matthew-6:3,-ephesians-6:11-14

The Pulpit Commentary - Matthew 6:2-4

Almsgiving. Matthew only. read more

The Pulpit Commentary - Matthew 6:3

But when thou ; " thou " emphatic. Let not thy left hand know , etc. So little effect should thy kind action have upon thy memory. There should be no self-consciousness in it. read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Matthew 6:3-4

Let not thy left hand know ... - This is a proverbial expression, signifying that the action should be done as secretly as possible. The Hebrews often attribute actions to members which properly belong to persons. The encouragement for performing our acts of charity in secret is that it will be pleasing to God; that he will see the act, however secret it may be, and will openly reward it. If the reward is not granted in this life, it will be in the life to come. In multitudes of cases, however,... read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Matthew 6:2-4

Matthew 6:2-4. Therefore, &c. The caution is so important, that our Lord illustrates it in various particulars. When thou doest thine alms Exercisest thy charity by performing works of mercy; do not sound a trumpet before thee, as the hypocrites do From this it would appear that, in our Lord’s time, persons who affected the reputation of being extremely charitable, sometimes sounded a trumpet when they distributed their alms, on pretence, no doubt, of calling together the poor to... read more

Donald C. Fleming

Bridgeway Bible Commentary - Matthew 6:1-18

41. Giving, praying and fasting (Matthew 6:1-18; Luke 11:1-4)If the followers of Jesus give help to the needy with the aim of winning people’s praise, their giving is of no value in God’s sight. They will have their reward in the praise they seek, but will miss out on any reward from God. They should keep matters of giving secret from even their closest friends (Matthew 6:1-4).Prayer also is a private matter. Believers do not need to make a show of prayerful zeal, as if their heavenly Father... read more

E.W. Bullinger

E.W. Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes - Matthew 6:3

know = get to know. Greek. ginosko. App-132 . read more

James Burton Coffman

Coffman Commentaries on the Bible - Matthew 6:3

But when thou doest alms, let not thy left hand know what thy right hand doeth.This is a heavenly guideline for maintaining the desired privacy as applied specifically to alms-giving. read more

Thomas Coke

Thomas Coke Commentary on the Holy Bible - Matthew 6:3

Matthew 6:3. Let not thy left hand know— This is a kind of proverbial expression, which may be explained to this effect: "Let no one, no, not even your most intimate acquaintance, know what you do; be ignorant of it yourselves, or forget it immediately as far as possible." It is said that the poors' chest stood on the right hand as they entered the synagogues; to which circumstance some suppose the words to all read more

Robert Jamieson; A. R. Fausset; David Brown

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible - Matthew 6:3

3. But when thou doest alms, let not thy left hand know what thy right hand doeth—So far from making a display of it, dwell not on it even in thine own thoughts, lest it minister to spiritual pride. read more

Thomas Constable

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - Matthew 6:1-18

Righteousness and the Father 6:1-18Jesus moved from correcting popular misinterpretations of selected Old Testament texts that speak of righteous conduct (Matthew 5:17-48) to correcting popular misconceptions about righteous conduct. He moved from ethical distinctions to the practice of religion. Throughout this entire section proper motivation for actions is a constant emphasis. read more