcast their piety, trading God's approval for human applause. The phrase “they have received their reward” suggests applause is all they'll get, no lasting benefit from God. Jesus contrasts this with private devotion: “your Father who is in secret.” The issue isn’t fasting itself but the heart’s direction. Christ’s authority to reinterpret religious practice points to His divine role, fulfilling the Law’s intent (Matthew 5:17). His teaching aligns with His own 40-day fast, solitary, Satan-resisting, and saturated with Scripture (Matthew 4:1–11).
The call to “anoint your head and wash your face” (6:17) subverts expectations. Oil and cleanliness symbolized celebration, not mourning. Jesus reframes fasting not as gloomy self-punishment but as joyful intimacy with the Father. This matches His later rebuke of compulsory fasting (Mark 2:19–20), it’s meaningful only when flowing from relationship. The reward comes not from the act but the Father “who sees in secret.” Unlike hypocrites who trade devotion for reputation, believers fast to deepen dependence on God. Jesus models this in Gethsemane, where His anguished prayer (Matthew 26:39) exemplifies submission to the Father’s will over public display.
This passage anchors fasting in gospel grace. The Father’s reward stems from His character, not our performance (6:18). Jesus, who fasted perfectly, grants His righteousness to those who trust Him (2 Corinthians 5:21). Our fasting now expresses gratitude, not guilt, responding to Christ’s finished work rather than earning favor. Lenten fasting, when practiced, should mirror this: not earning salvation but savoring it. As Jesus redirects focus from earthly recognition to heavenly perspective (6:19–20), He invites us into the joy He knew, pleasing the Father alone (John 8:29). The gospel frees us from religious pretense, calling us to honest, hidden worship.
Fasting is about your Father, not your image
Jesus warns against turning spiritual practices into performances. The religious leaders of his day made a show of fasting, disfiguring their faces so others would notice their devotion. But public displays like this reveal a heart seeking human approval more than God’s presence. Jesus says such people “have received their reward” (Matthew 6:16), the temporary admiration of others, not the lasting approval of the Father. When we fast or practice other disciplines, the question isn’t just whether we do them, but why. Do we want to be seen as spiritual, or to draw near to the God who sees in secret?
The alternative isn’t abandoning spiritual practices but redirecting them. Jesus assumes his followers will fast, he says “when you fast,” not 'if' (Matthew 6:17). But he calls them to wash their faces and anoint their heads, ordinary acts of self-care that hide their fasting from public view. This isn’t about secrecy for its own sake but about recentering the audience. The Father who sees in secret isn’t impressed by our suffering; he’s attentive to our hearts. Fasting becomes a quiet act of trust, a way to say, You are my enough, not a tool to prove our worth to others.
Lent can easily become another form of performative spirituality, giving up chocolate while subtly hoping others notice our discipline. But Jesus roots fasting in relationship: “Your Father, who sees in secret, will reward you” (Matthew 6:18). The reward isn’t God’s love earned but his presence enjoyed. When we fast, we’re not negotiating blessings; we’re clearing space to remember we have a Father who feeds us with himself. Whether you fast this Lent or not, do it as a child coming home, not an employee working overtime. The point isn’t what you give up but who you’re turning toward.
Biblical fidelity check
In Matthew 6:16–18, Jesus critiques the religious leaders of his day who fasted in ways designed to draw attention to themselves. He warns against: disfiguring their faces, a practice meant to make their fasting obvious to others. Instead, Jesus instructs his followers to fast discreetly, maintaining a normal appearance (“anoint your head and wash your face”) so that their devotion remains between them and God. The focus here is on motive: fasting should not be a performance for human approval but an act of sincere worship. Jesus promises that God, who sees what is done in secret, will reward such genuine devotion.
Christians today disagree on whether Jesus assumes fasting as a normal practice or commands it for all believers. Some see this passage as a critique of Jewish customs, while others view it as timeless instruction for authentic worship. Regardless, the central message remains clear: spiritual practices like fasting must be about honoring God, not seeking human recognition. The passage challenges us to examine our motives in all acts of devotion. Are we seeking applause or God’s approval? This tension between authentic worship and performative piety is as relevant now as it was in Jesus’ time.
Related studies for Matthew 6:16-18
For more on Jesus' teaching about spiritual disciplines, see Jesus Denounces Hypocrisy in Matthew 23 on prayer (Matthew 6:5–8), Matthew 1: Genealogy and Birth of Jesus on giving (Matthew 6:1–4), and Matthew 10: Jesus Sends the Twelve with Authority on eternal priorities (Matthew 6:19–21). To explore fasting further, study Matthew 12: Lord of the Sabbath and Sign of Jonah about its purposes in Scripture.
Frequently asked questions
Does the Bible command Christians to observe Lent?
The Bible never mentions Lent specifically. In Matthew 6:16–18, Jesus assumes His followers will fast at times, but the passage focuses on the heart attitude rather than establishing a calendar. Christian fasting should follow Jesus' principles rather than just traditional schedules.
How should Christians approach fasting differently than religious show?
Jesus condemns fasting done to impress others (Matthew 6:16). Instead, He instructs believers to maintain normal appearances (6:17) so only God knows. True fasting isn't about proving spirituality to people but humbling oneself before God. The difference lies in who you're seeking to please.
What does it mean that God rewards what is done in secret?
When Jesus says the Father rewards secret devotion (Matthew 6:18), He contrasts earthly and heavenly value systems. Human praise is its own reward, but God honors sincere worship done for His eyes alone. This doesn't mean earning salvation but receiving God's approval for genuine faith.
