1 Take heed that ye do not your alms before men, to be seen of them: otherwise ye have no reward of your Father which is in heaven. 2 Therefore when thou doest thine alms, do not sound a trumpet before thee, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may have glory of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward. 3 But when thou doest alms, let not thy left hand know what thy right hand doeth: 4 That thine alms may be in secret: and thy Father which seeth in secret himself shall reward thee openly. (Matthew 6:1-4 KJV)
Giving to the Needy
As we must do better than the scribes and Pharisees in avoiding heart sins like heart adultery and heart murder, we must also maintain true heart religion, doing what we do from an inward, sincere principle to be approved by God, not to be praised by people. We must guard against hypocrisy, which was the leaven of the Pharisees, as well as against their doctrine (Luke 12:1). Almsgiving, prayer, and fasting are three great Christian duties. By them, we serve God with our three main interests: through prayer with our souls, through fasting with our bodies, and through almsgiving with our resources. Thus, we must not only turn away from evil but also do good and do it well.
In these verses, we are cautioned against hypocrisy in giving alms. Take heed of it. Hypocrisy is a subtle sin; pride can creep into our good deeds before we even realize it. The disciples would be tempted by the power they had to do miraculous works and by living among those who either admired them or despised them, both of which could lead them to seek public recognition. If hypocrisy reigns in a person, it will ruin them.
Giving alms is a great duty, and all disciples of Christ must practice it according to their ability. It is commanded in the law of Moses, and the prophets emphasize it. Some ancient copies use the word “righteousness” instead of “alms” here, for alms are considered righteousness (Psalm 112:9; Proverbs 10:2). The Jews even called the poor’s box “the box of righteousness.” What is given to the poor is their due (Proverbs 3:27). While our alms do not earn us heaven, we cannot go to heaven without them. It is pure religion (James 1:27) and will be a test at the final judgment. Christ assumes that his disciples give alms and will not acknowledge those who do not.
This duty carries a great reward, which is lost if done in hypocrisy. It is sometimes rewarded in this life with plenty (Proverbs 11:24-25; 19:17), security from want (Proverbs 28:27; Psalm 37:21,25), help in distress (Psalm 41:1-2), and honor and a good name (Psalm 112:9). However, its ultimate reward is in the resurrection of the just (Luke 14:14) in eternal riches. “The riches you impart form the only wealth you will always retain”—Martial.
The hypocrites did give alms, but not out of obedience to God or love for others. Their motivation was pride and self-glory, not compassion for the poor. They wanted to be praised as good people and gain public esteem, which they could then use for their own advantage. To achieve this, they gave alms in synagogues and on streets where crowds would see and admire them. Probably, collections for the poor were held in synagogues, and common beggars gathered in public places, making these ideal spots for ostentatious giving. It is not wrong to give alms where others may see, but it is wrong to give alms in order to be seen.
Christ’s judgment on this is significant: “Truly I say to you, they have their reward.” At first glance, this may sound like a promise—as if they received what they sought—but two things make it a warning. First, it is their reward, not the reward God promises to the righteous. They sought human approval, and they got it—but nothing more. Those who bargain with God for worldly success may receive it (Psalm 17:14), but they should expect no further reward. Their earthly riches and praise are their full consolation (Luke 6:24) and their “good things” (Luke 16:25), and they will have no more.
Second, their reward is immediate and temporary. They have it now, but they have nothing to look forward to in eternity. In contrast, godly rewards in this life are only partial payments, with much more to come. Hypocrites receive their full payment here, and their own choices determine their fate. The world is only provision for the saints, but it is the full portion of hypocrites.
Christ, who was the perfect example of humility, commands his disciples to follow the same principle. “Let not your left hand know what your right hand is doing when you give alms.” This may refer to the placement of the Corban—the poor man’s box—on the right side of the temple entrance so that gifts were placed in it with the right hand. Or it may simply mean that alms should be given willingly and decisively, not awkwardly or with ulterior motives. The right hand may be used to help the poor in various ways beyond just giving money—lifting them up, writing for them, tending to their wounds—but whatever kindness we do, we should keep it as private as possible. We should do good because it is right, not because we want recognition.
This principle teaches that we should not seek to publicize our good deeds, even among those closest to us. Instead of telling them, we should appear so discreet about it that they also refrain from spreading it. Furthermore, we should not dwell too much on our own good works, admiring and applauding ourselves. Those whose good works are remembered in heaven are often those who have forgotten them themselves—”When did we see you hungry or thirsty?”
The promise for those who give sincerely and humbly is this: “Let your alms be in secret, and your Father who sees in secret will observe them.” When we take the least notice of our own good deeds, God takes the most notice of them. Just as God hears the wrongs done to us when we do not hear them (Psalm 38:14-15), he sees the good we do when we do not dwell on it. This truth should terrify hypocrites and comfort sincere believers. But beyond God’s observation, he himself will reward the giver.
Those who give for God’s approval entrust themselves to him as their Paymaster. “He himself shall reward you” (Hebrews 11:6). God will not just repay in kind—he himself will be the reward (Genesis 15:1), our “exceedingly great reward.” He will reward us as a Father, not as a mere employer giving wages, but as a loving parent giving abundantly. If the act is done in secret, the reward will be open—if not in this life, then in the life to come, when “every man will receive praise from God.” If our good works remain hidden, their reward will not, and that is far better.