Even disciples of Jesus face the temptation to be hypocritical in their practice of faith. We are prone to do the right things – giving to the needy, prayer, and fasting, for the wrong reasons. In Matt. 6:1-18 Jesus teaches us that the practice of genuine righteousness is living for the pleasure of God rather than the praise of people. In Matt. 6:16-18 Jesus speaks to the practice of fasting, and in the text… Jesus assumes his disciples will fast 6:16-17, Jesus exposes fasting that’s no good and teaches fasting that is good 6:17-18a, and Jesus promises the Father will reward good fasting 6:18b.
