Seeds for 05/31/2023 - Matthew 6:2-4
Scripture: 2 “So when you give to the needy, do not announce it with trumpets, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and on the streets, to be honored by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full. 3 But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, 4 so that your giving may be in secret. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.”
Observation: Jesus is working through examples of spiritual devotion, “practices of righteousness,” in order to get specific about what He means by His general command in verse 1. It’s all about audience and motivation.
He begins with giving to those in need. A simple observation is that Jesus assumes this is and will be a practice His hearers are engaged in: “So when you give to the needy” (emphasis mine). So, this isn’t a matter of if, but how the disciples of Jesus will give to persons in need.
There are plenty of reasons not to give to someone in need with great fanfare. One of which is to attend to the needs of the soul—someone’s dignity—even as their material needs are being addressed. Here, Jesus is playing out His “audience and reward” principle as the reason not to do so.
The contrast He has in mind is clear from the simple, tight way He describes the scene. Disciples of Jesus are contrasted with “the hypocrites.” They practice giving to the poor for the purpose of “being honored by others,” and Jesus points out that “they have received their reward in full.” This dynamic is why we have to keep in mind the potential tension with Jesus’ teaching about letting our light shine before others so that people may see our good deeds and glorify our Father in heaven. Our giving might be done in a place that is public and noticeable. It can feed our witness or our ego, but not both.
Much of our celebrity culture in the church probably springs from performative deeds of devotion that feed our ego in the name of increasing our witness in the world.
Jesus’ teaching not to “let your left hand know what your right hand is doing” is a vivid metaphor. Notice that, at least in this case, while Jesus is speaking of keeping this deed a secret, the metaphor is about keeping it a secret from oneself. One part of us—our one hand—doesn’t know what the other part—our other hand—is doing. Integrity for the soul involves keeping our goodness a secret from our ego—that part that craves attention from others—in order to cultivate the humility that is satisfied with God alone knowing about our faithfulness. Deep soul work in humility is vital for a public witness that truly points the glory to God and not to self.
Application:
When do you find it difficult not to keep some act of compassion or generosity a secret when that is most appropriate?
What else might the Holy Spirit be speaking with you about in the text today?
Prayer: Lord, provide opportunities to practice secret service, that I may cultivate an “audience of one” posture in my soul. Amen.
“But the seed falling on good soil refers to someone who hears the word and understands it. This is the one who produces a crop, yielding a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown.” (Matthew 13:23)
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Our my life, I have seen good people give a lot to the community, but I have always admire those that do it quietly. This is what Jesus thought us. And He will guide us to help others.
Love the phrase “practicing secret service!” Looking for ways daily to care for others. A call to someone home bound, dropping by a simple meal to someone who is ill or has recently been hospitalized. Sending a note or flowers to someone suffering loss. There are many ways to show care and kindness to others in need. We should all try to find these ways to serve others. The reward for us, is the pleasure and comfort we give others, quietly.