Charles Spurgeon Commentary Matthew 6:3-4

"But when thou doest alms, let not thy left hand know what thy right hand doeth: that thine alms may be in secret: and thy Father who seeth in secret shall recompense thee." — Matthew 6:3-4 (ASV)

Seek secrecy for your good deeds. Do not even see your own virtue. Hide from yourself what you yourself have done that is commendable, for the proud contemplation of your own generosity may tarnish all your alms. Keep the thing so secret that even you yourself are hardly aware that you are doing anything at all praiseworthy.

Let God be present, and you will have enough of an audience. He will reward you, reward you openly, reward you as a Father rewards a child, reward you as one who saw what you did and knew that you did it wholly to Him.

Lord, help me, when I am doing good, to keep my left hand out of it, that I may have no sinister motive and no desire to have a present reward of praise from others.