Verse of the Day
Author Spotlight
Loading featured author...
Report Issue
See a formatting issue or error?
Let us know →
Verse Takeaways
1
An Audience of One
Commentators stress that the command for secret giving is about purifying your heart's motive. The goal is to act for God's approval alone, guarding against the subtle sin of vainglory. As Charles Spurgeon notes, you should be so secret that you "hide from yourself what you yourself have done," ensuring your focus is entirely on God, not on praise from others or even self-congratulation.
See 3 Verse Takeaways
Book Overview
Matthew
Author
Audience
Composition
Teaching Highlights
Outline
+ 5 more
See Overview
Commentaries
11
Albert Barnes
On Matthew 6:3–4
18th Century
Theologian
Let not your left hand know, etc. This is a proverbial expression, signifying that the action should be done as secretly as possible. The …
AT Robertson
On Matthew 6:4
In secret (τω κρυπτω). The Textus Receptus added the words εν τω φανερω (openly) here and in 6:6, but they are not genuine. Jesus …
Charles Spurgeon
On Matthew 6:3–4
19th Century
Preacher
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 prou…
Go Ad-Free
Go ad-free and create your own bookmark library
Expositor's Bible Commentary
On Matthew 6:4
The way to avoid hypocrisy is not to cease giving but to do so with such secrecy that we scarcely know what we have given. Jesus’ disciples must th…
John Calvin
On Matthew 6:4
16th Century
Theologian
That your alms may be in secret. This statement appears to contradict many passages of Scripture, in which we are commanded to edify our f…
John Gill
On Matthew 6:4
17th Century
Pastor
That your alms may be in secret
May be done in secret, and be kept a secret. The allusion seems to be to the secret …
Matthew Henry
On Matthew 6:1–4
17th Century
Minister
Our Lord next warned against hypocrisy and outward show in religious duties. What we do must be done from an inward principle, so that we may be ap…
Thomas Aquinas
On Matthew 6:1–4
13th Century
Philosopher
Take heed that you do not your justice before men. Above, the Lord fulfilled the Law regarding the precepts; now He begin…