Charles Spurgeon Commentary Matthew 6:2

"When therefore thou doest alms, sound not 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 received their reward." — Matthew 6:2 (ASV)

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.

And they will have no more; there is, in their case, no laying up of any store of good works before God. Whatever they may have done, they have taken full credit for it in the praise of men.

We must not copy the loud charity of certain vainglorious people. Their character is hypocritical, their manner is ostentatious, their aim is to be seen of men, their reward is in the present. That reward is a very poor one and is soon over. To stand with a penny in one hand and a trumpet in the other is the posture of hypocrisy.

“Glory of men” is something that can be bought, but honor from God is a very different thing. This is an advertising age, and too many are saying, “Behold my liberality!” Those who have Jesus for their King must wear His uniform of humility and not the scarlet trappings of a purse-proud generosity, which blows its own trumpet, not only in the streets, but even in the synagogues.

We cannot expect two rewards for the same action. If we have it now, we will not have it hereafter. Unrewarded alms alone will count in the record of the last day.

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.

So that they will never have another. They have been paid once for it by the approval of their fellow men. They will never have any further reward.