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.

MATTHEW 6:18KJV
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Matthew 6:18 (KJV)

What does Matthew 6:18 mean?

Matthew 6:18 teaches that when you fast, you should not make it obvious to other people, but instead do it privately, so that only God—who sees what is done in secret—knows. God, who sees your private devotion, will reward you openly.

In this verse, Jesus is speaking to his followers during the Sermon on the Mount, addressing how they should practice spiritual disciplines like fasting. The focus is on sincerity and avoiding the desire to impress others with outward displays of religious behavior. Jesus emphasizes that God values what is done quietly and genuinely, rather than what is performed for public attention.

The Greek behind Matthew 6:18

  • ἐν τῷ κρυφαίῳ (en tō kryphaíō, "in secret"): This phrase highlights the private, hidden nature of true devotion. Jesus points out that God is attentive to what happens away from public view, stressing the importance of the heart’s intent over external appearance.
  • ἀποδώσει (apodōsei, "shall reward"): The Greek word carries the sense of giving back or repaying. The idea is that God responds personally to genuine acts of devotion, even if no one else sees them.
  • φανερῶς (phanerōs, "openly"): This word means "in the open" or "publicly." The contrast is between secrecy in practice and the openness of God’s reward, showing that God’s recognition is ultimately more significant than human praise.

Why Matthew 6:18 matters

  • Matthew 6:18 clears up the misunderstanding that spiritual practices should be displayed for others to see; instead, it stresses that God values authenticity over appearances.
  • This verse connects to the wider passage where Jesus warns against hypocrisy in giving, praying, and fasting, emphasizing a consistent theme of inward sincerity.
  • The verse reassures believers that even unseen acts of faith are noticed and valued by God, offering comfort to those who practice their faith quietly.

Where else these words appear

“fast” Greek G3522 · used in 16 verses

  • Matthew 4:2 And when he had fasted forty days and forty nights, he was afterward an hungred.
  • Mark 2:18 And the disciples of John and of the Pharisees used to fast: and they come and say unto him, Why do the disciples of John and of the Pharisees fast, but thy disciples fast not?
  • Luke 5:35 But the days will come, when the bridegroom shall be taken away from them, and then shall they fast in those days.

“secret” Greek G2927 · used in 16 verses

  • Matthew 6:4 That thine alms may be in secret: and thy Father which seeth in secret himself shall reward thee openly.
  • Luke 12:2 For there is nothing covered, that shall not be revealed; neither hid, that shall not be known.
  • Romans 2:29 But he is a Jew, which is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart, in the spirit, and not in the letter; whose praise is not of men, but of God.

“openly” Greek G5318 · used in 19 verses

  • Matthew 6:4 That thine alms may be in secret: and thy Father which seeth in secret himself shall reward thee openly.
  • Luke 8:17 For nothing is secret, that shall not be made manifest; neither any thing hid, that shall not be known and come abroad.
  • 1 Corinthians 11:19 For there must be also heresies among you, that they which are approved may be made manifest among you.

“appear” Greek G5316 · used in 31 verses

  • Matthew 1:20 But while he thought on these things, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a dream, saying, Joseph, thou son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife: for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost.
  • Matthew 24:27 For as the lightning cometh out of the east, and shineth even unto the west; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.
  • Philippians 2:15 That ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world;