John Gill Commentary Matthew 6:3

"But when thou doest alms, let not thy left hand know what thy right hand doeth:" — Matthew 6:3 (ASV)

But when you do alms Do it so privately, and with so much secrecy, that, if it was possible, you might not know it yourself, much less make it known to others:

let not your left hand know what your right hand does; acquaint not your nearest and dearest friend with it; let not one that sits at your left hand know what you are doing with your right hand; it is a proverbial and hyperbolical phrase, expressing the secrecy of the action. It is a Jewish canon ^F16, that ``he that gives a gift to his friend out of love, may make it known, (hqdub al lba), "but not if it be by way of alms".''

---

FOOTNOTES:

• F16: Piske Tosephot in Sabbat. c. 1. art. 134.