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

1Take heed not to do your alms before men to be seen of them, otherwise ye have no reward with your Father who is in the heavens. 2When therefore thou doest alms, sound not a trumpet before thee, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, so that they may have glory from men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward. But thou, when thou doest alms, let not thy left hand know what thy right hand does; 4so that thine alms may be in secret, and thy Father who sees in secret will render [it] to thee. 5And when thou prayest, thou shalt not be as the hypocrites; for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and in the corners of the streets so that they should appear to men. Verily I say unto 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

• almsἐλεημοσύνηeleēmosunē · charityG1654
• handδεξιόςdexios · rightG1188
• knowγινώσκωginōskō · to knowG1097

Cross-references for Matthew 6:3

• Matthew 8:4And Jesus says to him, See thou tell no man, but go, shew thyself to the priest, and offer the gift which Moses ordained, for a testimony to them.
• Matthew 9:30And their eyes were opened; and Jesus charged them sharply, saying, See, let no man know it.
• Matthew 12:19He shall not strive or cry out, nor shall any one hear his voice in the streets;
• Mark 1:44and says to him, See thou say nothing to any one, but go, shew thyself to the priest, and offer for thy cleansing what Moses ordained, for a testimony to them.
• John 7:4for no one does anything in secret and himself seeks to be [known] in public. If thou doest these things, manifest thyself 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