{"id":44289,"date":"2021-04-18T22:47:58","date_gmt":"2021-04-18T19:47:58","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/wingulamashahidi.org\/?p=44289"},"modified":"2025-05-06T03:29:59","modified_gmt":"2025-05-06T00:29:59","slug":"what-is-the-meaning-of-when-you-give-to-the-poor-let-not-your-right-hand-know-what-your-left-hand-is-doing-matthew-63-4","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/wingulamashahidi.org\/en\/2021\/04\/18\/what-is-the-meaning-of-when-you-give-to-the-poor-let-not-your-right-hand-know-what-your-left-hand-is-doing-matthew-63-4\/","title":{"rendered":"What is the meaning of “When you give to the poor, let not your right hand know what your left hand is doing”? (Matthew 6:3-4)"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Matthew <\/span>6:<\/span>1-<\/span>4 (<\/span>NKJV)<\/span><\/strong>
1 \u201c<\/span>Take <\/span>heed <\/span>that <\/span>you <\/span>do <\/span>not <\/span>do <\/span>your <\/span>charitable <\/span>deeds <\/span>before <\/span>men, <\/span>to <\/span>be <\/span>seen <\/span>by <\/span>them. <\/span>Otherwise, <\/span>you <\/span>have <\/span>no <\/span>reward <\/span>from <\/span>your <\/span>Father <\/span>in <\/span>heaven.<\/span>
2 <\/span>Therefore, <\/span>when <\/span>you <\/span>do <\/span>a <\/span>charitable <\/span>deed, <\/span>do <\/span>not <\/span>sound <\/span>a <\/span>trumpet <\/span>before <\/span>you <\/span>as <\/span>the <\/span>hypocrites <\/span>do <\/span>in <\/span>the <\/span>synagogues <\/span>and <\/span>in <\/span>the <\/span>streets, <\/span>that <\/span>they <\/span>may <\/span>have <\/span>glory <\/span>from <\/span>men. <\/span>Assuredly, <\/span>I <\/span>say <\/span>to <\/span>you, <\/span>they <\/span>have <\/span>their <\/span>reward.<\/span>
3 <\/span>But <\/span>when <\/span>you <\/span>do <\/span>a <\/span>charitable <\/span>deed, <\/span>do <\/span>not <\/span>let <\/span>your <\/span>left <\/span>hand <\/span>know <\/span>what <\/span>your <\/span>right <\/span>hand <\/span>is <\/span>doing,<\/span>
4 <\/span>that <\/span>your <\/span>charitable <\/span>deed <\/span>may <\/span>be <\/span>in <\/span>secret; <\/span>and <\/span>your <\/span>Father <\/span>who <\/span>sees <\/span>in <\/span>secret <\/span>will <\/span>Himself <\/span>reward <\/span>you <\/span>openly.”<\/span><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

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Understanding <\/span>the <\/span>Passage:<\/span><\/h3>\n

Jesus <\/span>is <\/span>teaching <\/span>that <\/span>acts <\/span>of <\/span>kindness <\/span>and <\/span>charity <\/span>should <\/span>not <\/span>be <\/span>performed <\/span>for <\/span>the <\/span>sake <\/span>of <\/span>recognition <\/span>or <\/span>praise <\/span>from <\/span>others. <\/span>The <\/span>focus <\/span>should <\/span>be <\/span>on <\/span>pleasing <\/span>God <\/span>rather <\/span>than <\/span>seeking <\/span>the <\/span>approval <\/span>of <\/span>people. <\/span>The <\/span>phrase “<\/span>let <\/span>not <\/span>your <\/span>right <\/span>hand <\/span>know <\/span>what <\/span>your <\/span>left <\/span>hand <\/span>is <\/span>doing” <\/span>emphasizes <\/span>the <\/span>idea <\/span>that <\/span>our <\/span>charitable <\/span>actions <\/span>should <\/span>be <\/span>done <\/span>with <\/span>such <\/span>discretion <\/span>and <\/span>humility <\/span>that <\/span>even <\/span>we, <\/span>the <\/span>ones <\/span>performing <\/span>the <\/span>act, <\/span>don’t <\/span>keep <\/span>track <\/span>of <\/span>it <\/span>or <\/span>boast <\/span>about <\/span>it.<\/span><\/p>\n

