Matthew 6:18Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

Just as a frail body requires protection from harsh elements and poor nourishment, a wounded soul also needs careful management. To safeguard our virtues from the degrading influence of human praise, we must also protect them from the malevolence that resides within us, avoiding idle thoughts and empty desires that emerge after we perform good deeds, lest they rob us of their true rewards.

The holy Fathers instruct us that the most powerful methods for this inner fasting of the soul include persistent, heartfelt prayer to the Lord, which is inseparable from true fasting, alongside kindness towards our neighbors and, most importantly, charitable giving. Thus, the practice of anointing our heads and cleansing our faces during fasting symbolizes the enriching of our souls through virtuous acts of love and the purification of our hearts through tears of prayer. Those who embark on their fast with this spiritual disposition before the Lord will receive His rewarding grace, for the heavenly Father, who sees what is concealed, will manifest His favor openly. He will enable the fasting heart to experience the true fruits of fasting, which may initially seem bitter but ultimately surpasses worldly sweetness. A life-giving light will shine from above into the shadowy corners of a penitent's heart. The humbled sinner, filled with remorse, will perceive their own sinfulness and emptiness, recognizing a soul tainted by passions and desires enslaved by evil. From this contrite heart will flow tears of sorrow for offending the Lord, who is love and mercy incarnate. When cast down before the Father in heaven and the Savior who endured the Cross for us, the sinner, with the aid of the altar minister, will no longer conceal their transgressions, akin to a householder realizing the dirt within when sunlight penetrates the windows, and strives to remove every trace of it. And what joy will fill the heart upon experiencing the transformative mercy of the heavenly Father, who assures the sinner that their transgressions are forgiven. According to the wise Fathers, the clearest indicator for a repentant sinner to know their sins are absolved is the profound feeling of aversion and repugnance toward sin, leading them to prefer death over willful disobedience to the Lord. This sentiment arises naturally in those who have devoted themselves to God and truly love Him, fostering a deep fear of offending His divine love through any wrongdoing. If a sinner has yet to feel this sacred transformation in their heart, either during fasting or repentance, it is a clear indication that their fast is lacking before the heavenly Father and their sins remain unwashed by true contrition. Unrepentant sins weigh down the soul, often plunging it into additional vices and weaknesses. Therefore, my brethren, let us recognize how crucial fasting is for the healing of our sinful souls. Our Lord Jesus Christ, the Source and Perfection of our faith, deemed fasting so critical that He not only commanded it within the Gospel but also sanctified it through His divine example, fasting for forty days and nights in the wilderness (Matthew 4:2). By fasting, He triumphed over all temptations of our adversary. In truth, the sinless Lord had no need for fasting as an instrument against sin, as the ultimate embodiment of purity did not require purification. The Almighty could have vanquished the tempter without fasting, but He willingly undertook forty days of fasting to restore our ancestors' self-discipline lost in the paradise of delight, which led to their disobedience to God's command. He fasted on our behalf to sanctify our unworthy fast, transforming it into a remedy for our sinful souls. By fasting for us, He provided divine strength to our feeble attempts at fasting, enabling it to serve as a potent shield against the temptations of sin and evil spirits, motivating us, His frail followers, to emulate His example in overcoming the enemies of our salvation. When our Leader began the mission of redeeming humanity through fasting, who among the faithful could believe we could achieve salvation without it? A warrior deprived of weaponry is vulnerable to the enemy; similarly, a Christian lacking fasting becomes ensnared by passions and sin. Thus, there is no righteous individual who has attained righteousness without this powerful tool. All who have genuinely repented and radiated holiness in life began their journey through fasting. To dismiss fasting as trivial in our path to salvation is to either deny one’s own sinfulness or resign oneself to despair, remaining in the clutches of guilt without expecting relief from such burdens, contrary to the firm promises of God sealed by the blood of our Lord Jesus Christ. The grace of God, which brings salvation to all, instructs us to renounce impiety and worldly desires, leading us to live virtuously, righteously, and with godliness in this present age, as we await the blessed hope and glorious appearance of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, who gave Himself for us to rescue us from every lawlessness and to purify for Himself a people eager for good works (Titus 2:11-14). The Holy Church of Jesus Christ, as our Mother in salvation and fervent custodian of her Lord's commandments, offers fasting not as a burden upon her children, but as a remedy for their spiritual maladies, guiding them on the path to purifying and preparing their hearts for worthy participation in the Most Holy and Life-giving Body and Blood of our Lord Jesus Christ, so that we may, having partaken of these Sacred Mysteries, inherit eternal life. Amen.

Thus, He calls for an attitude of modesty and humility in all our duties toward God, our neighbors, and ourselves, in every act of virtue and compliance with the law. Yet, one may ponder how to fulfill Christ's instruction to ‘Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father which is in heaven’ (Matthew 5:16). There is no need for concern; the fulfillment of Christ’s words will occur autonomously without your intervention. The instruction to let your light shine implies that it should do so naturally, just as all light shines, without a command to force it. Good works are characteristics of this divine light: perform them discreetly, and they will illuminate as and when God, the Light-giver, desires. The issue arises when one engages in dark, sinful actions; from these, no light emanates, and God is not glorified by them.

