Matthew 6:1-4 says,
It doesn't seem to get any plainer than this. To explain it any deeper would mean simply repeating it again, for Jesus was pretty precise here. Jesus starts out speaking about doing charitable deeds. I will point out that He doesn't tell us to NOT do charitable deeds, so doing them is good in God's eyes of course.
With God it always seems to come down to the heart of a person though. WHY are you doing this charitable deed? Is it out of a Godly compassion for the person in need, or are you simply hoping to be seen by others as you are doing good?
In verse two Jesus uses the metaphor of, "sounding a trumpet before you as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and streets." Translated to today's standards this may mean "in church or in public - aka online." I want to quickly point out that Jesus is not calling the people He is speaking to hypocrites, but He is telling them that if they strive to bring attention to themselves while doing charitable deeds for the needy, then they are doing as the hypocrites do.
He then points out that they already have their reward. What reward is this? It is a temporal reward instead of an eternal reward. They got the approval of people which is a temporary thing rather than the approval of God, which is a lasting reward throughout eternity.
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“Take heed that you do not do your charitable deeds before men, to be seen by them. Otherwise you have no reward from your Father in heaven. 2 Therefore, when you do a charitable deed, do not sound a trumpet before you as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may have glory from men. Assuredly, I say to you, they have their reward.3 But when you do a charitable deed, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, 4 that your charitable deed may be in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will Himself reward you openly."
It doesn't seem to get any plainer than this. To explain it any deeper would mean simply repeating it again, for Jesus was pretty precise here. Jesus starts out speaking about doing charitable deeds. I will point out that He doesn't tell us to NOT do charitable deeds, so doing them is good in God's eyes of course.
With God it always seems to come down to the heart of a person though. WHY are you doing this charitable deed? Is it out of a Godly compassion for the person in need, or are you simply hoping to be seen by others as you are doing good?
In verse two Jesus uses the metaphor of, "sounding a trumpet before you as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and streets." Translated to today's standards this may mean "in church or in public - aka online." I want to quickly point out that Jesus is not calling the people He is speaking to hypocrites, but He is telling them that if they strive to bring attention to themselves while doing charitable deeds for the needy, then they are doing as the hypocrites do.
He then points out that they already have their reward. What reward is this? It is a temporal reward instead of an eternal reward. They got the approval of people which is a temporary thing rather than the approval of God, which is a lasting reward throughout eternity.
I've heard verse 3 used out of context many times when people want to keep something to themselves. However, to "not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing" is only mentioned here in the context of doing a charitable deed.
Why the secrecy? Because everything we do as Christians should be done for the glory of God. God is the one who should receive the glory and not us. When we reveal that WE were the ones doing the charitable deed we are the ones that receive the glory from all who see it. Of course the recipient of the charitable deed will often see you, but even then the deed should be done to glorify God and not ones self.
Why the secrecy? Because everything we do as Christians should be done for the glory of God. God is the one who should receive the glory and not us. When we reveal that WE were the ones doing the charitable deed we are the ones that receive the glory from all who see it. Of course the recipient of the charitable deed will often see you, but even then the deed should be done to glorify God and not ones self.
When we do a charitable deed in secret verse 4 tells us, "your Father who sees in secret will Himself reward you openly." Isn't that good news? The bible doesn't say that this "reward in the open" will necessarily be in Heaven either. God may very well choose to see you rewarded on earth in the open. Whichever way He decides, it is way better than being rewarded by man openly.
This is a pretty popular passage of scripture, yet we see so many people cashing in their rewards by settling for the praise of their peers. Most of us have seen people bragging about doing good for others in the church, or doing charitable deeds (it would appear) only to be seen. We also tend to see it in our day to day lives in public.
Probably the worst place I think I've seen it is on Facebook. There are some that cannot possibly do a good deed for someone without posting on their status update. Sometimes their motives could be trying to encourage others to likewise do good for others, but isn't it a shame that they are also doing the opposite of the instructions Jesus gave in Matthew 6:1-4?
Probably the worst place I think I've seen it is on Facebook. There are some that cannot possibly do a good deed for someone without posting on their status update. Sometimes their motives could be trying to encourage others to likewise do good for others, but isn't it a shame that they are also doing the opposite of the instructions Jesus gave in Matthew 6:1-4?
Don't Blow your Trumpet... Do Good unto Others with discretion... Give God all the Glory.... and He will reward you openly!
Amen!
