Matthew 6:3

Instead of doing as they do, when you give something to the poor, do not let other people know that you are doing that [MET].

Translation for Translators

In The King James Version

But when thou doest alms, let not thy left hand know what thy right hand doeth:

In Context

2So, whenever you give something to the poor, do not announce it as people announce something that they want other people to know about by playing a fanfare on a trumpet [MET]. That is what the hypocrites do ◄in the synagogues/in the Jewish meeting places► and on the main roads in order that people might see what they do and praise them. Keep this in mind: People praise those hypocrites, but that is the only reward they will receive!

4In that way, you will be giving to the poor secretly. As a result God, your Father who observes you while no one else sees you, will reward you.

Read all of Matthew 6

Cross References

Matthew 8:4Then Jesus said to him, “Go and show yourself to a nearby priest so that he can examine you and verify that you no longer have leprosy. Then, after he tells the local people, they will know that you no longer have leprosy, and you will be able to associate with them again. Make sure that now you do not report about my healing you to anyone other than the priest. Then go to the Temple in Jerusalem and give the priest the offering that Moses commanded that people who have been healed from leprosy should offer as a sacrifice to God.”

Matthew 12:19He will not quarrel with people, neither will he shout. He will not teach with a loud voice in the main streets.

John 7:4No one who wants to become famous does things secretly. You say you are doing these miracles, so do some miracles there so that everyone [MTY] can see them!”

Matthew Henry on Matthew 6:2-5

The Sermon on the Mount. 1 Take heed that ye do not your alms before men, to be seen of them: otherwise ye have no reward of your Father which is in heaven. 2 Therefore when thou doest thine alms, do not sound a trumpet before thee, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may have glory of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward. 3 But when thou doest alms, let not thy left hand know what thy right hand doeth: 4 That thine alms may be in secret: and thy Father which seeth in… Read the whole commentary →

This Verse In Other Editions

Study Matthew 6:3