New King James Version
Matthew 6:3
3But when you do a charitable deed, 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:
- 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 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“Take heed that you do not do your charitable deeds before men, to be seen by them. Otherwise you have no reward from your Father in heaven. 2Therefore, when you do a charitable deed, do not sound a trumpet before you as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may have glory from men. Assuredly, I say to you, they have their reward. But when you do a charitable deed, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, 4that your charitable deed may be in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will Himself reward you openly. 5“And when you pray, you shall not be like the hypocrites. For they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the corners of the streets, that they may be seen by men. Assuredly, I say to you, they have their 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 8:4And Jesus said to him, “See that you tell no one; but go your way, show yourself to the priest, and offer the gift that Moses commanded, as a testimony to them.”
- Matthew 9:30And their eyes were opened. And Jesus sternly warned them, saying, “See that no one knows it.”
- Matthew 12:19He will not quarrel nor cry out, Nor will anyone hear His voice in the streets.
- Mark 1:44and said to him, “See that you say nothing to anyone; but go your way, show yourself to the priest, and offer for your cleansing those things which Moses commanded, as a testimony to them.”
- John 7:4For no one does anything in secret while he himself seeks to be known openly. 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
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
New King James Version — © 1982 Thomas Nelson, Inc
Commentaries