Matthew 6:16

Fasting, in itself a natural result of grief, as any one who has witnessed deep sorrow knows, easily degenerates into a form without reality.

ἀφανίζουσιν. Either (1) make unseen, ‘veil,’ or (2) cause to disappear, so ‘destroy’, hence (3) ‘mar,’ by leaving the face unwashen, or by throwing ashes on the head. The first meaning (1) is well established, that of (2) ‘destroying’ is the prevailing one in LXX., the sense of (3) ‘disfiguring,’ or ‘marring’ has less support. Wetstein quotes Etym. M. ἀφανίσαι, οἱ πάλαι οὐχὶ τὸ μολῦναι ὡς νῦν�, and Chrys. ἀφανίζουσιν, τοῦτό ἐστιν διαφθείρουσιν, scil. cinere.

The apparent play upon the Greek words ἀφανίζουσιν … φανῶσιν has been adduced in support of their view by those who consider Greek to have been that original language of the gospel; but it is more than doubtful that the antithesis is intended.

ὅπως φανῶσιν. Not as in A.V. ‘that they may appear’ but ‘that they may be seen to be fasting.’