What does it mean that we should not let our left hand know what our right hand is doing (Matthew 6:3–4)?

WHAT DOES THE BIBLE SAY?

The phrase to "not let our left hand know what our right hand is doing" is used by Jesus during the Sermon on the Mount in reference to our behavior in giving. In full, Matthew 6:3–4 states: "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. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you." Clearly, this command from Jesus is not literal but focuses on the thoughts and intentions of our heart. Instead of giving to make ourselves look good or for others to see how “good” we are, we should always check the motivation behind our giving and give humbly and out of our love for the Lord.

FROM THE OLD TESTAMENT

• In the Old Testament giving was much different and focused on tithes, offerings, and sacrifices, which were mostly done publicly. Nevertheless, when Saul sinned against the Lord, Samuel confronted his heart attitude in 1 Samuel 15:22 by saying, “Has the Lord as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the Lord? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to listen than the fat of rams.” So even then, the heart attitude is the motivation for giving, and for all that we do.

FROM THE NEW TESTAMENT

• Matthew 6:1–4 warns us about the way in which we give: “Beware of practicing your righteousness before other people in order to be seen by them, for then you will have no reward from your Father who is in heaven. Thus, when you give to the needy, sound no trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may be praised by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward. 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. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.” We are not to show off by how or what we give.
• While the hypocritical givers may have been recognized for their generous acts, Jesus assured His hearers that "they have received their reward" (Matthew 6:2).
• Jesus discusses giving, prayer, and fasting, and ties all three of them into the promise of storing up treasures in heaven rather than on earth: "For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also" (Matthew 6:21; cf. Colossians 3:2).

IMPLICATIONS FOR TODAY

Rather than being literal, when Jesus said not to let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, He was talking about what the condition of our hearts should be when we give. There were hypocritical people in Jesus' day who would give charitably to the poor and were very public about it. They wanted others to notice and recognize them for their generosity. In contrast, those who give "in secret," for the joy of giving rather than for the appearance of generosity or spirituality, will be rewarded by God. Those who want to show off what they have done already receive their reward by the praise people give. Instead of doing things for others so that people will think more highly of us, we should give because we love God and want to do good. He sees us, and how He views us is more important than the praise of people.

In Matthew 6, Jesus talks of keeping things secret between our left and right hands as an illustration of how confidential we should be with our giving, and, even more importantly, how humble the posture of our hearts should be. When we give to others without our left hand knowing what our right hand is doing, we are avoiding hypocrisy in our motivation and storing up eternal treasures. The focus in all of these acts is worshiping God, not making ourselves feel righteous or trumpeting our sense of holiness for others to applaud.

Does this mean that we should never tell anyone about our giving? Not really; there is no inherent hypocrisy in the act of giving. In general, it is wise to refrain from the temptation to be prideful that could come from making our generosity a public display. The primary thing that we need to keep in check is the motivation behind our giving. We should give from a place of loving the Lord and focusing on eternity instead of human praise and validation.

UNDERSTAND

• God wants us to give because we love Him not because we want others to see how “good” or generous we are.
• To not let our left hand know what our right hand is doing means we give humbly.
• God sees what we give; we don’t need to let everyone else know.

REFLECT

• How can you examine your heart to ensure that your motivations for giving are rooted in love for God rather than a desire for recognition or praise from others?
• How can you cultivate a humble attitude in your acts of generosity so that your giving reflects your love for God and not your desire for approval?
• What does your giving reflect about you and your relationship with God?

ENGAGE

• How can we cultivate a culture of humble generosity as believers?
• How does understanding the difference between earthly rewards and heavenly rewards influence the way we approach acts of kindness and generosity?
• What are some practical ways we can avoid the temptation to flaunt our generosity and instead encouraging others to give out of love for God?