Neville Goddard on Matthew 6:16-18 - Mystical Bible Interpretation

Read Matthew 6 in context

Scripture Focus

16Moreover when ye fast, be not, as the hypocrites, of a sad countenance: for they disfigure their faces, that they may appear unto men to fast. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward.

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

18That thou appear not unto men to fast, but unto thy Father which is in secret: and thy Father, which seeth in secret, shall reward thee openly.

Matthew 6:16-18

Biblical Context

Matthew 6:16-18 teaches that fasting should be a private, inward discipline, not a performance for others; the true reward comes from the Father who sees in secret.

Neville's Inner Vision

Fasting here is not a denial of appetite but the discipline of consciousness away from the ego's need to be seen. When you pretend to be mournful before others, you are playing the role of separation, and the reward remains out of reach. The secret place is the I AM within you, the Father who sees in secret. To fast in secret is to refuse to validate appearances and to affirm that you are already complete in the inner state. By anointing your head and washing your face, you remind yourself to keep the outer image intact while your attention is inward, aligning with the inner vision that already rewards in its own time. Persist in this inner alignment, and your external world responds to the new reality you have assumed, showing the truth of the secret reward.

Practice This Now

Practice: In a quiet moment, assume you are already in secret communion with your Father. Feel the inner reward as if it has already occurred, then walk through your day with normal bearing, sensing your outward acts are the visible proof of your inner state.