John Calvin Commentary Matthew 6:16

"Moreover when ye fast, be not, as the hypocrites, of a sad countenance: for they disfigure their faces, that they may be seen of men to fast. Verily I say unto you, They have received their reward." — Matthew 6:16 (ASV)

He again returns to the former doctrine. For, having begun to rebuke vain ostentation in alms and prayer, he laid down, before proceeding further, the rule for praying correctly.

The same injunction is now given to his disciples about fasting, which he had formerly given about prayers and alms: not to be overly anxious to obtain the applause of spectators, but to have God as the witness of their actions.

When he instructs them to anoint their head and wash their face, his language is hyperbolic.⁴⁴⁸ For Christ does not withdraw us from one kind of hypocrisy only to lead us into another.⁴⁴⁹

He does not command us to counterfeit splendor, or exhort us to temperance in food in such a manner as to encourage the luxuries of ointments and of dress; but merely exhorts us to preserve moderation, without anything new or affected—in short, that the fastings in which we engage should make no change in our accustomed way of living.

Thy Father will reward thee. When he promises a reward from God to fastings, this way of speaking, as we said a little earlier concerning prayer, is not strictly accurate.

There is indeed a wide difference between prayer and fastings. Prayer holds the first rank among the exercises of piety, but fasting is an uncertain practice and does not, like alms, belong to the class of those actions which God requires and approves.

It is pleasing to God only insofar as it is directed to another object: and that is, to train us in abstinence, to subdue the lust of the flesh, to stir us to earnestness in prayer, and to testify to our repentance when we are affected by the prospect of God’s tribunal.

The meaning of Christ’s words is: “God will one day show that he was pleased with those good works which appeared to be lost because they were concealed from the eyes of men.”

⁴⁴⁸ “C'est une facon de parler hyperbolique, c'est a dire, excessive.” — “It is a .” — “It is a hyperbolical, that is, an that is, an exaggerated way of speaking.”way of speaking.”

⁴⁴⁹ “Pour nous faire retomber en 1’autre;” — “to make us fall into the other.”;” — “to make us fall into the other.”