Matthew 6 explained: Doing Good Without an Audience

Giving quietly (vv. 1-4)

The 'hypocrites' (the word first meant actors playing a part) gave to the poor mainly to be admired, and the trumpet is probably a figure of speech for broadcasting it. Not letting your left hand know what your right is doing is read as keeping the gift hidden from others, and by some also as not dwelling on your own goodness.

Praying in private (vv. 5-8)

Standing to pray in public was normal, so the problem is praying as a performance, not being seen at prayer. Jesus also warns against piling up words as if volume earns a hearing, since God already knows what people need.

A model prayer (vv. 9-15)

The first half asks that God's name be treated as holy, that God's rule come and that God's will be done on earth; the second asks for today's food, forgiveness of wrongs (called 'debts'), not being led into temptation, and rescue from the evil one. Jesus then ties being forgiven by God to forgiving other people.

Fasting without show (vv. 16-18)

Some people made their faces look gloomy while fasting so everyone would notice. Oiling your hair and washing your face were ordinary grooming, so Jesus is saying: look normal and keep it between you and God.

Treasure, eyes and masters (vv. 19-24)

What you value most pulls your heart along with it, and earthly wealth can rot or be stolen. The 'healthy eye' picture is debated, but many scholars think it echoes an idiom where a 'good eye' meant generosity and a 'bad eye' meant greed, which fits the warning that no one can serve both God and money.

Do not worry (vv. 25-34)

Birds are fed and wildflowers are dressed better than Solomon, Israel's famously rich king, so Jesus argues that worry adds nothing when God knows what people need. He promises that those who seek God's kingdom first will have these needs supplied, then adds a separate saying: each day has enough trouble without borrowing tomorrow's.

Key verse: Matthew 6:21

Where Christians differ

Christians differ on what the repeated promise of 'reward' means, some seeing real rewards from God for good deeds done sincerely, others stressing that God's favor is a gift that good deeds cannot earn.

Something to think about

Which of the good things you do would you still do if no one ever found out?