After confronting the motives behind giving and prayer, Jesus completes His trilogy of spiritual disciplines by addressing fasting.
In a world obsessed with visibility, Jesus calls for quiet dedication. Not to prove our righteousness, but to draw closer to the Father—who sees in secret and rewards in power.
Let’s unpack Matthew 6:16–18 and rediscover the beauty of hidden sacrifice.
Who Is Jesus Speaking To?
Once again, Jesus is speaking to a diverse crowd: disciples, skeptics, and seekers. Many had seen religious leaders disfigure their faces and make a spectacle of their fasting.
Jesus pierces that façade with His usual clarity:
“If you fast to be seen—you’ve already received your reward.”
He’s not discouraging fasting—He’s redefining how and why we do it.
What Jesus Said: Matthew 6:16–18 (NASB)
16 “Now whenever you fast, do not make a gloomy face as the hypocrites do, for they distort their faces so that they will be noticed by people when they are fasting. Truly I say to you, they have their reward in full. 17 But as for you, when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face, 18 so that your fasting will not be noticed by people, but by your Father who is in secret; and your Father who sees what is done in secret will reward you.”
Public Spectacle vs. Private Devotion
In ancient Jewish culture, fasting was a common spiritual act. But by Jesus’ time, some used it as a performance—a way to show off their religious devotion.
Jesus says: “Don’t look miserable. Wash your face. Smile. Fast for God—not for people.”
Action Step: The next time you fast, keep it between you and the Lord. Let your joy—not your suffering—be your testimony.
When You Fast… Not If
Notice the phrasing:
“When you fast…”
Jesus assumes fasting will be part of our spiritual life.
It’s not a punishment—it’s a powerful tool for breakthrough, intimacy, and spiritual alignment.
In 2025, when everything pulls for your attention, fasting silences distractions and sharpens focus.
Action Step: Choose a specific day or window this week to fast. Set aside food, media, or something else meaningful—and seek God intentionally.
Rewarded by the Father
Jesus once again emphasizes the theme that runs through all three disciplines:
“Your Father who sees in secret will reward you.”
He sees your sacrifice.
He notices what others don’t.
And He honors it—not with empty applause, but with heaven’s reward: power, peace, clarity, and presence.
Action Step: Keep a journal during your next fast. Record what you’re praying for, and watch how God responds in ways only He can.
Mood of the Scene
Clear, sobering, but rich in invitation.
Jesus isn’t discouraging spiritual discipline—He’s cleaning it up. He’s purifying our motives and inviting us into a deeper, unseen intimacy with the Father.
Response from the People
For some, this was freeing—they no longer had to compete for religious approval.
For others, it was convicting—because their fasting had become performative.
But for all, it was an invitation to experience the reward of a God who sees—and responds—in secret.
What This Means for Us in 2025
In today’s world of:
- Social media declarations,
- Fasting for detox instead of devotion,
- Public spirituality without private surrender…
…Jesus still whispers:
“Fast in secret. And your Father will reward you.”
How to Practice Fasting With Purpose:
- Pick a fast that stretches you—food, tech, entertainment, or habits.
- Replace the time you’d normally spend eating or scrolling with prayer.
- Don’t announce it—live as normal, but with deeper focus.
- Seek God—not a spiritual “experience.” Let Him lead.
- Expect clarity, renewal, and unexpected blessings.
Final Prayer
Father, help me rediscover the power of hidden sacrifice. Teach me to fast not for attention, but for alignment with Your heart. Cleanse my motives. Fuel my hunger for You. Let my quiet devotion produce public fruit. I trust You to reward what no one else sees. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
