Mt 6:2-3 “So when you give to the poor, do not sound a trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do… so that they may be honored by men. But when you give… do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing…
Summary Notes
What did Jesus say?
“Don’t blow your own horn” is an old saying used to admonish people who like to brag about their own awesomeness. Jesus is telling me how to conduct myself when I “practice righteousness” in the form of giving.
Why would He say this?
Jim Rohn’s was a well known “Success” mentor, author and speaker. His quote about giving shows that he believed that giving was an essential part of being a successful person. I think that Jesus implies the same idea, because He did not say to His followers, “If” you give; He said “when” you give. This image and more can be found in the Photo Gallery. Click here see why I like lighthouses.
Acts of mercy or alms done for public show invite public esteem to myself and this esteem becomes the sole reward. Keep in mind that showing acts of mercy or giving alms publicly are not evil things to do. However, Jesus is saying that the more I impress people with my gifts to charity the less God is impressed with the gifts. My giving for the purpose of personal glory is certainly not the wisest investment!
Click here for my personal application and your comments link …or Scroll down for my full notes…
COMMAND 22: “So when you give… do not sound a trumpet …”
COMMAND 23: “But when you give…, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing,”
Mt 6:2-3
CONTEXT: A continuation of the Sermon on the Mount
Mt 6:1 “Beware of practicing your righteousness before men to be noticed by them; otherwise you have no reward with your Father who is in heaven.”
RECIPIENT: To the disciples in the hearing of the crowds on the mountain
Mt 5:1-2 When Jesus saw the crowds, He went up on the mountain; and after He sat down, His disciples came to Him. 2He opened His mouth and began to teach them, saying…
COMMAND FULL TEXT:
Mt 6:2 “So when you give to the poor, do not sound a trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, so that they may be honored by men.”
Mt 6:3 “But when you give to the poor, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing …”
RESULT:
For sounding a trumpet: Mt 6:2b “Truly I say to you, they have their reward in full.”
For your right hand keeping a secret from your left hand: Mt 6:4 “…so that your giving will be in secret; and your Father who sees {what is done} in secret will reward you.”
Also a result after Jesus finished talking: Mt 7:28-29; 8:1 When Jesus had finished these words, the crowds were amazed at His teaching; 29for He was teaching them as one having authority, and not as their scribes.
1When Jesus came down from the mountain, large crowds followed Him.
COMMENT: Jesus spoke similar word when He was invited to eat with a Jewish leader;
Lk 14:12-14 And He also went on to say to the one who had invited Him, “When you give a luncheon or a dinner, do not invite your friends or your brothers or your relatives or rich neighbors, otherwise they may also invite you in return and {that} will be your repayment. 13“But when you give a reception, invite {the} poor, {the} crippled, {the} lame, {the} blind, 14and you will be blessed, since they do not have {the means} to repay you; for you will be repaid at the resurrection of the righteous.”
Don’t blow your own horn!
I think that the command to not sound a trumpet when giving to charity is the source of the idiom “to blow your own horn.” Acts of mercy or alms done for public show bring glory or esteem to oneself as the sole reward for doing them. Showing acts of mercy or giving alms publicly are not evil things to do. However, Jesus is saying that the credit for the deed is not deposited into my “heavenly account.” The implication is that there is such an account! Another way that I can summarize is to say that the more I impress people with my gifts to charity the less God is impressed with the gifts. My giving for the purpose of personal glory is certainly not the wisest investment!
A reason for public giving
I think that there is a place for public show of charity for the purpose of encouraging others to give. I do not think Jesus prohibits such giving. In my opinion however, this kind of giving should be the exception rather than the norm.
Obviously, I cannot keep a secret from my own body.
Therefore, the text has deeper meaning. If I take active steps to keep my gifts secret then only God and I will know about it. The recipient who benefits has no one to thank but God. Also, he or she will not be able to pressure me to give them more. If I give In this way, I will demonstrate personal faith in God since He is the only one who can reward me.
DEFINITIONS: Key Greek Words – Removes ambiguity of the Bible text.
give: G1654 ἐλεημοσύνη el-eh-ay-mos-oo’-nay — mercy, pity, specifically alms
sound a trumpet: G4537 σαλπίζω sal-pid’-zō — to make known by trumpeting
hypocrites: G5273 ὑποκριτής hoop-ok-ree-tace’ — one who answers – as an actor on a stage
honored: G1392 δοξάζω dox-ad’-zō — to render or esteem glorious
MY PERSONAL APPLICATION: I encourage you to make your own application and please share it in the comments
Do not to make a tacky public show of giving gifts to individuals or contributions to charitable organizations. In most cases I should take deliberate steps to keep my contributions anonymous and hidden from even those who are close to me. I can have faith that people will be helped. There will be peace knowing that no one will come to me asking for more. I can have faith that God will be pleased.
Please share a comment, question or perhaps another application for this command of Jesus.
© 2018 Christopher Carlson