so that your giving may be in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.
English Standard Version (ESV)
The truly surprising part of this verse isn't just that God sees hidden acts of kindness, but that He rewards them. He doesn't just observe your secret giving; He actively repays it, implying that what is done in obscurity is exactly what He’s looking for to bestow His favor.
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 true righteousness, contrasting it with the performative piety of the Pharisees. He has just warned against giving alms publicly just to be seen and praised by others, explaining that such actions have already received their only reward. This verse offers the alternative: to give secretly so that God, who sees everything, will be the one to reward you.
Ever wonder if being truly generous means keeping it quiet? Jesus dives deep into our motives, not just our actions.
Jesus isn't laying down a strict rule that generosity must always be secret. Instead, he's exposing a dangerous trap: doing good to be seen. The Pharisees were known for making a show of their giving, sometimes even announcing it with trumpets! Jesus contrasts this with a different kind of giving – one done with pure motives.
Feeling overlooked or unappreciated for your quiet acts of kindness? Jesus reminds us there's an Audience of One who misses nothing.
The most profound encouragement in this verse comes from understanding who God is. He 'sees in secret.' This isn't just a neutral observation; it's an invitation to trust in His awareness and His justice.
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What kind of reward does Jesus promise? It’s not what you might expect, and it certainly isn't just for the 'last day'.
The promise of reward in Matthew 6:4 is rich with meaning, often misunderstood as solely a future, public event. While a final, open reward is certainly part of God's plan, Jesus points to something more immediate and deeply personal.
Jesus' teaching in Matthew 6:4 critiques the public, ostentatious charity often practiced by religious leaders of his day, like the Pharisees, who sought human praise. He contrasts this with genuine, private acts of mercy, emphasizing God's perfect knowledge and His own future, open reward.
c. 5th-1st century BC
Development of Jewish Charity Traditions
During this period, Jewish tradition increasingly emphasized the importance of charity (tzedakah) as a core religious duty. Interpretations of the Law and prophetic writings fostered a rich understanding of how and why to give.
c. 1st century BC - 1st century AD
Rise of Pharisaic Influence and Public Piety
The Pharisees gained significant influence, emphasizing strict observance of the Law. This era saw a growth in public displays of religious devotion, including almsgiving, as a way to demonstrate piety.
Early 1st century AD
Jesus' Public Ministry in Galilee and Judea
Jesus began his public ministry, teaching and performing miracles throughout the region. His teachings often challenged the prevailing religious norms and hypocrisy of the time.
c. AD 27-30— this verse
Sermon on the Mount Delivered
Jesus delivered his most famous sermon, likely to a large gathering of disciples and onlookers. This teaching, recorded in Matthew chapters 5-7, addresses core aspects of discipleship, including prayer, fasting, and almsgiving.
This passage echoes Jesus' teaching on watchfulness and readiness, suggesting that while His followers should live with purpose, their ultimate hope for reward shouldn't stem from human recognition but from God's divine awareness and timing.
1 Corinthians 4:5Paul highlights that true judgment and commendation come from the Lord, not from human opinion, mirroring Jesus' point that God sees our hidden deeds and will bring them to light appropriately.
Proverbs 11:2This verse directly contrasts pride and humility in actions, asserting that 'when pride comes, then comes disgrace, but with the humble is wisdom,' aligning with Matthew 6:4's call to avoid ostentation in giving.
Colossians 3:23-24Paul instructs believers to 'work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward,' which strongly parallels Jesus' emphasis on doing things for God's sight, not for human applause.
2 Kings 10:15-16While not a direct teaching on almsgiving, Jehu's question, 'Is your heart right with my heart, as my heart is with yours?' and the response, 'It is,' shows a desire for alignment and recognition of sincerity, a concept related to God seeing the true heart behind our actions.
ellicottMatthew 6:4: "That thine alms may be in secret: and thy Father which seeth in secret himself shall reward thee openly."
(4) That thine alms may be in secret. —Here again we have a principle rather than a rule. Publicity may be a duty, especially in public work. But this—gifts for schools, hospitals, and the like—is hardly contemplated in the word “alms,” which refers rather to acts of mercy, to cases of individual suffering. Ostentation in those acts is what our Lord especially condemns. Thy Fa…
gillMatthew 6:4: "That thine alms may be in secret: and thy Father which seeth in secret himself shall reward thee openly."
That thine alms may be in secret,.... May be done in secret, and be kept a secret. The allusion seems to be to the secret chamber, where money was brought privately for the relief of the poor. "There were two chambers in the sanctuary, the one was , "the chamber of secrets", and the other the chamber of vessels: the chamber of secrets was that into which pious persons put "i…
The truly surprising part of this verse isn't just that God sees hidden acts of kindness, but that He rewards them. He doesn't just observe your secret giving; He actively repays it, implying that what is done in obscurity is exactly what He’s looking for to bestow His favor.
Jesus is teaching about true righteousness, contrasting it with the performative piety of the Pharisees. He has just warned against giving alms publicly just to be seen and praised by others, explaining that such actions have already received their only reward. This verse offers the alternative: to give secretly so that God, who sees everything, will be the one to reward you.
Jesus is teaching about true righteousness, contrasting it with the performative piety of the Pharisees. He has just warned against giving alms publicly just to be seen and praised by others, explaining that such actions have already received their only reward. This verse offers the alternative: to give secretly so that God, who sees everything, will be the one to reward you.
"so that your giving may be in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you." — The truly surprising part of this verse isn't just that God sees hidden acts of kindness, but that He rewards them. He doesn't just observe your secret giving; He actively repays it, implying t…
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Last reviewed October 2026