<p>6:16&nbsp;<em>Moreover when you fast, do not look gloomy like the hypocrites. For they disfigure their faces</em>- There is a semantic connection between these words. A&nbsp;<em>hupokrites</em>&nbsp;was a play actor, one who wore a mask. These hypocrites create false faces for themselves, that is the idea- their disfigured faces are but as a mask. The Greek for &ldquo;disfigure&rdquo; occurs only five times in the NT, once here- and twice in the next few verses, 6:19,20, where the Lord warns that external material wealth &lsquo;corrupts&rsquo;, destroys itself, or is disfigured. By disfiguring their faces, they were destroying their faces, destroying themselves because they wanted to appear other than they were.</p>
<p><em>So that their fasting may be seen by men. Truly I say to you, they have received their reward</em>- &quot;May be seen&quot; is s.w. 6:5, also in Mt. 23:27,28. To act in a way so as to spiritually impress men is especially distasteful to the Lord. The issue of what other churches, ecclesias or individuals will think of us is not to pay any part in our decision making and action. We are living, thinking and deciding in the loving gaze of the Father and Son. The wonder of that should mean that all fear of human criticism or desire for human approval plays absolutely no role.</p>