Matthew 6:16 Commentary - Abbott's Illustrated New Testament
Verse 16Fast. When oppressed with grief, we have little appetite for food. Hence fasting is the natural expression of grief. If unfeigned sorrow for sin do not accompany it, it is of no avail.--Hypocrites; false pretenders to piety.--Disfigure their faces. Paleness and emaciation, and an air of dejection, are the consequences of long abstinence from food. The hypocrites endeavored, in various ways, to assume such appearances.
Verse 17
Anoint thine head; that is, as usual; this being then customary among the Jews. The meaning is, do nothing to make an outward display of penitence and mortification.
Verse 19
Moth and rust. The treasures of wealthy persons, in ancient times, consisted of accumulations of property in their own hands, much of which was of a perishable nature. (Joshua 22:8 ; Luke 12:16-19 .) Hence moths, rust, and thieves, were then the sources of insecurity. In modern times, the dangers to which property is exposed, are still greater, though of a different kind.
Verse 22
The light of the body; that is, the instrument or organ on which the body depends for light.--Single; in a healthy and perfect state.--Full of light; fully supplied with light.
Verse 23
Evil; defective or diseased.--If therefore, the light, &c. The meaning of the whole passage is this: As the whole body is in darkness if the light of the eye be extinguished, so, if the perception of divine truth is lost, the whole soul is involved in the deepest spiritual ignorance and danger.
Verse 24
Hate the one; that is, be indifferent to him. The word hate is frequently used in a sense analogous to this.--Hold to the one; be devoted to his service:--Despise; disregard.--Mammon; a heathen deity, supposed to preside over riches. The idea is, you cannot serve God and also fix your hearts upon this world.
Verse 25
Take no thought; be not anxiously solicitous.
Verse 27
Cubit; a measure of length, of about a foot and a half. The meaning of the expression is, that those hidden causes on which the growth and vitality of the body depend, are under God's control, not under ours.
Verse 30
Cast into the oven; with other dried herb used as fuel.
Verse 33
The kingdom of God and his righteousness; that holiness which will make you a member of Christ's spiritual kingdom.
Verse 34
The morrow will take, &c.; add not to the cares of to-day by anxious solicitude for the morrow. Each day brings with it cares enough of its own.
Consult other comments:
Matthew 6:16 - Abbott's Illustrated New Testament
Matthew 6:16 - The Greek Testament
Matthew 6:16 - Albert Barnes' Notes on the Bible
Matthew 6:16 - Joseph Benson’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
Matthew 6:16 - Expository Notes with Practical Observations on the New Testament
Matthew 6:16 - Calvin's Complete Commentary
Matthew 6:16 - The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
Matthew 6:16 - Adam Clarke's Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
Matthew 6:16 - Commentary on the Holy Bible by Thomas Coke
Matthew 6:16 - College Press Bible Study Textbook Series
Matthew 6:16 - Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
Matthew 6:16 - Expository Notes of Dr. Constable (Old and New Testaments)
Matthew 6:16 - Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
Matthew 6:16 - Everett's Study Notes on the Holy Scriptures
Matthew 6:16 - The Expositor’s Greek Testament by Robertson
Matthew 6:16 - Garner-Howes Baptist Commentary
Matthew 6:16 - Geneva Bible Notes
Matthew 6:16 - John Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible
Matthew 6:16 - Gnomon of the New Testament
Matthew 6:16 - Henry Alford's Greek Testament
Matthew 6:16 - Hawker's Poor Man's Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
Matthew 6:16 - Matthew Henry's Whole Bible Commentary
Matthew 6:16 - Charles Simeon's Horae Homileticae (Old and New Testaments)
Matthew 6:16 - Biblical Illustrator Edited by Joseph S. Exell
Matthew 6:16 - Jamieson, Fausset and Brown's Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
Matthew 6:16 - The Popular Commentary on the Bible by Kretzmann
Matthew 6:16 - Lightfoot Commentary Gospels
Matthew 6:16 - Heinrich August Wilhelm Meyer's New Testament Commentary
Matthew 6:16 - Church Pulpit Commentary
Matthew 6:16 - Commentary Series on the Bible by Peter Pett
Matthew 6:16 - English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
Matthew 6:16 - Robertson's Word Pictures in the New Testament
Matthew 6:16 - A Popular Commentary on the New Testament
Matthew 6:16 - Scofield Reference Bible Notes
Matthew 6:16 - John Trapp's Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
Matthew 6:16 - The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Matthew 6:16 - You Can Understand the Bible: Study Guide Commentary Series by Bob Utley
Matthew 6:16 - Vincent's Word Studies in the New Testament
Matthew 6:16 - Whedon's Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
Abbott's Illustrated New Testament

The electronic edition of John S. C. Abbott and Jacob Abbott's The New Testament of Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ; Translated Out of the Original Greek, and with the Former Translations Diligently Compared and Revised; with Explanatory Notes has been produced from a copy of the printed text published by O. A. Browning and Company (Toledo, OH, 1878). The title on the spine of the book is Abbott's Illustrated New Testament, and on the half-title page, The Pictorial New Testament; with Notes; by Jacob and John S. C. Abbott.