Matthew 6; Verses 1-4; Giving & Receiving

Thank you for taking a look †

(Matthew 6:1-4) "Take heed (pay close attention) that ye do not your alms before men, to be seen of them: otherwise ye have no reward of your Father which is in heaven.

(Alms = charitable giving. Well, no it is supposed to be done in love. With the thoughts of serving Christ. As we will find out Christ always define law by changing the heart and mind--then how we feel about it. Morals/ethics then feelings). 

(The issue here is to be seen intentionally. It's a great deed. But Christ always is getting to the root issues of the heart and mind, where evil will proceed. Cutting it off from the very root of the problem. But why? If we just give to receive something our heart is not in it. Christians genuinely want to help. Also, giving to help the poor then saying you want it back lays an unnecessary burden upon them).

(That person should feel it a blessing from the Lord to do so. For they are doing the Lord's Work).

2Therefore when thou doest thine alms, do not sound a trumpet before thee, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may have glory of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward.

Putting on a stage show. Worship, being the center of attention will result. A trumpet sounded in the streets is out of place. "Looky, what I did." "I've done for more God than you through giving money" Oh, how wicked? We know a trumpet is way out of place. The call for battle/command to action. With their actions not only do they want all the attention, but causing fights, battles, and wars. There is no peace in it!

(This is not some competition. But Christians should be on the same team! God does not get any glorification and credit here, and it looks very bad on Him, and other Christians. We are representing Christ).

3But when thou doest alms, let not thy left hand know what thy right hand doeth:

(Condition two: what not to do. Now we know God does not want vain mindlessness. The right hand is always symbolic for power in the Bible. The right hand is doing the giving here. Your showing power here. Which can be used over them in the name of money. This is wrong. And people that help other people with bad motives only to use it over them later is evil).

The left hand being ready to pull back and receive in mind when giving. Before you give the mind is made up you want it back. In most cases the poor will never be able to pay back. Your waiting your whole life time in misery giving and waiting on something you will never see. This is not joy, this is not living. God wants us to be joyful givers.

(Therefore, it should be considered weakness doing otherwise. But strong in the Lord. That right hand of power that delivers true justice).

4That thine alms may be in secret: and thy Father which seeth in secret himself shall reward thee openly.

(Why seek the approval of the hypocrites anyway? Their in it for the wrong reasons. They will only learn doing it for the wrong reasons is okay. Confirming what they are doing is right).

(Therefore, doing it in secret does not mean behind closed doors, but what is in the heart and mind while doing so, how it is approached. If they cannot see God in that, then it's not them).

Amen †

The Lord's prayer is next.