Matthew 6
Giving in secret
“Be careful that you don’t do your charitable giving before men, to be seen by them, or else you have no reward from your Father who is in heaven. Therefore, when you do merciful deeds, don’t sound a trumpet before yourself, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may get glory from men. Most certainly I tell you, they have received their reward. But when you do merciful deeds, don’t let your left hand know what your right hand does, so that your merciful deeds may be in secret, then your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly.
Jesus warns against doing religious deeds to be seen by others. When giving to the poor, his hearers should do it so quietly that their left hand does not know what the right is doing; their Father, who sees in secret, will reward them.
What does this mean?
'Alms' (KJV) are gifts to the poor; WEB has 'charitable giving' and 'merciful deeds'. 'Hypocrite' was the Greek word for a stage actor, someone playing a part for an audience. 'Sound a trumpet' is probably a figure of speech for drawing attention to oneself.
Historical context
Giving to the poor, prayer and fasting were three central practices of Jewish piety, and almsgiving was regarded as a basic religious duty.
Why does it matter?
This opens a three-part section on giving, prayer and fasting, each following the same pattern: not like the hypocrites, but in secret, and the Father will reward. The Lord's Prayer sits at its centre.
Editorial notes, not scripture.