In <\/span>the <\/span>context <\/span>of <\/span>the <\/span>time, <\/span>religious <\/span>leaders <\/span>and <\/span>others <\/span>would <\/span>often <\/span>make <\/span>a <\/span>show <\/span>of <\/span>their <\/span>good <\/span>deeds, <\/span>using <\/span>them <\/span>to <\/span>gain <\/span>admiration <\/span>from <\/span>the <\/span>public. <\/span>Jesus <\/span>contrasts <\/span>this <\/span>with <\/span>a <\/span>life <\/span>of <\/span>humble <\/span>obedience, <\/span>where <\/span>giving <\/span>and <\/span>helping <\/span>others <\/span>is <\/span>done <\/span>in <\/span>secret, <\/span>known <\/span>only <\/span>to <\/span>God. <\/span>The <\/span>reward <\/span>for <\/span>such <\/span>actions <\/span>comes <\/span>from <\/span>God <\/span>alone, <\/span>and <\/span>not <\/span>from <\/span>human <\/span>praise.<\/span><\/p>\n

Theological <\/span>Insights:<\/span><\/h3>\n
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  1. \n

    The <\/span>Motive <\/span>of <\/span>the <\/span>Heart<\/span><\/strong>: <\/span>This <\/span>passage <\/span>underscores <\/span>the <\/span>importance <\/span>of <\/span>the <\/span>inner <\/span>motive <\/span>behind <\/span>the <\/span>action. <\/span>It <\/span>is <\/span>not <\/span>enough <\/span>to <\/span>simply <\/span>do <\/span>good <\/span>deeds; <\/span>our <\/span>hearts <\/span>must <\/span>be <\/span>right. <\/span>Jesus <\/span>wants <\/span>us <\/span>to <\/span>act <\/span>out <\/span>of <\/span>genuine <\/span>love <\/span>and <\/span>compassion, <\/span>not <\/span>out <\/span>of <\/span>a <\/span>desire <\/span>for <\/span>human <\/span>recognition. <\/span>In <\/span>1 <\/span>Corinthians <\/span>13:<\/span>3<\/span><\/strong>, <\/span>Paul <\/span>writes, \u201c<\/span>If <\/span>I <\/span>give <\/span>all <\/span>I <\/span>possess <\/span>to <\/span>the <\/span>poor <\/span>and <\/span>give <\/span>over <\/span>my <\/span>body <\/span>to <\/span>hardship <\/span>that <\/span>I <\/span>may <\/span>boast, <\/span>but <\/span>do <\/span>not <\/span>have <\/span>love, <\/span>I <\/span>gain <\/span>nothing.\u201d <\/span>Our <\/span>actions <\/span>should <\/span>flow <\/span>from <\/span>a <\/span>heart <\/span>that <\/span>truly <\/span>seeks <\/span>to <\/span>honor <\/span>God, <\/span>not <\/span>to <\/span>elevate <\/span>ourselves.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/li>\n

  2. \n

    The <\/span>Parable <\/span>of <\/span>the <\/span>Pharisee <\/span>and <\/span>the <\/span>Tax <\/span>Collector (<\/span>Luke <\/span>18:<\/span>10-<\/span>14)<\/span><\/strong>: <\/span>Jesus <\/span>often <\/span>contrasted <\/span>the <\/span>attitudes <\/span>of <\/span>those <\/span>who <\/span>sought <\/span>recognition <\/span>for <\/span>their <\/span>piety <\/span>with <\/span>those <\/span>who <\/span>humbly <\/span>acknowledged <\/span>their <\/span>need <\/span>for <\/span>God. <\/span>In <\/span>Luke <\/span>18:<\/span>10-<\/span>14<\/span><\/strong>, <\/span>Jesus <\/span>tells <\/span>the <\/span>story <\/span>of <\/span>a <\/span>Pharisee <\/span>and <\/span>a <\/span>tax <\/span>collector <\/span>who <\/span>both <\/span>went <\/span>to <\/span>pray. <\/span>The <\/span>Pharisee <\/span>boasted <\/span>about <\/span>his <\/span>righteousness, <\/span>while <\/span>the <\/span>tax <\/span>collector <\/span>humbled <\/span>himself, <\/span>acknowledging <\/span>his <\/span>sin. <\/span>Jesus <\/span>concluded, \u201c<\/span>I <\/span>tell <\/span>you <\/span>that <\/span>this <\/span>man, <\/span>rather <\/span>than <\/span>the <\/span>other, <\/span>went <\/span>home <\/span>justified <\/span>before <\/span>God.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<\/li>\n

