Section 6:16–18

Jesus taught about fasting

In this section, Jesus taught his disciples that when they fast, they should do it in a way that other people are not aware of it.

Here are some other possible headings for this section:

Fasting
-or-
Teaching about fasting

Paragraph 6:16–18

This paragraph contains the third example of how to apply the command (in 6:1) not to do good works before people. This third example is about fasting.

6:16a

When: The Greek conjunction that the Berean Standard Bible translates as When also means “whenever” or “each time.” It assumes that believers will fast.

Here are some other ways to translate this word:

whenever (New Revised Standard Version)
-or-
Every/each time
-or-
At any time

See how you translated When in 6:2 where it has the same meaning.

fast: The word fast means “choose not to eat food temporarily for a religious/spiritual reason.” Generally, when someone fasts, he does not eat any food, but he can drink water. People usually fast for a day, but the fast can be a shorter or longer period of time. People fast to humble themselves, to show sadness for their sins, or to seek God’s will or help.

Here are some other ways to translate this word:

stop eating ⌊for a time⌋ for religious reasons
-or-
not eat ⌊for a day/time⌋ to seek God’s help
-or-
abstain from eating in order to pray

do not be somber: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as somber means “sad.” Jesus was referring to looking sad in order that people will realize that you are fasting and will think that you are religious. The full clause warns against making one’s face look sad or unhappy.

Here are some other ways to translate this phrase:

do not put on a sad face (Good News Translation)
-or-
do not look sad
-or-
do not let it be known by your appearance/face

the hypocrites: The word hypocrites refers to people who pretend to be something that they are not.

This word also occurs in 6:2c. Translate it here as you did there.

6:16b

for: The Greek conjunction that the Berean Standard Bible translates as for introduces a more detailed explanation of what was said in 6:16a. Do not translate this verse as if it were the reason for 6:16a. It further explains 6:16a, but it is not a reason. Some English versions begin a new sentence here and do not translate this conjunction. In some languages, a conjunction will not be necessary here either.

they disfigure their faces: In this context, the Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as disfigure refers to not washing their faces and not keeping their hair and beards looking neat. They did this to look like people who were very sorrowful.

Here are some other ways to translate this expression:

They neglect their appearance (Good News Translation)
-or-
They make their faces look sad (New Century Version)
-or-
they act like they are suffering
-or-
they do not wash their faces nor comb their hair

6:16c

to show men they are fasting: In Greek, this clause is literally “so that fasting may be seen by men.” This clause gives the purpose for their “disfigured faces” (in 6:16b). They made their faces look sad in order to make it obvious to others that they were fasting.

Although the Berean Standard Bible uses an active phrase here (to show men), the Greek verb is passive (“may be seen”).

Here are some other ways to translate this clause:

• As a passive. For example:

so that they may be seen by others that they are fasting

• As an active, as the Berean Standard Bible does. For example:

so that people may see that they are fasting (Phillips’ New Testament in Modern English)
-or-
so that everyone will see that they are fasting (Good News Translation)
-or-
to make it obvious that they’re fasting (God’s Word)

men: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as men refers to people in general here, both men and women.

Here are some other ways to translate this:

other people
-or-
people

6:16d

Truly I tell you, they already have their full reward: This clause is identical to the clause in 6:2. You should translate it here as you did there.

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