New International Version
Matthew 6:3
3But when you give to the needy, do not 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:
- 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,
- New Living Translation (NLT)But when you give to someone in need, don’t 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. If you do, you will have no reward from your Father in heaven. 2“So when you give to the needy, do not announce it with trumpets, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and on the streets, to be honored by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full. But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, 4so that your giving may be in secret. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you. 5“And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full.
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 8:4Then Jesus said to him, “See that you don’t tell anyone. But go, show yourself to the priest and offer the gift Moses commanded, as a testimony to them.”
- Matthew 9:30and their sight was restored. Jesus warned them sternly, “See that no one knows about this.”
- Matthew 12:19He will not quarrel or cry out; no one will hear his voice in the streets.
- Mark 1:44“See that you don’t tell this to anyone. But go, show yourself to the priest and offer the sacrifices that Moses commanded for your cleansing, as a testimony to them.”
- John 7:4No one who wants to become a public figure acts in secret. Since you are doing 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
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
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