  3. \n

    The <\/span>Danger <\/span>of <\/span>Self-<\/span>Righteousness<\/span><\/strong>: <\/span>In <\/span>modern <\/span>times, <\/span>many <\/span>people <\/span>still <\/span>fall <\/span>into <\/span>the <\/span>trap <\/span>of <\/span>publicizing <\/span>their <\/span>good <\/span>deeds. <\/span>While <\/span>giving <\/span>is <\/span>a <\/span>good <\/span>thing, <\/span>doing <\/span>it <\/span>with <\/span>a <\/span>sense <\/span>of <\/span>pride <\/span>or <\/span>to <\/span>be <\/span>seen <\/span>by <\/span>others <\/span>diminishes <\/span>the <\/span>reward. <\/span>Matthew <\/span>6:<\/span>2<\/span><\/strong> warns <\/span>that <\/span>those <\/span>who <\/span>give <\/span>for <\/span>the <\/span>applause <\/span>of <\/span>men <\/span>have <\/span>already <\/span>received <\/span>their <\/span>reward. <\/span>Galatians <\/span>6:<\/span>7<\/span><\/strong> reminds <\/span>us <\/span>that \u201c<\/span>a <\/span>man <\/span>reaps <\/span>what <\/span>he <\/span>sows,\u201d <\/span>emphasizing <\/span>that <\/span>true <\/span>rewards <\/span>come <\/span>from <\/span>God, <\/span>not <\/span>from <\/span>human <\/span>recognition.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/li>\n

  4. \n

    God <\/span>Rewards <\/span>the <\/span>Secret <\/span>Acts<\/span><\/strong>: <\/span>Jesus <\/span>promises <\/span>that <\/span>when <\/span>we <\/span>give <\/span>in <\/span>secret, <\/span>God <\/span>who <\/span>sees <\/span>what <\/span>is <\/span>done <\/span>in <\/span>secret <\/span>will <\/span>reward <\/span>us <\/span>openly. <\/span>This <\/span>isn’t <\/span>just <\/span>about <\/span>financial <\/span>reward; <\/span>it <\/span>can <\/span>be <\/span>a <\/span>deeper <\/span>sense <\/span>of <\/span>peace, <\/span>fulfillment, <\/span>and <\/span>eternal <\/span>blessings. <\/span>Hebrews <\/span>11:<\/span>6<\/span><\/strong> affirms, \u201c<\/span>And <\/span>without <\/span>faith, <\/span>it <\/span>is <\/span>impossible <\/span>to <\/span>please <\/span>God, <\/span>because <\/span>anyone <\/span>who <\/span>comes <\/span>to <\/span>him <\/span>must <\/span>believe <\/span>that <\/span>he <\/span>exists <\/span>and <\/span>that <\/span>he <\/span>rewards <\/span>those <\/span>who <\/span>earnestly <\/span>seek <\/span>him.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    Practical <\/span>Application:<\/span><\/h3>\n
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      Giving <\/span>with <\/span>Humility<\/span><\/strong>: <\/span>Whether <\/span>it\u2019s <\/span>money, <\/span>time, <\/span>or <\/span>resources, <\/span>our <\/span>giving <\/span>should <\/span>be <\/span>done <\/span>with <\/span>humility, <\/span>without <\/span>seeking <\/span>to <\/span>boast <\/span>or <\/span>draw <\/span>attention. <\/span>We <\/span>are <\/span>reminded <\/span>in <\/span>Matthew <\/span>6:<\/span>3-<\/span>4<\/span><\/strong> to <\/span>keep <\/span>our <\/span>charity <\/span>private.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/li>\n

