"Take heed that you do not do your charitable deeds before men, to be seen by them. Otherwise you have no reward from your Father in heaven. Therefore, when you do a charitable deed, do not sound a trumpet before you as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may have glory from men. Assuredly, I say to you, they have their reward. But when you do a charitable deed, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, that your charitable deed may be in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will Himself reward you openly"
2007-04-24 13:02:19 · 17 answers · asked by Micah 6 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
All of these acts "charitable deeds(prayer, fasting)" are supposed to be worship rendered to God, never displays of self-righteousness to gain the admiration of others. They (hypocrites) have received their reward. Their reward is that they were seen by men, nothing more. God does not reward hypocrisy, but He does punish it.
In other words, if you do "good things" only to impress or to mask yourself to others, it is a sin in the eyes of God.
2007-04-24 13:11:23 · answer #1 · answered by aslate 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Jesus is telling us that God knows the thoughts and intents of our hearts and so when we give we should do it with the pure motive of making an offering to God to support his Kingdom work here on earth and not so that someone else will think that we are holy and deserve respect for our charity.
Not letting your left hand know what your right hand is doing is a Jewish idiom that basically means that you do something without letting other people know what you are doing. You keep it quiet in other words.
People who give to charity in order to receive praise from other people will not receive anything from God for their charitable deeds because they get all of their reward from the people they are trying to impress and God is not impressed with that type of attitude.
It doesn't mean that you have make sure that no one sees you putting something in a collection basket. It just means that you don't make a big deal about it and try to do it so that people will be impressed with your giving. It's like you can just put a folded up check in the basket but if you sat there and peeled off $100 bills and snapped them open in front of the people around you and put them in one by one then you wouldn't get any reward from God.
2007-04-24 13:30:55 · answer #2 · answered by Martin S 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Hey I spoke of this in my bible study today!!!
Jesus is telling us not to try and get our own glory and do things so that others can see your individual works so that people can pat you on the back and say how wonderful you are. If you do, then you already got your reward, which is recognition. Don't brag and name all the things you have done to other people.
You give because you want others to feel good.
But you can do great deeds as God's servants collectively as a body of Christ like starting a homeless shelter or providing meals etc.
2007-04-24 13:12:23 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
There is no merit in giving because one expects something in return. (Luke14:12-14) To be pleasing to God, giving must be done unselfishly and without showy display.This is in harmony with what is said at 1Corinthians 13:3: "And if I give all my belongings to feed others, and if I hand over my body, that I may boast, but do not have love, I am not profited at all."
Love for God and love for our neighbor should be the primary motivating factor in our giving of our time, energy and financial resources.
All such gifts are voluntary, as is indicated by Paul’s words: “Let each one do just as he has resolved in his heart, not grudgingly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.” 2Corinthians 9:7
We resolve to give in our hearts, not aloud or on some signed pledge sheet. What we have resolved is known only to us and God. Our Father, will then reward us openly with everlasting life in a peaceful new world.
2007-04-25 01:22:37 · answer #4 · answered by babydoll 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Jesus is criticizing those who drew attention to themselves by their giving. He is saying that their heart is not right about it- they are more interested in trying to impress others with how generous they are than doing it because they loved God or their fellow man.
He is encouraging doing the opposite when you give; try to be generous as quietly as possible so no one will know (except for God, of course) that you are doing it.
2007-04-24 13:10:27 · answer #5 · answered by biblechick45 3 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Do good deeds in silence and not for show. Do your work to glorify God and not yourself. When possible give without fanfare. What you do fo good in silence will be rewarded openly.
2007-04-24 13:06:11 · answer #6 · answered by s. grant 4 · 3⤊ 0⤋
It means that you should do charitable things for charities sake, not for any sort of recognition or self promotion.
2007-04-24 13:07:33 · answer #7 · answered by MONK 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
dont do good works to gain the favor of man. Some people will only give to charities that publish a list of contributors
2007-04-24 13:06:15 · answer #8 · answered by charles b 3 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Do not do good deeds so that others or one's own egowill be impressed,but because they are deeds of justice and mercy.
2007-04-24 13:06:07 · answer #9 · answered by James O 7 · 3⤊ 0⤋
Don't be arrogant about charity. In other words, don't use your charity to look better than others; be charitable to be charitable.
2007-04-24 13:05:48 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 0⤋