You might question how we can pray or preach publicly in the Church when pious actions must remain private. In response, remember that in the same discourse where our Savior advises secret prayer, He also addresses the act of presenting gifts at the altar: if you are about to offer your gift at the altar (Matthew 5:23), which occurs during communal worship. This shows that the directive for private prayer does not negate our duty to engage in public worship. However, there is a guiding principle here: avoid drawing attention to yourself; rather, humbly approach your heavenly Father, who is aware of your private actions. When you are in church and participate in shared rituals, strive to keep private moments of fervent devotion—such as sighs or tears—from outward display, thus remaining before your Father who witnesses in secret, even in a crowded assembly.

This is further illustrated by the scripture: "But thou that doest alms, let not thy left hand know what thy right hand doeth." Additionally, "But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret" (Matthew 6:3, 6).

The actions of anointing the head and cleansing the face can also be understood on a deeper level. The head symbolizes the mind, while the face represents one’s life and condition. Just as the head directs all the body's actions, every thought is governed by the mind. Similarly, we assess a person’s character by observing their life. In these teachings, the God-Man instructs us: ‘When you fast, anoint your mind with the balm of faith and the oil of love and mercy, and cleanse your life and all your deeds from any filth or impurity.’ Notice how Jesus conveys that God perceives not only what is visible but also what remains hidden. "Your Father," He states, "who seeth in secret shall reward you openly," which refers to the day of judgment when all secrets, hidden words and deeds, and the deepest contemplations of humanity will be laid bare.

The challenge associated with fasting lies not only with us but also with the hypocrites, who also partake in fasting. However, the simplest task—striving not to lose your reward—is what the Saviour commands. If you are eager to gain human recognition, be patient; I will grant it to you abundantly and beneficially. Recognize that a humble fast is a pleasing offering to God, one that will be rewarded: your Father, who sees all that is hidden, will acknowledge you openly. "Consider this: you diminish virtue itself," warns the same universal teacher, "when you pursue it not for its own sake, but for a mere craftsman, a blacksmith, or a throng of traders. We are offended when we are cherished not for our true selves, but for our associations. Similarly, reflect upon virtue: do not cherish it for others, and obey God not for the sake of men, but for the Lord Himself. Otherwise, despite your apparent love for virtue, you upset God just as much as someone who disregards it entirely." "Engage in action," advises St. Philaret of Moscow, "perform good works, serve God; but be cautious that your good deeds, virtues, and piety are not displayed before men unnecessarily, from self-will or vanity. Virtue possesses a divine essence; let it remain a secret from the earthly realm. Carry it out in private; let it be visible only to God. This was the approach of God’s holy servants. They diligently observed fasting but endeavored to keep this virtue from the sight of others. Everything that applies to fasting is relevant to all virtues: they should be enveloped in humility. The Monk Silouan lamented, 'Woe to the man whose reputation surpasses that of his actions.' We must perpetually remember with reverence, as the Venerable John Climacus teaches, that 'empty pride leads us to adopt an image of virtue we do not possess, urging us on with the Gospel words: "Let your light so shine before men that they may see your good works" (Matthew 5:16). Yet the Saviour speaks of genuine good works, not façades; real good works, regardless of how much you attempt to hide them, will eventually come to light. When they are revealed, direct them toward glorifying God, that they may honor our Father in heaven, who equips us to perform such deeds. However, a vain person carries out actions merely ‘to gain personal glory’ among people. Blessed Theophylact suggests that by 'oil' we might also refer to acts of charity, and by 'the head' might imply Christ, Who should be honored with our generosity. To 'wash the face' signifies the purification of the soul and the cleansing of our senses through tears.

The nature and duration of abstinence can vary, contingent upon the individual’s capacity for fasting and the intensity of the temptation faced. Ultimately, fasting should serve the purpose of fostering spiritual triumph over a body prone to passion, rather than being performed for the purpose of outward appearance. The Pharisees of that era were notably meticulous in their quest for outward displays of fasting. The Jewish community was accustomed to regular cleansing and anointing, particularly in Palestine's warm climate. However, the Pharisees opted not to wash, disheveled their hair, or anoint themselves, instead donning tattered garments and covering their heads with ashes; all of this was done to attract notice and deceive others with their unusual appearance. Their focus was not on true fasting but rather on the impression they made; those they deceived offered them praise for this perceived holiness, which was the very aim of their hypocrisy. However, Jesus calls His followers to a different kind of fasting. When you fast, do not be somber or dismal, don’t alter your appearance in any way, and strive not to bring attention to yourselves; your fasting is not for others to witness, but for your own benefit, and not in their view, but before your Father in heaven, who observes all your actions in secret and discerns your thoughts. He recognizes your good deeds, prayers, and fasting done privately and will reward you openly. It has been emphasized that Christ’s teachings do not prohibit the open practice of good deeds and prayers as long as they are not performed for human approval; likewise, it does not forbid visible fasting if it is aimed at subduing the body for the spirit, facilitating more effective prayer and repentance, rather than for the sake of human recognition or commendation.