What Does Matthew 6:3-4 Mean?

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. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you. Matthew 6:3-4

I don’t know about you, but I’m really good at doing the right things for the wrong reasons. And I don’t think that’s unique to me, we live in a culture that values impressing others. That’s why I think the meaning of Matthew 6:3-4 is so important to lean into. It invites us to evaluate our hearts and check our motives. 

This is a powerful verse that I think will challenge and encourage you to strive for the right things. Let’s take a closer look at this verse.

The Context Of Matthew 6:3-4 

In Matthew 5 – 7, we find the Sermon on the Mount; it’s the most famous, and powerful, teaching Jesus ever gave. Throughout this sermon Jesus is teaching his followers how life really works. It is shocking, countercultural, counterintuitive, and different than what any other teacher or philosopher was saying.

In Matthew 6 we are in the middle of this address and we see Jesus talk about practical topics such as giving to the needy, praying, fasting, storing treasures in heaven, and dealing with worry. 

At the beginning of Matthew 6, we see Jesus warn his listeners that you can do the right thing for the wrong reasons. This is continuing his teaching from the previous chapter in which Jesus emphasizes the importance of controlling our thoughts and actions; not just our behaviors. What Jesus is getting at is that those who focus on doing good things for the approval of man will not be rewarded by God. 

In Matthew 6:1-4 this is applied to our generosity. We should give to others not so that we look good, but to please God. God not only sees our actions, but he knows our heart. 

The Meaning Of Matthew 6:3-4 

This is a verse we desperately need today. I believe it speaks to what a lot of us struggle with. So, to help you better understand Matthew 6:3-4 I’ve broken this down into four sections, let’s see what it means. 

But When You Give To The Needy

In the previous two verses Jesus has been clear, those who do the right things with the wrong motives will not be rewarded by God. He’s talked about this at length in the previous chapter, and here applies it to giving to the needy. 

Notice here Jesus expects generosity, it’s not “if” it’s “when”. This was expected for Jews because they had no governmental support or welfare system. Thus voluntary giving was critical to the poor and disabled. But what often happened was money was given not to help the poor, but to look good toward others. It was how one could show they were better than others. 

The expectation is that followers of Jesus will be generous, but what we are going to see in the rest of this passage is that our heart matters just as much as our actions. 

Do Not Let Your Left Hand Know What Your Right Hand Is Doing

Jesus here is warning against hypocrisy. We might be able to put up a facade and fool those around us, but we cannot fool God. He knows our true motivations. Jesus often butted heads with the religious because of this. They did the right things but for selfish reasons. And today we often aren’t much better. 

Now, we should be clear. Jesus is not saying that we should give blindly. He’s not speaking against financial accountability of organizations or saying that should not track our giving for budgetary reasons. He’s addressing the heart in which we give, he’s saying that we should give with the right motive. It’s secrecy for the sake of authentic giving. 

Jesus is speaking in hyperbole, as he often does. He’s exaggerating to drive his point home. Obviously, your left hand will know what your right hand is doing. What Jesus is saying is that Christians need to avoid letting the praise of others dictate their actions. Instead, we ought to be motivated by pleasing God. 

So That Your Giving May Be In Secret

Jesus is expanding on the previous verse, we should give in secret. This doesn’t mean that we have to give anonymously. But rather that we give to help others and worship God. When we parade our generosity around to others we are giving with the wrong heart. 

We are to give in secrecy so that we don’t fall into the trap of making generosity a spectacle that elevates us. Christians are to give to help others and glorify God, not to earn our own praise. 

It’s easy to assume we would never do that. But our hearts are naturally devious. It’s easy to fall into this hypocrisy. That’s why Jesus is putting so much emphasis on giving in secrecy. 

Then Your Father, Who Sees What Is Done In Secret, Will Reward You

Matthew 6:3-4 presents us with a choice, where do we want our reward to come from? We can receive praise from man, as the Pharisees did, or we can receive our reward from God. The choice is ours. 

Although that might seem like an obvious choice, God’s rewards are likely far greater, we are often drawn to the immediate gratification that comes from human praise. Jesus is challenging us to look past what’s immediate toward what he has for us. 

This passage reveals an incredible truth. God sees not only what we are doing, but how we do it. There are no secrets with him. Further, what we do in secret will be rewarded by our father. Christians should anticipate the the right actions done with the right heart will lead to a reward by God. 

How Matthew 6:3-4 Applies To Your Life Today 

The meaning of Matthew 6:3-4 challenges us to not only look at our actions but also to evaluate our hearts. Are we doing what Jesus said for the right reason? Are we seeking the approval of man or the approval of God? 

Again, I’m really good at doing good things for selfish reasons. I can do it without even trying. This passage challenges me to get my heart right. And maybe it’s challenging you to do the same. 

So, ask yourself this: What Are My True Motives? 

In your generosity, do you give so that you look better? Or are you giving to genuinely help others and glorify God? Maybe for you, you need to start giving in secret so that you won’t be tempted to give for the praise of others. Give so you can get a reward from God, not temporary praise from man. 

But we should leave this passage at simply our generosity. It applies there, but we can take this same principle and apply it to other areas of our lives. What are you motives for doing what you do? For helping someone, for serving, for loving, for anything… Are you doing the right things with the right heart? 

Spend some time and prayerfully ask yourself, where’s my heart? What is it that is motivating me to do this? And when you find yourself doing something from the wrong motives, bring it to God and correct your heart.