Matthew 6:18 (WEB)
so that you are not seen by men to be fasting, but by your Father who is in secret; and your Father, who sees in secret, will reward you.
Catechism · 2
The Sacrament of Penance and Reconciliation
“Scripture and the Fathers insist above all on three forms, fasting, prayer, and almsgiving,” — Catechism footnote: Cf. Tob 12:8; Mt 6:1-18.
Jesus and Israel
“Jesus endorses some of the teachings imparted by this religious elite of God's people: the resurrection of the dead, certain forms of piety (almsgiving, fasting and prayer),” — Catechism footnote: Cf. Mt 6:18.
Fathers and councils · 21
John Cassian
- John Cassian, Conferences XI–XVII XVII.21Conference XVII
“If we conceal it, to satisfy the Lord’s command which says: “Thou shalt not appear unto men to fast but unto thy Father Who is in secret;” and again: “Let not thy left hand know what thy right hand doeth,” we must at once tell a lie.” — editor's note: S. Matt. vi. 18, 3.
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John Chrysostom
““Thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly.”” — editor's note: Matt. vi. 4. [The phrase ἐν τ φανερ is poorly supported in verses 4, 6, 18. It seems, however, to be accepted by Chrysostom. The R.V. properly renders…
Read the whole comment“Fourthly,by pointing out that whatsoever things should be done by him, were all accomplished; at which time also He made mention of the parable of the children.” — editor's note: Matt. vi. 14–19.
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Jerome
“When you fast, be of a cheerful countenance.” — editor's note: Matt. vi. 3, 16–18.
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Tertullian
“Thereafter He prescribed to fasts a law—that they are to be performed “without sadness:” for why should what is salutary be sad?” — editor's note: Matt. vi. 16–18.
Read the whole comment“Whatever our prayer be, it will not be better than the observance of the precept by which we are bidden to conceal our fasts; for now, by abstinence from the kiss, we are known to be fasting.” — editor's note: Matt. vi. 16–18.
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Catena Aurea on Matthew
- Glossa OrdinariaCatena Aurea on Matthew
The Lord having taught us what we ought not to do, now proceeds to teach us what we ought to do, saying, “When thou fastest, anoint thy head, and wash thy face.”
Read the whole comment - Augustine of HippoCatena Aurea on Matthew
A question is here wont to be raised; for none surely would literally enjoin, that, as we wash our faces from daily habit, so we should have our heads anointed when we fast; a thing which all allow to be most…
Read the whole comment - Pseudo-ChrysostomCatena Aurea on Matthew
Also if He bade us not to be of sad countenance that we might not seem to men to fast, yet if anointing of the head and washing of the face are always observed in fasting, they will become tokens of fasting.
Read the whole comment - JeromeCatena Aurea on Matthew
But He speaks in accordance with the manner of the province of Palestine, where it is the custom on festival days to anoint the head. What He enjoins then is, that when we are fasting we should wear the appearance of…
Read the whole comment - Pseudo-ChrysostomCatena Aurea on Matthew
Therefore the simple interpretation of this is, that is added as an hyperbolical explanation of the command; as though He had said, Yea, so far should ye be from any display of your fasting, that if it might be…
Read the whole comment - John ChrysostomCatena Aurea on Matthew
In almsgiving indeed, He did not say simply, ‘Do not your alms before men,’ but added, ‘to be seen of them.’ But in fasting and prayer He added nothing of this sort; because alms cannot be so done as to be altogether…
Read the whole comment - Glossa OrdinariaCatena Aurea on Matthew
That is, to thy heavenly Father, who is unseen, or who dwells in the heart through faith. He fasts to God who afflicts himself for the love of God, and bestows on others what he denies himself.
Read the whole comment - Remigius of AuxerreCatena Aurea on Matthew
For it is enough for you that He who sees your conscience should be your rewarder.
Read the whole comment - Pseudo-ChrysostomCatena Aurea on Matthew
Spiritually interpreted - the face may be understood to mean the mental conscience. And as in the eyes of man a fair face has grace, so in the eyes of God a pure conscience has favour. This face the hypocrites,…
Read the whole comment - Leo the GreatCatena Aurea on Matthew
Fasting ought to be fulfilled not in abstinence of food only, but much more in cutting off vices. For when we submit ourselves to that discipline in order to withdraw that which is the nurse of carnal desires, there…
Read the whole comment - Pseudo-ChrysostomCatena Aurea on Matthew
Spiritually again, “thy head” denotes Christ. Give the thirsty drink and feed the hungry, and therein you have anointed your head, that is, Christ, who cries out in the Gospel, “In that ye have done this to one of…
Read the whole comment - Gregory the GreatCatena Aurea on Matthew
For God approves that fasting, which before His eyes opens the hands of alms. This then that you deny yourself, bestow on another, that wherein your flesh is afflicted, that of your needy neighbour may be refreshed.
Read the whole comment - Augustine of HippoCatena Aurea on Matthew
Or; by the head we rightly understand the reason, because it is preeminent in the soul, and rules the other members of the man. Now anointing the head has some reference to rejoicing. Let him therefore joy within…
Read the whole comment - Glossa OrdinariaCatena Aurea on Matthew
Behold how every thing in the New Testament is not to be taken literally. It were ridiculous to be smeared with oil when fasting; but it is behoveful for the mind to be anointed with the spirit of His love, in whose…
Read the whole comment - Pseudo-ChrysostomCatena Aurea on Matthew
And truly we ought to wash our face, but to anoint, and not to wash, our head. For as long as we are in the body, our conscience is foul with sin. But Christ who is our head has done no sin.
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Cross-references · 6
Cited together in Pseudo-Chrysostom on Matthew 6:17–18 (4) (Catena Aurea).
Cited together in On Prayer Chapter 18.
Cited together in On Prayer Chapter 18.
Cited together in On Prayer Chapter 18.
Cited together in On Prayer Chapter 18.
Cited together in On Prayer Chapter 18.