Alms in Secret Matthew 6:4

Matthew shared how Jesus told His disciples, “Be you therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect”, and he continued, “take heed that you do not your alms before men, to be seen of them: otherwise you have no reward of your Father which is in heaven. Therefore when you do your alms, do not sound a trumpet before you, 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. But when you do alms, let not your left hand know what your right hand does.” In chapter six and verse four of his book, Matthew shared how Jesus told His disciples what happens when their, “alms” are “in secret” where we read:

That your alms may be in secret:

and your Father which sees in secret himself shall reward you openly.

The verse reads, “That your alms may be in secret:” Matthew began with the words, “that your alms” which means “so the disciple's giving pity, give mercy, charity, benefaction and donation to the poor” “may be in secret” which means “will exist as hidden and concealed”. Jesus desired for His disciples' “giving” to be done in a “secret” way.

The verse continues, “and your Father which sees in secret himself shall reward you openly.” Matthew added the words, “and your Father” which means “and the disciple's generator and originator” “which sees” or “who observes, discerns and perceives with the use of the eyes” “in secret” “as hidden and concealed” “himself” which means “God Himself” “shall reward you” or “will deliver, render, give back and restore wages, tribute and recompense” “openly” which means “in an apparent, manifest, evident and known way”. Jesus told His disciples that God would take notice of their “hidden giving” and “repay” them in an apparent and known way.

When we think through Matthew's words in this verse, we see how Jesus' instruction to His disciples was to allow God to see their “giving” rather than other people. When “giving” is done in this manner, God “rewards” the giver. God desires a relationship with every person who will yield their life to His Son Jesus, and when they do, they will desire to “give” in a manner that is pleasing to Him, and He is ready and able to “reward” in an “open” way.

Next time Jesus tells His disciples, “when you pray, you shall not be as the hypocrites are”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

Look for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, “One Year in the Sermon on the Mount” and the new poetry book "Random Mushrooms Volumes I and II" and the new novel "Elizabeth County" in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com ; http://www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore.