Lectionary Calendar
Saturday, April 26th, 2025
Saturday in Easter Week
Saturday in Easter Week
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Read the Bible
Easy-to-Read Version
Matthew 6:18
Then no one will know you are fasting, except your Father, who is with you even in private. He can see what is done in private, and he will reward you.
Jump to:Bible Study Tools • Parallel Bible Verse • Bible Contextual Overview • Bible Cross-References • Gill's Bible Notes • Clarke's Bible Notes • Barnes' Bible Notes
Bible Study Resources
Concordances:
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- ChipParallel Translations
Christian Standard Bible®
so that your fasting isn’t obvious to others but to your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.
so that your fasting isn’t obvious to others but to your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.
King James Version (1611)
That thou appeare not vnto men to fast, but vnto thy father which is in secret: and thy father which seeth in secret, shall reward thee openly.
That thou appeare not vnto men to fast, but vnto thy father which is in secret: and thy father which seeth in secret, shall reward thee openly.
King James Version
That thou appear not unto men to fast, but unto thy Father which is in secret: and thy Father, which seeth in secret, shall reward thee openly.
That thou appear not unto men to fast, but unto thy Father which is in secret: and thy Father, which seeth in secret, shall reward thee openly.
English Standard Version
that your fasting may not be seen by others but by your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.
that your fasting may not be seen by others but by your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.
New American Standard Bible
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.
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.
New Century Version
Then people will not know that you are fasting, but your Father, whom you cannot see, will see you. Your Father sees what is done in secret, and he will reward you.
Then people will not know that you are fasting, but your Father, whom you cannot see, will see you. Your Father sees what is done in secret, and he will reward you.
Amplified Bible
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.
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.
Geneva Bible (1587)
That thou seeme not vnto men to fast, but vnto thy Father which is in secret: and thy Father which seeth in secret, will rewarde thee openly.
That thou seeme not vnto men to fast, but vnto thy Father which is in secret: and thy Father which seeth in secret, will rewarde thee openly.
New American Standard Bible (1995)
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.
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.
Legacy Standard Bible
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.
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.
Berean Standard Bible
so that your fasting will not be obvious to men, but only to your Father, who is unseen. And your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.
so that your fasting will not be obvious to men, but only to your Father, who is unseen. And your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.
Contemporary English Version
Then others won't know that you are going without eating. But your Father sees what is done in private, and he will reward you.
Then others won't know that you are going without eating. But your Father sees what is done in private, and he will reward you.
Complete Jewish Bible
so that no one will know you are fasting — except your Father, who is with you in secret. Your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.
so that no one will know you are fasting — except your Father, who is with you in secret. Your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.
Darby Translation
so that thou mayest not appear fasting unto men, but to thy Father who is in secret; and thy Father who sees in secret shall render [it] to thee.
so that thou mayest not appear fasting unto men, but to thy Father who is in secret; and thy Father who sees in secret shall render [it] to thee.
George Lamsa Translation
So that it may not appear to men that you are fasting, but to your Father who is in secret; and your Father who sees in secret, he will reward you.
So that it may not appear to men that you are fasting, but to your Father who is in secret; and your Father who sees in secret, he will reward you.
Good News Translation
so that others cannot know that you are fasting—only your Father, who is unseen, will know. And your Father, who sees what you do in private, will reward you.
so that others cannot know that you are fasting—only your Father, who is unseen, will know. And your Father, who sees what you do in private, will reward you.
Lexham English Bible
so that you will not be seen by people as fasting, but to your Father who is in secret, and your Father who sees in secret will reward you.
so that you will not be seen by people as fasting, but to your Father who is in secret, and your Father who sees in secret will reward you.
Literal Translation
so as not to appear to men to be fasting, but to your Father in secret. And your Father seeing in secret will repay you in the open.
so as not to appear to men to be fasting, but to your Father in secret. And your Father seeing in secret will repay you in the open.
American Standard Version
that thou be not seen of men to fast, but of thy Father who is in secret: and thy Father, who seeth in secret, shall recompense thee.
that thou be not seen of men to fast, but of thy Father who is in secret: and thy Father, who seeth in secret, shall recompense thee.
