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Fasting For Honor. Matt. 6:7-15 is a parenthesis or a detour dealing with prayer. It is a break in His warnings about not “practicing your righteousness before men.” We will look at this section in our next study and skip to the third illustration which occurs in verse 16.
Whenever you fast, do not put on a gloomy face as the hypocrites do, for they neglect their appearance so that they will be noticed by men when they are fasting. Truly I say to you, they have their reward in full. (NASB) Matt. 6:16 In this illustration Jesus tells us that the religious leaders would fast and make it obvious to others they were fasting. They put on a show. They “dressed up” and disfigured their faces so that others would know they were fasting. It was a great act. They were actors. That is the meaning of the Greek word that is translated as “hypocrite” in the English. They were actors - acting for attention.
So Jesus warned them,
But you, when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face so that your fasting will not be noticed by men, but by your Father who is in secret; and your Father who sees what is done in secret will reward you. (NASB) Matt. 6:17-18 Once again Jesus tells us not to show-off.
The Message. During a conference in California,
Gordon MacDonald tells the following story about himself. He was a new
pastor on his first day in his office, standing behind his new desk that
had a four-button phone on it when someone knocked on his closed door.
He stated that he wanted to make a great impression on whoever was going
to enter. So he invited them in, pushed a button, picked up the phone
and said,
“Billy, how are you? It is great to hear your voice. Thank you for calling. You would like me to speak at Yankee Stadium tomorrow night because you have laryngitis? I am sorry I cannot do that. I have a committee meeting. I will have to turn you down this time. Please call again. Then he said, “Just a minute!” speaking to the man in his office and punched another button of the phone.
Rabbi Tannenbaum! Thank you for calling. You would like me to come to a luncheon in Washington D.C. next week? Yeah, I could probably pull that off. I would be glad to do that. Thank you very, very much. Then speaking to the man in his office, “Just a minute” he punched a third button.
Cardinal, you would like me to come to your ecumenical breakfast next week? Sure, I would be happy to do that. Thank you for calling me. Then he hung up and asked the man standing at his desk, “What
may I do for you?” The man answered, “Well, I am from the
telephone company and I have come to connect your telephone so that it
will work.” What a great illustration of pride. This is an illustration
of someone pretending to be something that he or she was not. What
a great illustration of what Jesus was talking about. Seeking the approval
of others through your spiritual deeds.
When you do something for God, is it for God or is it for others? In Jesus’ three illustrations, He uses the word “secret” five times. In each illustration, Jesus encourages us to practice our righteousness without seeking the honor of people. If we seek the honor of others, we have no reward from the Father.
Rewards. Jesus has also revealed that His followers will receive rewards in heaven. Read the following passages,
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