Giving to the Needy
Matthew 6:1-4
Don’t give in order to impress others.
#almsgiving
#reward
Published February 19th, 2021
Main point summary
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Phrase
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notes
Main point summary
What out about the temptation to do good deeds in order to be recognized by people because if that is your motivation your Father in heaven will not recognize you. As an example, when you give you should do so in such a way that it is unlikely that you will be recognized by others.
Arc
editing
NT
Matthew 6:1-4
esv
mine
“Beware of r practicing your righteousness
Watch out about the temptation to act righteous
before other people
in front of other people
locative
in order s to be seen by them,
so that they will notice your righteousness,
actionpurpose
for then you will have no reward from your Father who is in heaven.
because then you will receive no reward for your righteous deed from your Heavenly Father.
ground
t “Thus, when you give to the needy,
Therefore, here is a specific application. In giving to the poor,
sound no trumpet before you,
don’t announce your giving,
as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets,
as do the religious hypocrites— the people who think they do righteous deeds for the praise of God but actually do them for the praise of men—
that they may u be praised by others.
when they are in church and even when they are out in public,
comparison
actionmanner
Truly, I say to you,
I most assuredly say to you
they have v received their reward.
don’t emulate them in this because their only reward is from man.
ideaexplanation
But when you give to the needy,
Instead, in giving to the poor,
do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing,
be so discreet about it that you yourself scarcely know what you did,
so that your giving may be in secret.
in order that no one will see your giving.
w And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.
When you give in this way your Father in heaven will give you a prize.
actionresult
negativepositive
generalspecific
Don’t give in order to be praised by men.
This implies that if we do a righteous deed in order to please God, he will reward us!
Credit to D.A. Carson (REBC) for this paraphrase.
Don’t give in order to be praised by men because your only reward will be from men.
Rather given in such a way that there is almost no possibility that you will receive recognition and then your father will recognize you.
Be careful about doing things to be recognized by people because then your Father in heaven will not recognize you.
Don’t doesn’t give us a double earthly-heavenly reward. We have to choose between the reward of man and the reward of God.
discourse
Phrase
Matthew 6:1-4
The warning
Don’t do good for praise of others
“Beware of practicing your righteousness
before other people
Locative
in order to be seen by them,
Purpose
for then you will have no reward
Ground
from your Father
Source
who is in heaven.
A concrete application: giving
Don’t give to be seen
“Thus, when you give
Negative
to the needy,
Advantage
sound no trumpet
Manner
before you,
as the hypocrites do
Comparison
in the synagogues
Location #1
and in the streets,
Location #2
that they may be praised
by others.
Agency
Truly, I say
to you,
Destination
they have received their reward.
Content
Rather, give secretly
But when you give
Explanation
to the needy,
do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing,
so that your giving may be in secret.
who sees in secret
And your Father ... will reward you.
Result
phrasing
Look-up
Matthew 6:1-4
Giving to the Needy 6 1 “Beware of r practicing your righteousness before other people in order s to be seen by them, for then you will have no reward from your Father who is in heaven. 2 t “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 u be praised by others. Truly, I say to you, they have v received their reward. 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. w And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.
Matthew 6:5-8
The Lord’s Prayer 5 “And when you pray, you must not be like the hypocrites. For they love x to stand and pray in the synagogues and at the street corners, that they may be seen by others. y Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward. 6 But when you pray, z go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret. a And your Father who sees in secret will reward you. 7 “And when you pray, do not heap up empty phrases as b the Gentiles do, for c they think that they will be heard d for their many words. 8 Do not be like them, e for your Father knows what you need before you ask him.
Matthew 6:16-18
Fasting 16 “And t when you fast, do not look gloomy like the hypocrites, for they disfigure their faces that their fasting may be seen by others. u Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward. 17 But when you fast, v anoint your head and wash your face, 18 that your fasting may not be seen by others but by your Father who is in secret. w And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.
Matthew 23:1-12
Seven Woes to the Scribes and Pharisees 23 1 Then Jesus t said to the crowds and to his disciples, 2 u “The scribes and the Pharisees v sit on Moses’ seat, 3 so do and observe whatever they tell you, w but not the works they do. x For they preach, but do not practice. 4 y They tie up heavy burdens, hard to bear, 1 and lay them on people’s shoulders, but they themselves are not willing to move them with their finger. 5 t They do all their deeds z to be seen by others . For they make a their phylacteries broad and b their fringes long, 6 and they c love the place of honor at feasts and d the best seats in the synagogues 7 and d greetings in e the marketplaces and being called f rabbi 1 by others. 8 g But you are not to be called rabbi, for you have one teacher, and you are h all brothers. 1 9 i And call no man your father on earth, for j you have one Father, who is in heaven. 10 Neither be called instructors, for you have one instructor, k the Christ. 11 l The greatest among you shall be your servant. 12 m Whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted.
Matthew 5:13-16
Salt and Light 13 “You are the salt of the earth, k but if salt has lost its taste, how shall its saltiness be restored? It is no longer good for anything except to be thrown out and trampled under people’s feet. 14 l “You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. 15 m Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. 16 In the same way, let your light shine before others, so n that 1 they may see your good works and o give glory to your Father who is in heaven.
John 5:39-44
39 v You search the Scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life; and w it is they that bear witness about me, 40 yet x you refuse to come to me that you may have life. 41 y I do not receive glory from people. 42 But z I know that you do not have a the love of God within you. 43 I have come b in my Father’s name, and c you do not receive me. d If another comes in his own name, you will receive him. 44 How can you believe, when you receive glory from one another and e do not seek the glory that comes from f the only God?
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