Expositor's Bible Commentary 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)

While some in Jesus’ day believed almsgiving earned merit, ostentation rather than merit theology is the point here. Jesus assumes his disciples will give alms: “When you give to the needy,” he says, not “If you give to the needy.” The reference to trumpet announcements is difficult. It seems most likely that Jesus is referring to a practice of proclaiming public fasts by the sounding of trumpets. At such times prayers for rain were recited in the streets (cf. v.5), and it was widely thought that almsgiving insured the efficacy of the fasts and prayers. But these occasions afforded golden opportunities for ostentation, and that is precisely what “hypocrites” (GK 5695) were guilty of.

The form of hypocrisy mentioned here seems to be that of those who deceive themselves into thinking they are acting for the best interests of God and others and deceive onlookers as well. The needy are unlikely to complain when they receive large gifts, and their gratitude may flatter and thus bolster a giver’s selfdelusion.

The Pharisees’ great weakness was that they loved praise from others more than God’s praise (cf. Jn 5:44; 12:43). Those who give out of this attitude receive their reward in full. They win human plaudits, and that is all they get (cf. Psalms 17:14).