Matthew 6:16 (DRB)

Passage

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.

Nearby Context

Matthew 6:14 For if you will forgive men their offences, your heavenly Father will forgive you also your offences.

Matthew 6:15 But if you will not forgive men, neither will your Father forgive you your offences.

Matthew 6:16 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.

Matthew 6:17 But thou, when thou fastest anoint thy head, and wash thy face;

Matthew 6:18 That thou appear not to men to fast, but to thy Father who is in secret: and thy Father who seeth in secret, will repay thee.

Study Lenses

The verse centers on "fast", "hypocrites", "disfigure", "faces", "appear", "amen", and "received". It is saying that the verse draws attention to "fast" and "hypocrites", so its meaning should be read from those terms before moving to application.

The nearby context moves from verse 15's "But if you will not forgive men..." into verse 17's "But thou when thou fastest anoint thy...", so "fast" and "hypocrites" belong inside that flow. In Matthew context, the local focus is Christ, faith, and discipleship.

A plain takeaway is to answer the verse's own emphasis on "fast" and "hypocrites" with trust shaped by these words, not by a vague optimism outside the passage.