John Calvin Commentary Matthew 6:1

"Take heed that ye do not your righteousness before men, to be seen of them: else ye have no reward with your Father who is in heaven." — Matthew 6:1 (ASV)

Beware: In this passage, Christ exhorts His people to devote themselves sincerely to good works; that is, to endeavor, with simplicity, to do what is right before God and not to make a parade before men.⁴²⁴ This is a very necessary admonition. For in all virtues, the entrance of ambition is to be dreaded, and there is no work so praiseworthy that it is not, in many instances, corrupted and polluted by ambition.

Christ lays down a general doctrine under one category by synecdoche. For instance, He initially speaks only of alms, just as He also speaks shortly afterward about prayers. Some manuscripts, however, read δικαιοσύνην (righteousness) instead of ἐλεημοσύνην (alms); this reading is also found in the old Latin translation. But the difference is of little importance, for in either case, there is no doubt that the design is to correct the disease of ambition, which arises when we seek glory from men while doing what is right.

⁴²⁴ “Sans chercher la louange des hommes;” —”without seeking the praise of men?”;” —”without seeking the praise of men?”