Jesus has just redefined love as something so radical that it includes enemies. Now, in Matthew 6, He shifts focus to spiritual practices—starting with giving.
But He doesn’t just tell us what to do. He tells us how—and more importantly, why. Because even the right action, with the wrong motive, can become spiritually empty.
Let’s step into Jesus’ teaching on giving—and uncover the powerful truth behind secret generosity.
Who Is Jesus Speaking To?
Jesus is still addressing His disciples and the broader crowd, many of whom had witnessed religious leaders give publicly to gain prestige. The people had likely been taught that public piety equaled righteousness.
But Jesus, once again, calls His followers to a deeper standard: Give, not to be seen—but to honor God.
What Jesus Said: Matthew 6:1–4 (NASB)
1 “Take care not to practice your righteousness in the sight of people, to be noticed by them; otherwise you have no reward with your Father who is in heaven. 2 So when you give to the poor, do not sound a trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and on the streets, so that they will be praised by people. Truly I say to you, they have their reward in full. 3 But when you give to the poor, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, 4 so that your charitable giving will be in secret; and your Father who sees what is done in secret will reward you.”
From Applause to Authenticity
Jesus isn’t condemning giving—He’s confronting performance-based religion.
In the first century, it wasn’t uncommon for religious leaders to announce their generosity to be admired.
Jesus says:
“If you give to be seen—you already got your reward. But that’s all you’ll get.”
Action Step: Examine your last act of generosity. Was it for the eyes of people—or the heart of God?
“Don’t Let Your Left Hand Know…”
Jesus uses hyperbole again to make His point: Be so private in your giving that even your own self-congratulation gets shut down.
He’s not against public giving when it’s necessary—He’s against giving to gain recognition.
Action Step: Give anonymously this week. Bless someone who’ll never know it was you. Let God alone see it.
Your Father Sees—and Rewards
This is the most powerful line of the passage:
“And your Father who sees what is done in secret will reward you.”
When you give with no spotlight, you’re not forgotten—heaven notices you.
And God’s rewards? They’re deeper than applause. They’re spiritual, eternal, and soul-satisfying.
Action Step: Trust God with the unseen. Keep giving—even if no one acknowledges it. Your reward is coming.
Mood of the Scene
Jesus’ tone is both protective and purifying.
He’s warning His followers against wasting their spiritual power on earthly praise.
He doesn’t want less giving—He wants more genuine giving.
Response from the People
The crowd was likely pierced.
They had seen the showy givers. Many may have even envied them.
But now, Jesus flipped the script: the real heroes of the Kingdom are the ones nobody sees but God.
What This Means for Us in 2025
In a world where:
- Generosity often becomes content…
- Kindness gets uploaded for likes…
- Giving is often used to elevate the giver…
…Jesus still says:
Give in secret. Let God get the glory. Let Heaven reward you.
Practical Applications:
- Give without broadcasting. Let your reward come from God alone.
- Shift the motive—give to please the Father, not followers.
- Start small. Secret giving builds secret strength.
- Don’t stop being generous—stop needing attention for it.
- Remember: God sees what others miss. And that’s enough.
Final Prayer
Father, teach me to give like You give—generously, freely, and without fanfare. Strip me of pride or performance. Let my giving be pure worship. May I seek only Your approval and trust You for reward. Thank You for seeing what others don’t. Help me walk in secret strength. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
