God’s Word Translation
Matthew 6:3
3When you give to the poor, don’t let your left hand know what your right hand is doing.
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 do your good works in public in order to attract attention. If you do, your Father in heaven will not reward you. 2So when you give to the poor, don’t announce it with trumpet fanfare. This is what hypocrites do in the synagogues and on the streets in order to be praised by people. I can guarantee this truth: That will be their only reward. When you give to the poor, don’t let your left hand know what your right hand is doing. 4Give your contributions privately. Your Father sees what you do in private. He will reward you. 5“When you pray, don’t be like hypocrites. They like to stand in synagogues and on street corners to pray so that everyone can see them. I can guarantee this truth: That will be their only reward.
Read all of Matthew 6Matthew 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.
Cross-references for Matthew 6:3
- Matthew 8:4Jesus said to him, “Don’t tell anyone about this! Instead, show yourself to the priest. Then offer the sacrifice Moses commanded as proof to people that you are clean.”
- Matthew 9:30Then they could see. He warned them, “Don’t let anyone know about this!”
- Matthew 12:19He will not quarrel or shout, and no one will hear his voice in the streets.
- Mark 1:44“Don’t tell anyone about this! Instead, show yourself to the priest. Then offer the sacrifices which Moses commanded as proof to people that you are clean.”
- John 7:4No one does things secretly when he wants to be known publicly. If you do these things, you should let the world see you.”
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
In the dictionaries
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
God’s Word Translation — © 1995 God’s Word to the Nations Bible Society
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