Matthew 6:17 Meaning: Fasting for an Audience of One
But you, when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face,
But thou, when thou fastest, anoint thine head, and wash thy face;
But thou, when thou fastest, anoint thy head, and wash thy face;
`But thou, fasting, anoint thy head, and wash thy face,
But thou, [when] fasting, anoint thy head and wash thy face,
Meaning in one sentence
Jesus teaches that fasting should be done without outward show. Anoint your head, wash your face, so that only God sees your sacrifice.
Context
Jesus is speaking in the Sermon on the Mount, a collection of His core teachings. In this chapter, He addresses three key practices of Jewish piety: giving to the needy, prayer, and fasting. For each, He contrasts outward religious show with genuine devotion to God. The Pharisees would make a display of their fasting: they would put on a gloomy appearance, even disfiguring their faces to signal that they were abstaining. Jesus says they have already received their reward: the attention of others. Then He gives this alternative: when you fast, appear as you do every day. The focus is on sincerity before the Father, not performance before people.
Key Words
The Greek word for anoint here is aleiphō. It was the everyday word for rubbing oil into the skin, something people did for comfort and hygiene in a dry climate. Not ceremonial anointing, ordinary grooming. The word for wash is niptō, used for washing hands, face, or feet. Daily cleansing. So Jesus says: keep doing what you normally do. Don't change your appearance to look like you are suffering.
The hypocrites disfigured their faces, a word that means to make one's face unrecognizable. They wanted to look miserable so everyone would know they were fasting. But the word for face here, prosōpon, means the countenance, what people see. Jesus says: let your face look normal. Let your ordinary routines continue, even while your stomach is empty. Discipline done for show does not move God. He counts your sacrifice when it is done for Him alone.
How Christians Read This Verse
Matthew Henry explained that Christ is speaking especially of private fasts, where the individual chooses to abstain. The Pharisees made a show of them. John Wesley simply said: 'Anoint thy head, So the Jews frequently did. Dress thyself as usual.' Barnes noted that in a warm climate, anointing was part of daily health care. The command is: appear as you do daily.
Christians across traditions have taken this as a call to sincerity. Some church traditions set aside special days for public fasting, like Lent. On those days, some may even receive ashes on their foreheads. But even in those traditions, the heart of the teaching remains: fasting is meant to draw you toward God, not to draw eyes toward you. The outward sign is secondary to the inward reality. Both those who fast openly and those who fast privately can do so in the spirit Jesus commands, as long as their aim is the Father's approval rather than human praise.
A common misunderstanding
Some readers think this verse means Christians should never let anyone know they are fasting, and that any outward sign of spiritual discipline is wrong.
In fact, Jesus is correcting a specific hypocrisy: the Pharisees who disfigured their faces to be noticed. The command to anoint and wash is about avoiding theatrical displays of self-denial. There are times when fasting may be known to others, for example if a church calls for a day of prayer and fasting. The issue is the motive of the heart. Jesus is not forbidding all knowledge of our fasting; He is forbidding fasting for the purpose of being seen.
Living This Out
This week, if you decide to practice any spiritual discipline, try doing it without mentioning it to anyone. Not because it is shameful, but because God sees more clearly when we stop performing for an audience.
When you skip lunch, don't sigh loudly or mention it. Comb your hair. Go about your day. Let the hunger remind you to pray, not to attract pity. This applies beyond fasting. When you give generously, do it quietly. When you get up early to pray, don't post about it. The Father who sees what you do in secret sees you. He is not looking for a dramatic show. He is looking for a heart that longs for Him, even when no one else knows.
Main takeaway: Your most genuine acts of devotion are the ones only your Father sees.
For Families
For ages 5, 8
When you do something special for God, like giving up your favorite snack, don't make a big show of it. God sees what you do even when no one else knows. Just act normal and let God smile at your secret gift.
For ages 9, 12
Jesus teaches that when we fast or do any good thing for God, we shouldn't try to look sad or tell everyone what we're doing. The Pharisees wanted people to think they were holy, so they made sure everyone noticed when they fasted. Jesus says, instead, wash your face, act normally, and let your secret devotion be something beautiful between you and God. He sees your heart. He knows when you're giving something up just for Him, and He cares more about your love than about your performance.
Questions People Ask
What does it mean to anoint your head while fasting?
The instruction to anoint the head with oil and wash the face was a call to maintain normal appearance. In Jesus' culture, anointing was part of daily grooming. So this means: when you fast, don't try to look like you are suffering. Carry on with your regular habits so that no one knows you are fasting except God.
Does Jesus forbid showing any sign that you are fasting?
Jesus is not forbidding all outward signs of fasting. He is correcting the hypocrisy of the Pharisees, who purposely made themselves look miserable to gain human admiration. The principle is that fasting should be directed toward God, not performed for an audience. There are appropriate times when a fast may be known, but the motive matters.
Why did the Pharisees disfigure their faces when fasting?
The Pharisees disfigured their faces to make their fasting obvious to others. They wanted to be praised for their piety. Jesus says they have received their reward in full: public approval. But that is not the reward that comes from God.
How should a Christian practice fasting today?
Christians across traditions have practiced fasting in various ways. The heart of Jesus' teaching is to fast privately, without show. Many believers choose to skip a meal and use that time for prayer, without announcing it. The focus remains on God, not on the observance itself.
Is fasting required for Christians?
Jesus assumes His disciples will fast; He says 'when you fast,' not 'if you fast.' However, He does not prescribe a specific schedule or method. Christians have understood fasting as a helpful discipline for drawing near to God, especially in times of prayer or repentance. It is not a legal requirement for salvation, but a practice encouraged throughout Scripture.
For pastors & researchers
Greek interlinear, 8 commentaries & word study