But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your giving may be in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.
English Standard Version (ESV)
This isn't just about keeping your good deeds a secret from others; it's about guarding your own heart from self-congratulation. Jesus is saying that the very moment you start to overthink or mentally count your generosity, you've already diminished its spiritual value.
But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your giving may be in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.
English Standard Version (ESV)
Jesus is teaching about authentic righteousness, contrasting genuine devotion with the performative piety of the Pharisees. He's just warned against public acts of charity done for show, and here he elaborates on the attitude behind giving. This instruction on secrecy continues as he moves into teaching about prayer and fasting, all part of a larger discourse on how to live as a follower of God with pure motives.
Jesus uses a striking, almost humorous image: your own hands don't know what the other is doing. Why such an extreme instruction?
This isn't about literal amnesia! It's a vivid, proverbial way to say that acts of generosity should be done with extreme secrecy, free from any self-awareness or desire for recognition. The goal is to disconnect the act of giving from the thought of praise.
Beyond Mere Secrecy
Jesus specifically uses the singular 'you' when talking about giving and prayer. What does this personal focus reveal about the nature of these acts?
The singular address underscores that true acts of devotion, like giving to the needy, are fundamentally personal encounters between you and God.
The Individual's Duty
Ask a follow-up
If no one sees your good deeds, and even you yourself aren't supposed to dwell on them, where does the motivation come from?
Jesus contrasts the fleeting, superficial reward of human praise with the enduring, abundant reward from God. The secret of motivation lies in understanding this divine economy.
God's Generous, Hidden Reward
This passage highlights that acts of kindness towards the poor are essentially lending to the Lord, reinforcing the idea that such selfless giving is noticed and will be repaid, though not necessarily in worldly wealth.
Luke 12:33Jesus teaches that giving to the poor creates heavenly treasures that do not fail, emphasizing the eternal reward for selfless generosity over earthly recognition.
2 Corinthians 9:7This verse encourages giving 'not reluctantly or under compulsion,' but 'cheerfully,' which aligns with the spirit of Matthew 6:3 by focusing on the heart's attitude rather than outward display.
Galatians 6:3Paul warns against boasting or comparing oneself if one is proud of their achievements, indirectly supporting the idea in Matthew 6:3 that true giving is done without self-congratulation.
barnesMatthew 6:3: "But when thou doest alms, let not thy left hand know what thy right hand doeth:"
Let 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 rewar…
meyerMatthew 6:3: "But when thou doest alms, let not thy left hand know what thy right hand doeth:"
Matthew 6:3 . Σοῦ δέ ] in emphatic contrast to hypocrites. μὴ γνώτω ἡ ἀριστερά σου , κ . τ . λ .] The right hand gives , let not the left hand know it. Proverbial way of expressing entire freedom from the claiming anything like self-laudation. For sayings of a similar kind among the Fathers, see Suicer, Thes . I. p. 508. De Wette, following Paulus, thinks that what is referred to is the counting of th…
This isn't just about keeping your good deeds a secret from others; it's about guarding your own heart from self-congratulation. Jesus is saying that the very moment you start to overthink or mentally count your generosity, you've already diminished its spiritual value.
Jesus is teaching about authentic righteousness, contrasting genuine devotion with the performative piety of the Pharisees. He's just warned against public acts of charity done for show, and here he elaborates on the attitude behind giving. This instruction on secrecy continues as he moves into teaching about prayer and fasting, all part of a larger discourse on how to live as a follower of God with pure motives.
Jesus is teaching about authentic righteousness, contrasting genuine devotion with the performative piety of the Pharisees. He's just warned against public acts of charity done for show, and here he elaborates on the attitude behind giving. This instruction on secrecy continues as he moves into teaching about prayer and fasting, all part of a larger discourse on how to live as a follower of God with pure motives.
"But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your giving may be in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you." — This isn't just about keeping your good deeds a secret from others; it's about guarding your own heart from self-congratulation. Jesus is saying that the very moment you start to overthink or mentall…
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Last reviewed October 2026