Matthew 6:3 - Forerunner Commentary

Matthew 6:3

Do Good to Please God

1 “Take heed that you do not do your charitable deeds before men, to be seen by them. Otherwise you have no reward from your Father in heaven.

2 Therefore, ^awhen you do a charitable deed, do not sound a trumpet before you as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may have glory from men. Assuredly, I say to you, they have their reward.

3 But when you do a charitable deed, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing,

4 that your charitable deed may be in secret; and your Father who sees in secret ^awill Himself reward you openly.

The Model Prayer

5 “And when you pray, you shall not be like the¹ hypocrites. For they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the corners of the streets, that they may be seen by men. Assuredly, I say to you, they have their reward.

6 But you, when you pray, ^ago into your room, and when you have shut your door, pray to your Father who is in the secret place; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you¹ openly.

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Matthew 6:3-6

The term hypocrite is used here to refer to a person who does good acts for appearances only, not out of compassion or other good motives. So his actions may be good, but his motives are hollow and these empty acts are his only reward.

Now when Jesus says not to tell your left hand what your right hand is doing, He teaches that our motives for giving to God and others must be pure. It is easy to give with mixed motives, to do something for someone with the expectation of benefiting ourselves in return. However, we should avoid all scheming and provide for the reason of giving, that is, responding to God's love.

It is easy to do what is right for recognition and praise to ensure our motives are not selfish. We should perform our good deeds quietly or in secret with no thought at all about reward. Jesus says we should check our motives in three areas: generosity, which is found in verse 4; prayer in verse 6; and fasting in verse 18.

Excerpted from When Actions Contradict Stated Beliefs

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Do Good to Please God

The Model Prayer

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