Matthew 6:16 NIV

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Matthew 6:16-18

We are here cautioned against hypocrisy in fasting, as before in almsgiving, and in prayer. I. It is here supposed that religious fasting is a duty required of the disciples of Christ, when God, in his providence, calls to it, and when the case of their own souls upon any account requires it; when the bridegroom is taken away, then shall they fast, Matt. 9:15. Fasting is here put last, because it is not so much a duty for its own sake, as a means to dispose us for other duties. Prayer comes in... read more

William Barclay

William Barclay's Daily Study Bible - Matthew 6:1-18

When we study the opening verses of Matthew 6:1-34 , we are immediately confronted with one most important question-- What is the place of the reward motive in the Christian life? Three times in this section Jesus speaks of God rewarding those who have given to him the kind of service which he desires ( Matthew 6:4 ,; Matthew 6:18 ). This question is so important that we will do well to pause to examine it before we go on to study the chapter in detail. It is very often stated that... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Matthew 6:16

Moreover when ye fast ,.... This is to be understood, not so much of their public stated fasts, and which were by divine appointment, as of their private fasts; which, with the Jews, were very frequent and numerous, and particularly every Monday and Thursday; see Luke 18:12 in which they affected great severity, and is here condemned by Christ: be not as the hypocrites , the Scribes and Pharisees, of a sad countenance ; who put on very mournful airs, and dismal looks; made wry... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Matthew 6:16

When ye fast - A fast is termed by the Greeks νηϚις , from νη not, and εσθειν to eat; hence fast means, a total abstinence from food for a certain time. Abstaining from flesh, and living on fish, vegetables, etc., is no fast, or may be rather considered a burlesque on fasting. Many pretend to take the true definition of a fast from Isaiah 58:3 , and say that it means a fast from sin. This is a mistake; there is no such term in the Bible as fasting from sin; the very idea is... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Matthew 6:16

Verse 16 He again returns to the former doctrine: for, having begun to rebuke vain ostentation in alms and prayer, he laid down, before proceeding farther, the rule for praying in a right manner. The same injunction is now given to his disciples about fasting, which he had formerly given about prayers and alms, not to be too solicitous to obtain the applause of spectators, but to have God as the witness of their actions. When he bids them anoint their head, and wash their face, his language is... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Matthew 6:1-18

The relation of our Lord and his disciples to the religion of the day ( continued ); vide Matthew 5:17 , note. ( b ) Our Lord turns from cases which could be directly deduced from the Law to those which belonged only to recognized religious duty. Of these he instances three: alms ( Matthew 5:2-4 ), prayer ( Matthew 5:5-8 , Matthew 5:9-15 ), fasting ( Matthew 5:16-18 ). It is, indeed, true that the performance of these duties on special occasions was implied in the... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Matthew 6:1-18

The third part of the sermon: the danger of unreality. I. THE FIRST EXAMPLE : ALMSGIVING . 1. The spiritual estimate of actions. The Christian's righteousness must exceed that of the scribes and Pharisees. They did their righteousness, their good works, before men, to be seen of them. It must not be so with us. Indeed, we are bidden to let our light shine before men. A holy life hath a persuasive eloquence, more persuasive far than holy words; it must not be hidden; its... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Matthew 6:1-18

Sermon on the mount: 4. Ostentatious religion. After indicating the righteousness which admits to the kingdom of heaven, our Lord proceeds to warn against a flaw that vitiates the goodness of many religious people, and to illustrate it in connection with three chief characteristics of the religious life of those days—alms-giving, prayer, and fasting. I. ALMSGIVING has been recognized as one of the first duties by most religions. Under the Jewish Law the poor were well provided for. It... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Matthew 6:16

Fasting. The third in the series of recognized religious duties ( Matthew 6:1 , note). (On the prominence given to fasting, see 'Psalms of Solomon,' 3:9, with Ryle's and James's note, and Schurer, II . 2:118; cf. Matthew 9:14 .) Observe read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Matthew 6:16

The moral influence of fasting. The three expressions of the religious life introduced here—almsgiving, prayer, and fasting—are not treated as duties which we are bound to fulfil, but as things to which we are inwardly impelled by the movements of that religious life. Fasting especially is a personal resolve rather than a prescribed duty—helpful and useful, if a man thus voluntarily brings his body into self-restraint; a snare if, without a man's will, it is done in order to gain merit.... read more

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Matthew 6:16-18

William Barclay's Daily Study Bible - Matthew 6:1-18

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Matthew 6:16

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Matthew 6:16

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Matthew 6:16

The Pulpit Commentary - Matthew 6:1-18

The Pulpit Commentary - Matthew 6:1-18

The Pulpit Commentary - Matthew 6:1-18

The Pulpit Commentary - Matthew 6:16

The Pulpit Commentary - Matthew 6:16

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