King James Bible
"But thou, when thou fastest, anoint thine head, and wash thy face;"
Jesus contrasts his followers with the hypocrites mentioned in verse 16, establishing a personal directive for genuine spiritual practice. The phrase assumes fasting as a normal discipline, not questioning whether to fast but how to do it properly. These actions represent normal daily grooming in ancient Jewish culture, suggesting believers should appear as usual rather than advertising their fasting. This instruction emphasizes that fasting is a private matter between the individual and God, not a public display of piety.