John Gill Commentary Matthew 6:17

"But thou, when thou fastest, anoint thy head, and wash thy face;" — Matthew 6:17 (ASV)

But you, when you fast
Christ allows of fasting, but what is of a quite different kind from that of the Jews; which lay not in an outward abstinence from food, and other conveniences of life, and refreshments of nature; but in an abstinence from sin, in acknowledgment and confession of it; and in the exercise of faith and hope in God, as a God pardoning iniquity, transgression and sin; wherefore cheerfulness, and a free use of the creatures, without an abuse of them, best became such persons.

Anoint your head, and wash your face ;
directly contrary to the Jewish canons, which forbid these things, with others, on fast days:

``On the day of atonement, (say ^F9 they,) a man is forbidden eating and drinking, (hkyobwhuyxrbw) "and washing and anointing", and putting on of shoes, and the use of the bed.'' And the same were forbidden on other fasts:

in anointings, the head was anointed first, and this rule and reason are given for it: ``he that would anoint his whole body, (hlyxt wsar Ko) , "let him anoint his head first", because it is king over all its members ^F11 .''

Anointing and washing were signs of cheerfulness and joy; see (Ruth 3:3) (2 Samuel 12:20) .

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FOOTNOTES:

• F9: Misn. Yoma, c. 8. sect. 1. & Taanith, c. 1. sect. 4, 5, 6. T. Bab. Yoma, fol. 77. 2. Taanith, fol. 12. 2. Moses Kotsensis Mitzvot Tora, pr. affirm. 32.
• F11: T. Bab. Sabbat, fol. 61. 1.