Bible in Basic English
So that no one may see that you are going without food, but your Father in secret; and your Father, who sees in secret, will give you your reward.
So that no one may see that you are going without food, but your Father in secret; and your Father, who sees in secret, will give you your reward.
Hebrew Names Version
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.
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.
International Standard Version
so that your fasting will not be noticed by others but by your Father who sees in secret. And your Father who is in secret will reward you."reward you openly">[fn]
so that your fasting will not be noticed by others but by your Father who sees in secret. And your Father who is in secret will reward you."reward you openly">[fn]
Etheridge Translation
that it may not appear to men that thou art fasting, but to thy Father who is in secret; and thy Father who seeth in secret, he shall reward thee.
that it may not appear to men that thou art fasting, but to thy Father who is in secret; and thy Father who seeth in secret, he shall reward thee.
Murdock Translation
that thou mayest not be seen by men as a faster, but by thy Father who is in secret: and thy Father who seeth in secret, will recompense thee.
that thou mayest not be seen by men as a faster, but by thy Father who is in secret: and thy Father who seeth in secret, will recompense thee.
Bishop's Bible (1568)
That thou appeare not vnto men, to fast: but vnto thy father, which is in secrete, and thy father, which seeth in secrete, shall rewarde thee openly.
That thou appeare not vnto men, to fast: but vnto thy father, which is in secrete, and thy father, which seeth in secrete, shall rewarde thee openly.
English Revised Version
that thou be not seen of men to fast, but of thy Father which is in secret: and thy Father, which seeth in secret, shall recompense thee.
that thou be not seen of men to fast, but of thy Father which is in secret: and thy Father, which seeth in secret, shall recompense thee.
World English Bible
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.
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.
Wesley's New Testament (1755)
That thou appear not unto men to fast, but to thy Father who is in secret, and thy Father who seeth in secret shall reward thee openly.
That thou appear not unto men to fast, but to thy Father who is in secret, and thy Father who seeth in secret shall reward thee openly.
Weymouth's New Testament
that it may not be apparent to men that you are fasting, but to your Father who is in secret; and your Father--He who sees in secret--will recompense you.
that it may not be apparent to men that you are fasting, but to your Father who is in secret; and your Father--He who sees in secret--will recompense you.
Wycliffe Bible (1395)
that thou be not seen fastynge to men, but to thi fadir that is in hidlis, and thi fadir that seeth in priuey, shal yelde to thee.
that thou be not seen fastynge to men, but to thi fadir that is in hidlis, and thi fadir that seeth in priuey, shal yelde to thee.
Update Bible Version
that you are not seen of men to fast, but of your Father who is in secret: and your Father, who sees in secret, shall recompense you.
that you are not seen of men to fast, but of your Father who is in secret: and your Father, who sees in secret, shall recompense you.
Webster's Bible Translation
That thou mayest not appear to men to fast, but to thy Father, who is in secret: and thy Father, who seeth in secret, shall reward thee openly.
That thou mayest not appear to men to fast, but to thy Father, who is in secret: and thy Father, who seeth in secret, shall reward thee openly.
New English Translation
so that it will not be obvious to others when you are fasting, but only to your Father who is in secret. And your Father, who sees in secret, will reward you.
so that it will not be obvious to others when you are fasting, but only to your Father who is in secret. And your Father, who sees in secret, will reward you.
New King James Version
so that you do not appear to men to be fasting, but to your Father who is in the secret place; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly. [fn]
so that you do not appear to men to be fasting, but to your Father who is in the secret place; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly. [fn]
New Living Translation
Then no one will notice that you are fasting, except your Father, who knows what you do in private. And your Father, who sees everything, will reward you.
Then no one will notice that you are fasting, except your Father, who knows what you do in private. And your Father, who sees everything, will reward you.
New Life Bible
Then nobody knows you are going without food. Then your Father Who sees in secret will reward you.
