Matthew 6:2 · Bible study
Matthew 6:2 Commentary: The Trap of Ostentatious Almsgiving
Greek · 11 what the commentators say
Meaning in one sentence
Jesus warns against performing charitable deeds for human praise, calling such behavior hypocritical.
Research Summary
- Meaning: Do not perform charity for human applause; such acts receive only human approval, not God's reward.
- Key words: “Alms” (eleēmosynē, mercy/charity), “hypocrites” (hupokritēs, stage actors), “have their reward” (apechousin, to have in full).
- Main debate: Whether the “trumpet” was an actual practice or a proverb for ostentation; most see it as figurative.
- Theological theme: The heart of worship is God's approval, not human recognition.
- Best use: Teaching on motives in stewardship, warning against performative religion; paired with Matthew 6:3, 4 for positive model.
Translation Comparison
BSB Berean Standard Bible 2020
So when you give to the needy, do not sound a trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and on the streets, to be honored by men. Truly I tell you, they already have their full reward.
WEB World English Bible 2000
Therefore, when you do merciful deeds, don’t sound a trumpet before yourself, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may get glory from men. Most certainly I tell you, they have received their reward.
KJV King James Version 1769
Therefore when thou doest thine alms, do not sound a trumpet before thee, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may have glory of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward.
ASV American Standard Version 1901
When therefore thou doest alms, sound not a trumpet before thee, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may have glory of men. Verily I say unto you, They have received their reward.
YLT Young's Literal Translation 1898
whenever, therefore, thou mayest do kindness, thou mayest not sound a trumpet before thee as the hypocrites do, in the synagogues, and in the streets, that they may have glory from men; verily I say to you--they have their reward!
Darby Darby Bible 1890
When therefore thou doest alms, sound not a trumpet before thee, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, so that they may have glory from men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward.
Douay-Rheims Douay-Rheims Bible 1899
Therefore when thou dost an alms-deed, sound not a trumpet before thee, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may be honoured by men. Amen I say to you, they have received their reward.
Translations in other languages (10 available)
Cuando pues haces limosna, no hagas tocar trompeta delante de ti, como hacen los hipócritas en las sinagogas y en las plazas, para ser estimados de los hombres: de cierto os digo, que ya tienen su recompensa.
Portanto, quando fizeres esmola, não faças tocar trombeta diante de ti, como fazem os hipócritas nas sinagogas e nas ruas, para serem honrados pelas pessoas; em verdade vos digo que já receberam sua recompensa.
Lors donc que tu fais l’ aumône, ne sonne pas de la trompette devant toi, comme font les hypocrites dans les synagogues et dans les rues, afin d’ être glorifiés par les hommes. Je vous le dis en vérité, ils reçoivent leur récompense.
Wenn du Almosen gibst, sollst du nicht lassen vor dir posaunen, wie die Heuchler tun in den Schulen und auf den Gassen, auf daß sie von den Leuten gepriesen werden. Wahrlich ich sage euch: Sie haben ihren Lohn dahin.
Wanneer gij dan aalmoes doet, zo laat voor u niet trompetten, gelijk de geveinsden in de synagogen en op de straten doen, opdat zij van de mensen geeerd mogen worden. Voorwaar zeg Ik u: Zij hebben hun loon weg.
Quando dunque fai limosina, non far sonar la tromba dinanzi a te, come fanno gl’ipocriti nelle sinagoghe e nelle strade, per essere onorati dagli uomini. Io vi dico in verità che cotesto è il premio che ne hanno.
Przetoż, gdy czynisz jałmużnę, nie trąb przed sobą, jako obłudnicy czynią w bóżnicach i na ulicach, aby byli chwaleni od ludzi; zaprawdę powiadam wam, odbierają zapłatę swoję.
Итак, когда творишь милостыню, не труби перед собою, как делают лицемеры в синагогах и на улицах, чтобы прославляли их люди. Истинно говорю вам: они уже получают награду свою.
所以，你 施捨 的時候，不可 在你 前面 吹號，像 那假冒為善的人 在 會堂 裡和 街道 上 所行的， 故意要得人 的 榮耀。我實在 告訴 你們，他們已經得了 他們的 賞賜。
When then you give money to the poor, do not make a noise about it, as the false-hearted men do in the Synagogues and in the streets, so that they may have glory from men. Truly, I say to you, They have their reward.
Verse in Context
Original Language (Koine Greek)
New Testament · Koine Greek · Matthew 6:2
Source: STEPBible TAGNT/TEHB (CC-BY 4.0). Click or tap a morphology code to see the full parsing.
Scholars' Consensus
Commentators agree that Jesus condemns any form of charity done to win applause. The main question is whether “sound a trumpet” refers to a literal practice. Calvin, Barnes, and Matthew Henry treat it as a figurative proverb for ostentation, noting no clear historical evidence of trumpets blown by almsgivers. Gill and the Cambridge Bible mention the possibility of trumpet-shaped alms chests (“shopheroth”) in the temple treasury, into which coins were noisily dropped to attract attention. Vincent’s Word Studies leans figurative but notes the verb apechousin (“they have received in full”) implies those who seek human praise get exactly what they wanted, and nothing from God. The core consensus stands: Jesus warns that performing righteous deeds for human approval forfeits eternal reward.
How settled is the interpretation?
Interpretive difficulty: Medium
Main views:
- Literal practice view: Possible reference to trumpet-shaped alms chests or the practice of blowing a trumpet to call the poor; supported by some rabbinic sources (Gill, Cambridge Bible).
