Matthew 6:2 Commentary and Bible Study

First then, he considers almsgiving. It is taken for granted that the Christian will give alms to the needy, and will be characterised by mercy. ‘I desire mercy not sacrifice’, says God through Hosea. This does not mean that we give indiscriminately and unwisely, without distinguishing between the genuine and the crook, but we do give and our hearts should be naturally inclined to think about those who suffer and who lack this world’s essentials. Our giving should be in proportion to what we have and comparatively what others do not have. This applies to all charitable deeds and acts of mercy, and so is not limited to giving of money or goods but to help and care, support and encouragement as well. The Christian has a heart that wants to give.What Christ focuses on here is how we should give and the motive for our giving. Here is the fly in the ointment that spoils all for some; here is the difference between the hypocrite and the true believer. It would be naïve to think that the difference between the believer and the unbeliever is that one does good works and the other does none; sin is far more subtle than that. The world has its own version of good works and feels a pressure from conscience and from godly example not to be wholly without the appearance of good. But what it manages to put in the place of true righteousness and what it substitutes for true godliness are counterfeit good works, that lack all value in the sight of God. Indeed often there is no intention to please him, for God is not in thoughts; their righteous deeds are done to be seen by men and they aim no higher than that. Not believing in God they see religion in very different terms. Everything in life is made to serve one goal: the pleasing of self. But if there is a secret motive skulking in the background, then the whole exercise ultimately focuses on self and not on the one being helped. To truly love another involves losing sight of self, sacrificing self in the interests of others. We seek our reward from God, and we serve him knowing that we are unprofitable servants saved by grace. The hypocrite is anxious not to lose the only reward he knows about, and so he takes steps to prime his admirers in advance in advance. The trumpet sounding is Christ highly graphic way of describing this. Secret giving is an anathema to them as it wastes a precious opportunity. It would be better in their eyes to keep what they have than to sell their goods at such a low price. The trumpet says, ‘Something important is about to take place; let all the people assemble to see it.’ They announce in the open streets what good people they are; they even dare to do this in the synagogue, stealing praise from God, and shamelessly turning the people’s eyes from God to themselves. Truly, says Christ, they have their reward; they have received it in full, that there is nothing more to follow. Sin certainly has a reward of sorts; but it is all appearance and no substance; it is an act of deceit by the enemy of souls. They get their reward, but what a small reward it is! The soul is eternal but the reward that men seek and receive is consumed in a moment. What then happens to the poor starved soul? The hypocrite seeks a reward from those who have no power to bless our souls, to raise us from the dead, or to make new heavens and a new earth? Will they continue to care about us and our reward when their own eternal souls are in danger? Of course not! God alone is faithful. He alone is true. He will give us a reward that no one can take from us. How shallow are those who seek a reward from men! They are satisfied with so little. How much more profound are those who receive their reward in secret from God!