Verse of the Day
Author Spotlight
Loading featured author...
Report Issue
See a formatting issue or error?
Let us know →
so that your merciful deeds may be in secret, then your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly.
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
12
18th Century
Presbyterian
Let not your left hand know, etc. This is a proverbial expression, signifying that the action should be done as secretly as possible. The …
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 …
19th Century
Anglican
That your alms may be in secret — Here again we have a principle rather than a rule. Publicity may be a duty, especially in public…
Consider supporting our work
Baptist
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…
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…
16th Century
Protestant
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…
Get curated content & updates
17th Century
Reformed Baptist
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 …
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…
13th Century
Catholic
Take heed that you do not your justice before men. Above, the Lord fulfilled the Law regarding the precepts; now He begin…
