Sermons on Matthew 6:17:

Religious Play-Acting

Contributed by David Dunn on Nov 9, 2025

Jesus frees us from religion’s stage—calling us from performance to presence, from spotlight to sunlight, to live unmasked before the Father.

Religious Play-Acting The Sermon on the Mount opens with blessing and ends with a choice: sand or rock, appearance or obedience. Between those two poles, Matthew 6 sits like a quiet heart—Jesus’ exposition of motive. Here the Lord shifts from what disciples do to why they do it. He moves from ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 6:1-18, Luke 18:9-14, Isaiah 29:13, Matthew 23:27, John 4:23  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Seventh-Day Adventist

Fasting For A Spiritual Breakthrough

Contributed by Derek Geldart on Nov 25, 2025

Fasting is a biblical way to quiet our hearts, humble our souls, and make room to hear God’s voice—bringing revelation, deliverance, protection, repentance, and spiritual strength to those who hunger and thirst for Him.

Fasting for a Breakthrough “As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul pants for you, my God. My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. When can I go and meet with God?” Psalms 42:1-2 There are moments in our walk with Christ when we become desperate—truly desperate—to hear the voice ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 6:16-18, Ezra 8:21-23

Denomination: Baptist

Ashes Ashes We All Fall Down

Contributed by J Jeffrey Smead on Feb 19, 2026

Ash Wednesday Message. Ring around the roses, pocket full of poses, ashes, ashes ...we all fall down.

If you are not familiar with an Anglican Service; Four Scriptures are read prior to the Sermon. The Scriptures for Ash Wednesday are Joel 58:1-12; Psalm 103:8-14; 2 Corinthians 5:2 - 6:10; Matthew 6:1-6 and Matthew 6:16-21. (Sing) ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 103:8-14, Matthew 6:1-6, Matthew 6:16-21, 1 Peter 5:5, James 4:6, 2 Corinthians 5:20-21, 2 Corinthians 6:1-10, Joel 2:1-17, Genesis 2:7  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Anglican

Dust To Dust Series

Contributed by Jm Raja Lawrence on Feb 23, 2026

Lent begins with an honest look at who you are. You are dust. God knows it. And He still says, "Even now, return." That is exactly where this sermon starts.

Dust to Dust Joel 2:12-14 Morning Lent Prayer, Day 1 INTRODUCTION There is something striking about beginning a season of prayer with dirt. Not metaphorical dirt. Real, physical, elemental dust. The kind the priest traces across your forehead on Ash Wednesday and says, "Remember that you are ...read more

Scripture: Joel 2:12, Genesis 3:19, Psalm 103:14, Psalm 103:13-14, Romans 8:26, 2 Corinthians 12:9, Joel 2:13, 1 Samuel 16:7, Ezekiel 36:26, Matthew 6:17-18, Lamentations 3:22-23, Romans 2:4, 1 John 1:9, Psalm 51:17  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

"Fasting”

Contributed by Dr. Addanki Raju on Mar 5, 2026

Drawing Closer to God through Self-Denial

“FASTING” Drawing Closer to God through Self-Denial ________________________________________ Introduction: Why Does the Church Ask Us to Fast? Dear brothers and sisters in Christ, In this sacred season of Lent, the Church invites us to walk a path of interior renewal. We are invited to deepen our ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 6:16-18, Matthew 4:1-2

Ash Wednesday "marked, But Not For Show" Series

Contributed by Shawn Vollmerhausen on Mar 13, 2026

Explores the tension between the visible mark of ashes and Jesus’ call to a hidden, sincere faith. The sermon emphasizes the God who ‘sees in secret,’ the difference between outward signs and inward renewal, and the invitation Lent offers to return to God with honesty.

Tonight we gather at the doorway of Lent, a season that invites us to slow down, to look inward, and to return to God with honesty. Ash Wednesday is unlike any other night in the Christian year. It is quiet, reflective, and strangely beautiful. We come forward to receive ashes on our foreheads, a ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 6:1-6, Matthew 6:16-21, Isaiah 58:1-12

Denomination: United Methodist

When Ye Fast.

Contributed by Christopher Holdsworth on Jul 16, 2024

The deed is done before the all-seeing God. His approval is reward enough in itself.

WHEN YE FAST. Matthew 6:16-21. True Christianity is not the dour, miserable affair which some of its play-actors portray (Matthew 6:16). So when we fast, we must wash-and-brush up in our usual manner (Matthew 6:17). The approval of God is far more to be desired than the applause of men (Matthew ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 6:16-21

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

A. B. C. Ash Wednesday. Series

Contributed by Christopher Holdsworth on Jul 25, 2024

February 18th, 2026.