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      Seek <\/span>God’s <\/span>Approval<\/span><\/strong>: <\/span>As <\/span>believers, <\/span>we <\/span>should <\/span>focus <\/span>on <\/span>doing <\/span>things <\/span>for <\/span>the <\/span>glory <\/span>of <\/span>God, <\/span>not <\/span>for <\/span>praise <\/span>from <\/span>others. <\/span>This <\/span>is <\/span>consistent <\/span>with <\/span>Colossians <\/span>3:<\/span>23-<\/span>24<\/span><\/strong>, <\/span>where <\/span>Paul <\/span>writes, \u201c<\/span>Whatever <\/span>you <\/span>do, <\/span>work <\/span>at <\/span>it <\/span>with <\/span>all <\/span>your <\/span>heart, <\/span>as <\/span>working <\/span>for <\/span>the <\/span>Lord, <\/span>not <\/span>for <\/span>human <\/span>masters, <\/span>since <\/span>you <\/span>know <\/span>that <\/span>you <\/span>will <\/span>receive <\/span>an <\/span>inheritance <\/span>from <\/span>the <\/span>Lord <\/span>as <\/span>a <\/span>reward.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<\/li>\n

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      Forget <\/span>Your <\/span>Deeds <\/span>After <\/span>Doing <\/span>Them<\/span><\/strong>: <\/span>This <\/span>teaching <\/span>is <\/span>not <\/span>just <\/span>about <\/span>doing <\/span>good <\/span>deeds <\/span>but <\/span>about <\/span>not <\/span>clinging <\/span>to <\/span>them <\/span>or <\/span>using <\/span>them <\/span>as <\/span>a <\/span>measure <\/span>of <\/span>our <\/span>righteousness. <\/span>We <\/span>are <\/span>encouraged <\/span>to <\/span>forget <\/span>our <\/span>own <\/span>deeds <\/span>once <\/span>they <\/span>are <\/span>done, <\/span>as <\/span>Luke <\/span>17:<\/span>10<\/span><\/strong> says, \u201c<\/span>So <\/span>you <\/span>also, <\/span>when <\/span>you <\/span>have <\/span>done <\/span>all <\/span>that <\/span>you <\/span>were <\/span>commanded, <\/span>say, \u2018<\/span>We <\/span>are <\/span>unworthy <\/span>servants; <\/span>we <\/span>have <\/span>only <\/span>done <\/span>what <\/span>was <\/span>our <\/span>duty.\u2019\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

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      Conclusion:<\/span><\/h3>\n

      The <\/span>message <\/span>of <\/span>Matthew <\/span>6:<\/span>1-<\/span>4<\/span><\/strong> is <\/span>clear: <\/span>our <\/span>good <\/span>deeds <\/span>should <\/span>be <\/span>performed <\/span>quietly <\/span>and <\/span>humbly, <\/span>without <\/span>expecting <\/span>accolades <\/span>from <\/span>others. <\/span>By <\/span>doing <\/span>so, <\/span>we <\/span>align <\/span>ourselves <\/span>with <\/span>God’s <\/span>will, <\/span>and <\/span>He <\/span>will <\/span>reward <\/span>us <\/span>in <\/span>ways <\/span>far <\/span>greater <\/span>than <\/span>any <\/span>recognition <\/span>from <\/span>people <\/span>could <\/span>offer. <\/span>True <\/span>reward <\/span>comes <\/span>not <\/span>from <\/span>the <\/span>applause <\/span>of <\/span>the <\/span>crowd <\/span>but <\/span>from <\/span>the <\/span>approval <\/span>of <\/span>God, <\/span>and <\/span>it <\/span>is <\/span>that <\/span>approval <\/span>which <\/span>holds <\/span>eternal <\/span>significant.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n

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