Let Your Alms Be in Secret Matthew 6:3

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.”. In chapter six and verse three of his book, Matthew shared how Jesus told His disciples, “let not your left hand know what your right hand does” where we read:

But when you do alms, let not your left hand know what your right hand does:

The verse reads, “But when you do alms, ...” Matthew began with the word, “but” which means “moreover and” “when you do your alms” which means “at the time and moment the disciples perform and produce the disciples' giving pity, give mercy, charity, benefaction and donation to the poor”. Jesus referred to the times when the disciples “give their donations to the poor”.

The verse goes on to say, “... let not your left hand know what your right hand does:” Matthew added the words, “let not your left hand” which means “do not allow or permit the hand on the left side of the disciples' bodies” “know” or “understand, perceived, have knowledge of and be acquainted with” “what your right hand does” which means “that which the hand on the right side of the body does”. Jesus told His disciples to be so secret in their giving that their “left hand” would not know what the “right hand” does.

When we meditate upon Matthew's words in this verse, we see how the disciple's “giving” was to be done in such a “secret” way that even their “left hand” would not know what their “right hand” does. God desires a relationship with every person through His Son Jesus, and “giving” in a “hidden” way before people shall be recognized and rewarded by God in an immensely greater way.

Next time Jesus tells His disciples, “that your alms may be in secret”, 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.