Joel 2:1-2, Joel 2:12-17; Isaiah 58:1-12; Psalm 51:1-17; 2 Corinthians 5:20-21, 2 Corinthians 6:1-10; Matthew 6:1-6, Matthew 6:16-21. A). A CALL TO WHOLEHEARTED REPENTANCE. Joel 2:1-2, Joel 2:12-17. An old elder once said to me that his only regret was 'the years that the locust has ...read more

Scripture: Joel 2:1-2, Joel 2:12-17, Isaiah 58:1-12, Psalm 51:1-17, 2 Corinthians 5:20-21, 2 Corinthians 6:1-10, Matthew 6:1-6, Matthew 6:16-21  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Fasting

Contributed by Elmer Towns on Jul 30, 2025

Fasting is a spiritual discipline for inward communion with God.

A. INTRODUCTION: MATTHEW 6:16-18 “When you fast, don’t make it obvious to others, as the hypocrites who try to look mournful or disheveled like they didn’t comb their hair, or wash their face. Don’t try to get people to admire you for fasting. That is the only reward you will get. But when you ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 6:16-18

Denomination: Baptist

Matthew 6:1-18

Contributed by Steven W. Satterfield on Aug 19, 2025

NASB footnotes from biblegateway.com

The Disciple’s Motives – Secret Life with God Focus: Giving, praying (including the Lord’s Prayer), fasting—all “in secret” Why this section: Counters the medal-chasing mindset by anchoring worship in the Father’s unseen reward. Builds private spiritual fitness essential for public resilience. ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 6:1-18

Denomination: Vineyard

Self-Humbling - Matthew 6:16-18 Series

Contributed by Darrell Ferguson on Oct 19, 2024

Fasting is never commanded in the NT, yet all the godliest people in the Bible did it. If it is important, why isn't it discussed in the epistles? If it is not important, why did Jesus do it? And why did he promise reward if we do it?

Matthew 6:16 When you fast, do not look somber as the hypocrites do, for they disfigure their faces to show men they are fasting. I tell you the truth, they have received their reward in full. 17 But when you fast, put oil on your head and wash your face, 18 so that it will not be obvious to men ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 6:16-18

Fasting For Reward - Matthew 6:16-18 Series

Contributed by Darrell Ferguson on Oct 19, 2024

This message ends with a section that teaches how to make your resistant, unwilling heart more willing to fast. It’s the method Jesus used.

Matthew 6:16 When you fast, do not look somber as the hypocrites do, for they disfigure their faces to show men they are fasting. I tell you the truth, they have received their reward in full. 17 But when you fast, put oil on your head and wash your face, 18 so that it will not be obvious to men ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 6:16-18

When You... Series

Contributed by Jon Daniels on Oct 28, 2024

Based on Matthew 6:1-21 - Challenges hearers with Jesus' teaching in the Sermon on the Mount on giving, praying, & fasting.

“WHEN YOU…” Matthew 6:1-21 FBCF – 10/27/24 Jon Daniels INTRO – Nov 3 – Sweet celebration Sermon on the Mount – Matthew 5-7 - Kingdom Manifesto – Jesus’ declaration of the principles of the K’dom of God that He introduced into the world as He taught & preached & healed in His earthly ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 6:1-21

Denomination: Baptist

Fasting (2024)

Contributed by Gordon Curley on Nov 25, 2024

'Fasting' - Matthew chapter 6 verses 14-18 - sermon by Gordon Curley (PowerPoint slides to accompany this talk are available on request – email: gcurley@gcurley.info)

SERMON OUTLINE: Question #1: What is fasting? Question #2: Should Christian’s fast? Question #3: What will fasting do for me? Question #4: How should I fast SERMON BODY: Question: What do these people have in common? • Moses the lawgiver, • King David, • Elijah the prophet, • Queen Esther, ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 6:16-18

Denomination: Brethren

Sermon # 30 - Fasting - A Spiritual Discipline Series

Contributed by Andrew Dixon on Nov 28, 2024

The people of Nineveh fasted and repented of their sinful ways at the preaching of Jonah. Fasting is a spiritual discipline, which helps us set aside physical food to spend time with God so that we are strengthened on the inside and can experience genuine transformation in our lives.

We read in Jonah 3:4-5, Jonah started through the city, and after walking a whole day, he proclaimed, "In forty days Nineveh will be destroyed!" The people of Nineveh believed God's message. So they decided that everyone should fast, and all the people, from the greatest to the least, ...read more

Scripture: Jonah 3:4-5, Matthew 12:41, Genesis 2:16-17, Genesis 3:14, Matthew 26:26, Matthew 17:14-18, Matthew 17:19-21, Matthew 4:2, Matthew 6:3, Matthew 6:6, Matthew 6:17  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Other