Matthew 6:3

Matthew 6:3 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)But when thou doest alms, let not thy left hand know what thy right hand doeth:
• New International Version (NIV)But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing,
• English Standard Version (ESV)But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing,
• New King James Version (NKJV)But when you do a charitable deed, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing,

Context of Matthew 6:3

1“Be careful not to practice your righteousness in front of others to be seen by them. Otherwise, you have no reward with your Father in heaven. 2So whenever you give to the poor, don’t sound a trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and on the streets, to be applauded by people. Truly I tell you, they have their reward. But when you give to the poor, don’t let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, 4so that your giving may be in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you. 5“Whenever you pray, you must not be like the hypocrites, because they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by people. Truly I tell you, they have their reward.

Matthew 6:3 word by word

σοῦ δὲ ποιοῦντος ἐλεημοσύνην μὴ γνώτω ἡ ἀριστερά σου τί ποιεῖ ἡ δεξιά σουRead the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• ·ὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
• Butδέde · thenG1161
• whenποιέωpoieō · to do/make: doG4160
• thouσύsu · youG4771
• almsἐλεημοσύνηeleēmosunē · charityG1654
• letγινώσκωginōskō · to knowG1097
• notμήmē · notG3361
• left handἀριστερόςaristēros · leftG710
• whatτίςtis · which?G5101
• right handδεξιόςdexios · rightG1188

Cross-references for Matthew 6:3

• Matthew 8:4Then Jesus told him, “See that you don’t tell anyone; but go, show yourself to the priest, and offer the gift that Moses commanded, as a testimony to them.”
• Matthew 9:30And their eyes were opened. Then Jesus warned them sternly, “Be sure that no one finds out.”
• Matthew 12:19He will not argue or shout, and no one will hear his voice in the streets.
• Mark 1:44telling him, “See that you say nothing to anyone; but go and show yourself to the priest, and offer what Moses commanded for your cleansing, as a testimony to them.”
• John 7:4For no one does anything in secret while he’s seeking public recognition. If you do these things, show yourself to the world.”

Commentaries on Matthew 6:3

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 3Let not thy left hand know - In many cases, works of charity must be hidden from even our nearest relatives, who, if they knew, would hinder us from doing what God has given us power and inclination to perform. We must go even farther; and conceal them as far as is possible from ourselves, by not thinking of them, or eyeing them with complacency. They are given to God, and should be hidden in Him.Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 3Let not thy left hand know … - This is a proverbial expression, signifying that the action should be done as secretly as possible. The Hebrews often attribute actions to members which properly belong to persons. The encouragement for performing our acts of charity in secret is that it will be pleasing to God; that he will see the act, however secret it may be, and will openly reward it. If the reward is not granted in this life, it will be in the life to…Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 33. But when thou doest alms, let not thy left hand know what thy right hand doeth--So far from making a display of it, dwell not on it even in thine own thoughts, lest it minister to spiritual pride.Read the comment

Topics related to Matthew 6:3

• Alms
• Commandments
• Giving
• Liberality
• Motive
• Pharisees
• Religion
• Works

In the dictionaries

• Left hand
• Add
• Appear
• Closet
• Consider
• Corrupt
• Countenance
• Despise
• Fast
• Forgive

Commentaries on Matthew 6

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
• Tyndale Open Study Notes
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
• Calvin’s Commentaries
• John Wesley’s Notes
• Catena Aurea
• Illustrated New Testament
• Burkitt’s Expository Notes
• Darby Translation Notes
• Family Bible Notes
• Geneva Bible Translation Notes
• Kingcomments
• John Lightfoot Commentary
• Luther’s Commentary on Selected Bible Passages
• Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
• Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
• The People’s New Testament
• Robertson’s Word Pictures
• Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
• The Fourfold Gospel and Commentary on Acts
• Original Douay–Rheims Annotations
• Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
• EGW Writings