Matthew 6:16Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

For though it cannot be that fasting should not be discovered in any one, yet is it better that fasting should shew you, than that you should shew your fasting. But it is impossible that any in fasting should be gay, therefore He said not, Be not sad, but Be not made sad; for they who discover themselves by any false displays of their affliction, they are not sad, but make themselves; but he who is naturally sad in consequence of continued fasting, does not make himself sad, but is so.

But when any one in the profession of Christianity draws men’s eyes upon him by unwonted beggary and slovenliness in dress, if this be voluntary and not compulsory, then by his other conduct may be seen whether he does this to be seen of men, or from contempt of the refinements of dress.

He advises, "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." The despair that can accompany fasting is often felt by those who indulge in earthly pleasures, viewing fasting as a hindrance to their desires and perceiving the season of fasting as a tedious burden. The hypocrites, harboring hearts filled with sensuality, mask their aversion to fasting under a façade of righteousness. Their motivation for fasting is not aimed at cleansing their souls and bodies from sinful passions but rather to gain the admiration of others and bask in the praise of their apparent piety. The Saviour delivers a sobering truth regarding such hypocritical practices: "Amen, I say unto you, they have their reward." They achieve what they seek—gratification of their vanity. However, despite their outward observance of fasting, their hearts remain unchanged, still entangled in the filth of passions and sins.

The former group were hypocrites, seeking not divine favor but the accolades of those around them; thus, they received their reward from the spectators rather than from God. The latter were transgressors of God’s law, which is why St. John Chrysostom rightly condemned them as being even more culpable than the first. Those today are genuinely worse, as they not only violate divine commandments but also lead others astray.

But is it possible for someone who eats, as they did in Chrysostom’s time, to dim the brightness of their face? Can a person fasting truly exhibit a mournful and pallid appearance, as was seen during Christ's ministry? Indeed, this is possible, based on logical reasoning and observed experience. From the perspective of reason, the soul, which is intricately linked with the body, can influence the blood and life force at will, thereby affecting one’s appearance. As for experience, we know that a sorrowful thought alone can lead to a pale face and tears, portraying a sense of despondency; conversely, a joyful thought can brighten the face, bring forth laughter, and enhance one’s appearance. Since our desires guide our thoughts, how we choose to present our face is ultimately within our control. A joyful heart brings forth a cheerful countenance, but with sorrow comes lamentation, as stated in Proverbs 15:13.

Moreover, there are external means by which one’s appearance can be altered, as the Lord instructs, saying, "But thou, when thou fastest, anoint thy head, and wash thy face... For let not man appear unto thee when thou fastest, but unto thy Father which is in secret: and thy Father, which seeth in secret, shall reward thee openly.”

In Jewish tradition, particularly in hotter climates like the East, it was customary for individuals to cleanse their bodies often and to anoint themselves with oil. However, during fasting, the Pharisees refrained from bathing, combing their hair, anointing themselves, or wearing clean garments, instead allowing ashes to adorn their heads—all to mislead both God and humanity. Though some were indeed misled and admired these pretenders, God cannot be deceived. "Truly, I tell you," states the Sacred Heart, "they have already received their reward from men and therefore have no expectation of a reward from God." With profound sadness, St. John Chrysostom observes that even among believers, there exist such hypocritical fasters, with some being even worse. "In light of Christ's words," he mournfully declares, "we must weep and lament. We do not only mimic the hypocrites, but we exceed them. I know many who, even when not fasting, present themselves as if they were, thus becoming worse than hypocrites!"

Fasting holds great significance. As previously noted, indulgence in food and drink can overburden the stomach, cloud the mind, and undermine one’s will. Many have likely encountered these consequences of excess. Thus, there are moments when refraining from food and drink becomes essential to bring the body into submission to the spirit, particularly in the battle against temptation, and to cultivate a heightened awareness of one's transgressions, self-reflection, and repentance. The duration and intensity of fasting may vary based on the individual's strength and the nature of the temptation faced. Regardless, fasting should be undertaken for one's own benefit, to allow the spirit to triumph over a carnal nature, rather than for the sake of being observed.

In that time, the Pharisees were particularly focused on appearing to fast. The Jewish tradition included frequent cleansing and anointing, especially important in the warm climate of Palestine. However, the Pharisees chose to forego washing, neglected their hair, donned tattered garments, and sprinkled ashes upon their heads—all to capture the attention of the public, misleading others with their peculiar demeanor. Their focus was not on genuine fasting, but rather on the façade of fasting; the people they duped praised them for their supposed righteousness, which satisfied their hollow desires, serving as the sole motive for their hypocrisy. However, Christ calls for a distinct approach to fasting among His followers. He admonishes them not to appear sorrowful or dismal in their fast, nor to alter their appearance, aiming instead to avoid attracting attention. Their fast is not for the eyes of others, but for themselves, and not before people, but before their Heavenly Father, who observes every secret act and even knows their innermost thoughts. The good deeds, prayers, and fasting done discreetly will be rewarded by Him.

It should be noted that Christ's teachings do not prohibit the visible practice of good works and prayers, provided these acts are not performed for public approval. There is no prohibition against visible fasting, as long as it serves the purpose of bringing the body into alignment with the spirit for more effective prayer and repentance, rather than for the purpose of being noticed and praised by others. The ultimate aim of one's earthly existence is to achieve everlasting joy in the Kingdom of Heaven. Thus, one should focus solely on what leads to this goal: selfless love for others, even one’s adversaries, engaging in acts of kindness towards them, self-examination, repentance, fasting, and prayer. These are the treasures necessary for entering the Kingdom of Heaven, which cannot be stolen or destroyed—unlike earthly treasures that diminish and are claimed by time.

This serves as the foundational aspect of fasting as a spiritual discipline, emerging as a necessary reaction of the soul in situations that provoke remorse for sins, such as witnessing the prosperity of wickedness or facing public disasters.

Through controlling physical cravings and worldly passions, fasting also fosters humility and deep contemplation, helping to shift one’s focus away from earthly pleasures towards the comforts of the heavenly realm. True fasting is pleasing to God when it authentically reflects a sorrowful heart, stemming from a genuine recognition of sin. For an insightful depiction of what genuine fasting looks like in God's eyes, refer to Isaiah 58:3-10. Do not become disheartened like the hypocrites; these individuals, lacking true repentance in their hearts, outwardly sought to appear mournful and to showcase their fasting. They tried to alter their appearances to appear somber, neglecting personal grooming and customary practices of care, such as washing their faces or applying oil; they let their hair remain unkempt, wore torn and dirty clothes, and sprinkled ashes on their heads as symbolic acts of mourning. However, these actions aimed to mislead both God and others, yet people often saw through this facade, with God’s all-knowing gaze revealing their true intentions. Although some individuals may have been fooled by such appearances and honored those who were fasting, the rewards they received were fleeting and unmerited.