Then nobody knows you are going without food. Then your Father Who sees in secret will reward you.
New Revised Standard
so that your fasting may be seen not by others but by your Father who is in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you.
so that your fasting may be seen not by others but by your Father who is in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you.
J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
that thou do not appear, unto men, to be fasting, but to thy Father who is in secret, - and, thy Father who seeth in secret, will reward thee.
that thou do not appear, unto men, to be fasting, but to thy Father who is in secret, - and, thy Father who seeth in secret, will reward thee.
Douay-Rheims Bible
That thou appear not to men to fast, but to thy Father who is in secret: and thy Father who seeth in secret, will repay thee.
That thou appear not to men to fast, but to thy Father who is in secret: and thy Father who seeth in secret, will repay thee.
Revised Standard Version
that your fasting may not be seen by men but by your Father who is in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you.
that your fasting may not be seen by men but by your Father who is in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you.
Tyndale New Testament (1525)
that it appere not vnto men howe that thou fastest: but vnto thy father which is in secrete: and thy father which seeth in secret shall rewarde the openly.
that it appere not vnto men howe that thou fastest: but vnto thy father which is in secrete: and thy father which seeth in secret shall rewarde the openly.
Young's Literal Translation
that thou mayest not appear to men fasting, but to thy Father who [is] in secret, and thy Father, who is seeing in secret, shall reward thee manifestly.
that thou mayest not appear to men fasting, but to thy Father who [is] in secret, and thy Father, who is seeing in secret, shall reward thee manifestly.
Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
that it appeare not vnto men, that thou fastest: but vnto thy father which is in secrete: and thy father which seyth in secrete, shal rewarde the openly.
that it appeare not vnto men, that thou fastest: but vnto thy father which is in secrete: and thy father which seyth in secrete, shal rewarde the openly.
Mace New Testament (1729)
that your fasting may not be observed by men, but by your father, who is with you in your retirement, and your father who observes what you do in private, shall give you a reward.
that your fasting may not be observed by men, but by your father, who is with you in your retirement, and your father who observes what you do in private, shall give you a reward.
Simplified Cowboy Version
Then the Boss will know that the only reason you're doin' it is for him. It's this kind of stuff that he rewards.
Then the Boss will know that the only reason you're doin' it is for him. It's this kind of stuff that he rewards.
Contextual Overview
16 "When you fast, don't make yourselves look sad like the hypocrites. They put a look of suffering on their faces so that people will see they are fasting. The truth is, that's all the reward they will get. 17 So when you fast, wash your face and make yourself look nice. 18 Then no one will know you are fasting, except your Father, who is with you even in private. He can see what is done in private, and he will reward you.
Bible Verse Review
from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge
appear: 2 Corinthians 5:9, 2 Corinthians 10:18, Colossians 3:22-24, 1 Peter 2:13
shall: Matthew 6:4, Matthew 6:6, Romans 2:6, 1 Peter 1:7
Reciprocal: 2 Chronicles 15:7 - your work Psalms 19:11 - keeping Matthew 10:41 - a righteous man's Mark 2:18 - Why Luke 5:35 - and 1 Thessalonians 3:11 - God
Cross-References
Genesis 6:9
This is the history of Noah's family. He was a good man all his life, and he always followed God.
This is the history of Noah's family. He was a good man all his life, and he always followed God.
Genesis 6:16
Make a window for the boat about 1 cubit below the roof. Put a door in the side of the boat. Make three floors in the boat: a top deck, a middle deck, and a lower deck.
Make a window for the boat about 1 cubit below the roof. Put a door in the side of the boat. Make three floors in the boat: a top deck, a middle deck, and a lower deck.
Genesis 7:1
Then the Lord said to Noah, "I have seen that you are a good man, even among the evil people of this time. So gather your family, and all of you go into the boat.
Then the Lord said to Noah, "I have seen that you are a good man, even among the evil people of this time. So gather your family, and all of you go into the boat.
Genesis 7:7
He and his family went into the boat to be saved from the flood. His wife and his sons and their wives were on the boat with him.
