Monday, February 21, 2011

Jesus' teaching on fasting (continued)

Mat 6:17  But thou, when thou fastest, anoint thine head, and wash thy face;


Mat 6:17  But thou, when thou fastest,.... 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 thine head, and wash thy face; directly contrary to the Jewish canons, which forbid these things, with others, on fast days: 

"On the day of atonement, (say (i) they,) a man is forbidden eating and drinking, וברחיצהובסיכה "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:

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