Why is it important to give in secret according to Matthew 6:3? Setting within the Sermon on the Mount Matthew 6 sits at the heart of Jesus’ teaching about genuine righteousness. After warning against practicing “your righteousness before men to be seen by them” (6:1), He addresses giving, praying, and fasting—three core acts of devotion. Verse 3 zeroes in on charitable giving: “ But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing.” (Matthew 6:3) Primary Command Stated – Give, but give unobtrusively. – Keep it so quiet that even your “other hand” remains uninformed—a vivid picture of secrecy. Why Secrecy Matters • God-Focused, Not Audience-Focused – “So that your giving may be in secret. And your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.” (Matthew 6:4) – Public applause is short-lived; divine reward is everlasting (cf. 1 Corinthians 3:14). • Protection from Pride – Secrecy starves the ego of the praise it craves (Proverbs 27:2). – Like the tax collector who “would not even lift up his eyes to heaven” but went home justified (Luke 18:13-14), hidden giving keeps the heart humble. • Alignment with God’s Character – The Father “gives generously to all without reproach” (James 1:5) and does much of His work unseen (1 Samuel 16:7). Quiet giving mirrors His quiet providence. • Integrity of Motive – Secrecy tests whether we give out of love for God and neighbor, or for self-promotion (Galatians 1:10). – It transforms giving from transaction to worship. • Cultivation of Eternal Perspective – Investing where only God sees redirects treasure “in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroy” (Matthew 6:19-20). – Earth’s applause fades; heavenly reward endures (Colossians 3:23-24). Practical Outworking – Evaluate motives before giving; ask whether anonymity is possible and appropriate. – Avoid self-referential stories that spotlight personal generosity. – Funnel gifts through methods that obscure the donor when feasible. – Celebrate God’s provision, not the giver’s prominence (2 Corinthians 9:11-12). Summing Up Secret giving guards the heart, honors the Father, and secures reward that the world can neither grant nor revoke. |
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