How does Matthew 6:17 connect with Jesus' teachings on sincerity in worship? Setting the scene • Matthew 6:17: “But when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face.” • Jesus is midway through the Sermon on the Mount, correcting common religious practices—giving (6:1-4), praying (6:5-6), and fasting (6:16-18). • Each correction aims at the same issue: worship that seeks human applause instead of the Father’s approval. Focus of fasting • Anointing the head and washing the face were normal acts of daily grooming. • By instructing disciples to look ordinary, Jesus blocks every attempt to parade one’s spirituality. • The Father who “sees what is done in secret” (6:18) rewards sincere devotion, not public display. Parallel lessons on prayer and giving • Giving: “Do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing” (6:3). • Prayer: “Go into your inner room, shut your door, and pray to your Father who is unseen” (6:6). • Fasting: “So that your fasting will not be obvious to men, but only to your Father” (6:18). • In all three, the pattern is identical: do the act, hide the act, seek God alone. Heart over appearance • 1 Samuel 16:7—“Man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart.” • Isaiah 29:13—People may honor God with lips while hearts are far from Him. • John 4:23-24—True worshipers worship “in spirit and truth,” not through external show. • Psalm 51:6—God desires “truth in the inmost being.” • Colossians 3:23—“Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men.” Living out sincere worship today • Examine motives: Is any act of devotion aimed at being noticed? • Maintain normal appearance: Avoid subtle signals that invite praise. • Cultivate secrecy: Private disciplines protect purity of motive. • Rest in divine reward: Trust the Father who sees and values hidden faithfulness. Matthew 6:17 therefore anchors Jesus’ broader call to authenticity. He redirects attention from the stage of human approval to the sanctuary of the heart, ensuring that every act of worship is for God alone. |
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