Matthew 6:18

Matthew 6:18 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)That thou appear not unto men to fast, but unto thy Father which is in secret: and thy Father, which seeth in secret, shall reward thee openly.
• New International Version (NIV)so that it will not be obvious to others that you are fasting, but only to your Father, who is unseen; and your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.
• English Standard Version (ESV)that your fasting may not be seen by others but by your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.
• New King James Version (NKJV)so that you do not appear to men to be fasting, but to your Father who is in the secret place; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly.

Context of Matthew 6:18

16And when ye fast, be not as the hypocrites, downcast in countenance; for they disfigure their faces, so that they may appear fasting to men: verily I say unto you, They have their reward. 17But thou, [when] fasting, anoint thy head and wash thy face, so that thou mayest not appear fasting unto men, but to thy Father who is in secret; and thy Father who sees in secret shall render [it] to thee. 19Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon the earth, where moth and rust spoils, and where thieves dig through and steal; 20but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust spoils, and where thieves do not dig through nor steal;

Matthew 6:18 word by word

ὅπως μὴ φανῇς τοῖς ἀνθρώποις νηστεύων ἀλλὰ τῷ πατρί σου τῷ ἐν τῷ κρυφαίῳ. καὶ ὁ πατήρ σου ὁ βλέπων ἐν τῷ κρυφαίῳ ἀποδώσει σοιRead the interlinear

• appearφαίνωphainō · to shine/appearG5316
• fastingνηστεύωnēsteuō · to fastG3522
• menἄνθρωποςanthrōpos · a humanG444
• Fatherπατήρpatēr · fatherG3962
• secretκρυπτόςkruptos · hiddenG2927
• seesβλέπωblepō · to seeG991
• renderἀποδίδωμιapodidōmi · to payG591

Cross-references for Matthew 6:18

• 2 Corinthians 5:9Wherefore also we are zealous, whether present or absent, to be agreeable to him.
• 2 Corinthians 10:18For not he that commends himself is approved, but whom the Lord commends.
• Colossians 3:22Bondmen, obey in all things your masters according to flesh; not with eye-services, as men-pleasers, but in simplicity of heart, fearing the Lord.
• 1 Peter 2:13Be in subjection [therefore] to every human institution for the Lord's sake; whether to [the] king as supreme,
• Matthew 6:4so that thine alms may be in secret, and thy Father who sees in secret will render [it] to thee.
• Romans 2:6who shall render to each according to his works:
• 1 Peter 1:7that the proving of your faith, much more precious than of gold which perishes, though it be proved by fire, be found to praise and glory and honour in [the] revelation of Jesus Christ:

Commentaries on Matthew 6:18

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 18Thy father which seeth in secret - Let us not be afraid that our hearts can be concealed from God; but let us fear lest he perceive them to be more desirous of the praise of men than they are of that glory which comes from Him. Openly - . These words are omitted by nine MSS. in uncial letters; and by more than one hundred others, by most of the versions, and by several of the primitive fathers. As it is supported by no adequate authority, Bengel…Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 16-18Verses 16-18 Religious fasting is a duty required of the disciples of Christ, but it is not so much a duty itself, as a means to dispose us for other duties. Fasting is the humbling of the soul, Psa 35:13; that is the inside of the duty; let that, therefore, be thy principal care, and as to the outside of it, covet not to let it be seen. God sees in secret, and will reward openly.Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1818. That thou appear not unto men to fast, but unto thy Father which is in secret: and thy Father, which seeth in secret, shall reward thee openly--The "openly" seems evidently a later addition to the text of this verse from Mt 6:4, 7, though of course the idea is implied.Read the comment

Topics related to Matthew 6:18

• Commandments
• Fasting
• God Continued...
• Motive
• Pharisees
• Religion

In the dictionaries

• Add
• Appear
• Closet
• Consider
• Corrupt
• Countenance
• Despise
• Fast
• Father
• Forgive

Commentaries on Matthew 6

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
• Tyndale Open Study Notes
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
• Calvin’s Commentaries
• John Wesley’s Notes
• Catena Aurea
• Illustrated New Testament
• Burkitt’s Expository Notes
• Darby Translation Notes
• Family Bible Notes
• Geneva Bible Translation Notes
• Kingcomments
• John Lightfoot Commentary
• Luther’s Commentary on Selected Bible Passages
• Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
• Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
• The People’s New Testament
• Robertson’s Word Pictures
• Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
• The Fourfold Gospel and Commentary on Acts
• Original Douay–Rheims Annotations
• Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
• EGW Writings