Giving to Others in Secret
November 3, 2020
Commentary
Don’t be a showoff when you give (vv. 1-4). Jesus warned that to give gifts to the poor and needy just to be seen by men has no reward from the Father in heaven (v. 1). The Pharisees made a great show of their giving in the synagogues and on the streets, thinking they were proving how spiritual they were. Jesus said that a person’s giving should be so secret that the giver soon forgets what he gave. We cannot be rewarded by both man and God. A person who gives so men will see and honor him already has his reward and God will add nothing extra to it (v. 2). When you give to the poor, don’t let anyone know about it (v. 3). However, a person who is willing to serve the Lord in secret, God will reward openly (v. 4).
Throughout Scripture we are told the types of people who should be recipients of our giving. They are (1) the stranger (Heb. 13:2), (2) the fatherless (Ps. 82:3-4), (3) the widow (Isa. 1:17), (4) the poor and needy (Deut. 15:11), (5) the afflicted (Prov. 22:22-23), (6) the destitute (James (2:15-16), & pastors and missionaries (1 Tim. 5:17).
It is not the job of government to provide for the poor. Alms-giving needs to be a family and church responsibility. It needs to be restricted to those who are qualified to receive it and should never diminish a person’s desire to work.
Don’t be a showoff when you pray either (vv. 5-6) by being loud and in a special kind of voice to be recognized or look good to others. Jesus speaks here about the practice of prayer, which the Pharisees loved to perform publicly. It is better to go into a room alone and pray than to be a show-off in public (v. 6).
Application
What are practical ways of how I can determine who those are who are truly in need. An example would be to invite them to our house and visit with them after Church. If they are able, they should be willing to work and not refuse jobs because it doesn’t happen to be something they like to do.
Matthew 6:1– 6 (NET)
1 “Be careful not to display your righteousness merely to be seen by people. Otherwise you have no reward with your Father in heaven. 2 Thus whenever you do charitable giving, do not blow a trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in synagogues and on streets so that people will praise them. I tell you the truth, they have their reward! 3 But when you do your giving, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, 4 so that your gift may be in secret. And your Father, who sees in secret, will reward you.
5 “Whenever you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, because they love to pray while standing in synagogues and on street corners so that people can see them. Truly I say to you, they have their reward! 6 But whenever you pray, go into your inner room, close the door, and pray to your Father in secret. And your Father, who sees in secret, will reward you.