He and his family went into the boat to be saved from the flood. His wife and his sons and their wives were on the boat with him.
Genesis 17:4
"This is my part of our agreement: I will make you the father of many nations.
"This is my part of our agreement: I will make you the father of many nations.
Genesis 17:7
And I will prepare an agreement between me and you. This agreement will also be for all your descendants. It will continue forever. I will be your God and the God of all your descendants.
And I will prepare an agreement between me and you. This agreement will also be for all your descendants. It will continue forever. I will be your God and the God of all your descendants.
Genesis 17:21
But I will make my agreement with Isaac, the son who Sarah will have. He will be born at this same time next year."
But I will make my agreement with Isaac, the son who Sarah will have. He will be born at this same time next year."
Isaiah 26:20
My people, go into your rooms and lock your doors. Hide in there for a short time until God's anger is finished.
My people, go into your rooms and lock your doors. Hide in there for a short time until God's anger is finished.
Hebrews 11:7
Noah was warned by God about things that he could not yet see. But he had faith and respect for God, so he built a large boat to save his family. With his faith, Noah showed that the world was wrong. And he became one of those who are made right with God through faith.
Noah was warned by God about things that he could not yet see. But he had faith and respect for God, so he built a large boat to save his family. With his faith, Noah showed that the world was wrong. And he became one of those who are made right with God through faith.
1 Peter 3:20
Those were the spirits who refused to obey God long ago in the time of Noah. God was waiting patiently for people while Noah was building the big boat. And only a few—eight in all—were saved in the boat through the floodwater.
Those were the spirits who refused to obey God long ago in the time of Noah. God was waiting patiently for people while Noah was building the big boat. And only a few—eight in all—were saved in the boat through the floodwater.
Gill's Notes on the Bible
That thou appear not unto men to fast,.... Which is just the reverse of the hypocrites, the Scribes and Pharisees; and quite contrary to the customs of the Jews, who when they fasted, particularly on their noted fasts l,
"brought out the ark into the street of the city, and put burnt ashes upon it, and upon the head of the prince, and upon the head of the president of the sanhedrim, and every man upon his own head.''
All which was done, to be seen of men to fast; but Christ directs to such sorts of fasting, and which is to be done in such a manner, as only to be seen by God:
but unto thy Father which is in secret; who is invisible, and who sees what is done in secret, and takes notice of the internal exercise of grace; which he approves of, and prefers to outward fastings; and
thy Father which seeth in secret, shall reward thee openly: and to have honour from God, is infinitely more than to have the applause of men; for as God delights in, so he will reward his own grace with glory.
l Misn. Taanith, c. 2. sect. 1.
Barnes' Notes on the Bible
But thou when thou fastest, anoint ... - That is, appear as you do daily. Do not assume any new appearance, or change your visage or dress. The Jews and all neighboring nations were much in the habit of washing and anointing their bodies. This washing was performed at every meal; and where it could be effected, the head, or other parts of the body, was daily anointed with sweet or olive oil. In a warm climate, exposed to the great heat of the sun, this practice conduced much to health, preserved the skin smooth and tender, and afforded a most grateful sensation and odor. See Mark 7:2-3; James 5:14; Mark 11:13; John 12:3.
The meaning of this whole commandment is, when you regard it to be your duty to fast, do it as a thing expressing deep feeling or sorrow for sin, not by assuming unfelt gravity and moroseness, but in your ordinary dress and appearance; not to attract attention, but as an expression of feeling toward God, and he will approve and reward it.
Clarke's Notes on the Bible
Verse Matthew 6:18. Thy father which seeth in secret — Let us not be afraid that our hearts can be concealed from God; but let us fear lest he perceive them to be more desirous of the praise of men than they are of that glory which comes from Him.
Openly. — εν ÏÏ ÏανεÏÏ. These words are omitted by nine MSS. in uncial letters; and by more than one hundred others, by most of the versions, and by several of the primitive fathers. As it is supported by no adequate authority, Bengel, Wetstein, Griesbach, and others, have left it out of the text.
