anoint your head
Anointing the head with oil was a customary practice in ancient Israel, often associated with joy, celebration, and personal grooming (Psalm 23:5, Ecclesiastes 9:8). In this context, Jesus instructs His followers to maintain a normal appearance while fasting, contrasting with the hypocritical display of piety by the Pharisees, who would often neglect their appearance to show others they were fasting. This act of anointing symbolizes the inner joy and spiritual vitality that should accompany fasting, rather than outward displays of suffering.

and wash your face
Washing the face was a basic act of personal hygiene and cleanliness in the ancient world. Jesus emphasizes maintaining a normal, clean appearance during fasting, reinforcing the idea that fasting is a private matter between the individual and God, not a public display for human approval. This instruction aligns with the broader teaching of Matthew 6, where Jesus warns against practicing righteousness before others to be seen by them. The focus is on sincerity and authenticity in one's spiritual practices, reflecting a heart truly devoted to God.

• Jesus expects fasting to be a normal rhythm for His followers, not a rare exception (“When you fast,” not “If you fast”; see also Matthew 9:15).

• The context of Matthew 6 shows a pattern: giving (vv. 2–4), praying (vv. 5–6), and now fasting (vv. 16–18). In each case He warns against public show and calls for sincere devotion.

• Fasting in Scripture is consistently linked to humility and dependence on God (Ezra 8:21; Joel 2:12–13). Staying literal, the act means abstaining from food for a set time in order to seek the Lord.

• The reward Jesus promises in v. 18—“Your Father who sees what is done in secret will reward you”—assures that unseen obedience never goes unnoticed.

• In first-century life, anointing with oil was ordinary grooming, like combing hair or applying lotion (Psalm 23:5; 2 Samuel 12:20).

• By telling disciples to “anoint,” Jesus urges them to look fresh and cared-for so others won’t detect their fast. The focus remains on God alone, echoing His earlier command about private prayer (Matthew 6:6).

• This practice guards the heart from pride that craves human applause (Proverbs 16:18; Galatians 1:10).

• Practically, it reminds believers today to keep spiritual disciplines discreet—serve, give, pray, and fast without drawing attention, trusting the Father’s approval.

• Washing was another daily routine gesture of normalcy (Genesis 43:31; Acts 9:18). Combining it with anointing makes the point crystal clear: no gloomy faces, no spiritual theatrics.

• Jesus is not against public corporate fasts recorded elsewhere (Esther 4:16; Acts 13:2–3). He is against hypocrisy—using a holy practice to polish one’s image (cf. Matthew 23:5).

• Maintaining ordinary appearance underscores the inward nature of true fasting: confessing sin, aligning with God’s will, interceding for others, or seeking guidance (Nehemiah 1:4; Daniel 9:3).

• By obeying, believers declare that the Father’s smile outweighs any earthly praise (Colossians 3:23–24).

Matthew 6:17 calls disciples to fast with hearts fixed on God, not on human attention. Keep the discipline private: go about normal grooming—anoint the head, wash the face—so only the Father sees. He, who “sees in secret,” promises His reward, reinforcing that authentic worship values divine approval over public recognition.

Openly.--Here again the artificial antithesis is to be rejected as an interpolation.