- Metaphorical/proverbial view: Most commentators find no clear historical evidence of literal trumpets; ‘sounding a trumpet’ is a figure for any ostentatious display (Calvin, Barnes, Vincent).
What is clear: Jesus unequivocally condemns performing charitable deeds for the purpose of human praise; such behavior is hypocrisy and forfeits reward from the Father.
What Scholars Agree and Debate
| Topic | Agreed | Debated |
|---|---|---|
| Literal or metaphorical trumpet | Jesus condemns ostentation in giving; the phrase means 'do not draw attention to your charity.' | Some (Cambridge Bible, Gill) see a possible reference to literal trumpet-shaped alms chests; most (Calvin, Barnes, Henry) take it as figurative language for any public display. |
| Meaning of 'reward' | Those who seek human praise receive exactly that, and nothing from God. | Catholic tradition often sees this as teaching about merit: acts done without pure intention lose supernatural merit. Protestant traditions emphasize that the reward is God's gracious favor, not wages. |
| Who are the hypocrites? | The term refers to those who pretend to be religious while seeking self-glory; Jesus primarily targets the scribes and Pharisees. | Some apply it broadly to any public religious performance; others restrict it to the specific first-century Jewish leaders. |
| Relation to secret giving | Jesus commands giving 'in secret' as an antidote to hypocrisy. | Some interpret this literally (no one else ever knows); others see it as a principle of motive, the act may be visible but the heart should not depend on being seen. |
Historical & Cultural Context
Almsgiving was one of the three pillars of Jewish piety, alongside prayer and fasting (Lange). The Pharisees, known for scrupulous observance, often performed their charity in the most visible locations: synagogues and streets. The synagogue was the center of community worship, while the streets (literally “lanes” or “broad ways”) were where crowds gathered. Jesus uses the term “hypocrites,” originally meaning stage actors, those who play a part. The critics of Jesus saw these religious leaders pretending to be pious while seeking human glory (Barnes).
The phrase “sound a trumpet” may allude to the trumpet-shaped collection boxes (called shopheroth) in the Temple treasury, where ostentatious givers would throw coins loudly to draw attention (Cambridge Bible). Adam Clarke and others note that Jewish beggars in the East sometimes blew horns to honor donors. But whether literal or metaphorical, the point is clear: giving designed to be seen by others corrupts the act itself.
The immediate context (Matthew 6:1, 4) sets up a contrast between public performance and secret giving. Jesus presents a better way: charity done “in secret,” where the Father who sees in secret will reward openly. The historical setting shows that first-century Jewish society valued public honor; Jesus reorients honor toward God alone.
Textual Notes
The consulted sources note no significant textual variants for Matthew 6:2. The verb apechousin (they have received in full) is stable across manuscripts. The phrase “they have their reward” is consistently rendered with the sense of full payment.
Reception History
Early church fathers like John Chrysostom used this verse to call Christians to simplicity in giving, warning against pride even in charity. In the medieval period, the verse was often cited in penitential manuals to test the motives behind almsgiving. During the Reformation, Calvin and Luther emphasized that good works done for human praise are worthless before God, underscoring justification by faith alone. In modern evangelical and Catholic contexts, Matthew 6:2 has been applied to the dangers of publicizing generosity through social media or plaques, reminding believers that the audience for their giving is ultimately God.
Preaching This Verse
Three-point outline
- The Warning: Do not make a show of your charity. The “trumpet” represents anything we use to turn giving into a performance (Matthew 6:2).
- The Heart: Hypocrisy is acting as someone we are not. The Pharisees gave to be praised, not to help (Matthew 6:2; see also Matthew 23:5).
- The Reward: Human applause is a full payment, there is nothing left from God. “They have received their reward” (apechousin) means paid in full (Vincent).
Five-point outline
- Generosity is commanded, but the motive must be love for God and neighbor (Psalm 112:9).
- Hypocrisy in giving seeks a payoff, recognition, status, self-congratulation.
- Public giving can honor God (like Paul’s collection for the saints), but the heart must be tested.
- Secret giving trains the soul to depend on God’s approval alone (Matthew 6:4).
- The Father’s open reward is far greater than any earthly praise.
Illustration hooks
- Posting a donation on social media with a self-congratulatory caption, is the joy in the gift or the likes?
- Making sure others see your offering envelope or volunteer work, the “trumpet” can be a subtle glance.
- The satisfaction of being thanked publicly by a charity, sobering to ask: would I still give if no one knew?
Questions your congregation is asking
- Is it wrong for me to let others know about my giving, or to be publicly recognized?
- How can I check my own motives for generosity?
- Does Jesus mean I should never give in public? What about church offering or supporting missions?
Leading a Discussion
Jesus turns our attention from outward performance to inner motive. As you discuss this passage, let it be a time of honest reflection, not accusation. The goal is to grow in generous love that flows from a heart set on God.
Discussion questions
- Read Matthew 6:1, 4. Why do you think Jesus places almsgiving first among the three examples (prayer, fasting)?
- What does the Greek word hypokritēs (stage actor) tell us about the heart of the problem?
- In what settings are we most tempted to “sound a trumpet” with our generosity?
- How does the promise in v.4 (“your Father who sees in secret will reward you”) change how you approach giving?
- Can public recognition for charity ever be a good thing? When does it become a danger?
- What does Proverbs 19:17 (“he who has pity on the poor lends to the Lord”) add to our understanding of generosity?
- Think of one practical step you can take this week to make your giving more secret and God-focused.
Word Study
The key original-language words in this verse. Select any word for its full lexicon entry — meaning, every occurrence in Scripture, and related words.
Cross-References
Source: Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (TSK, public domain)
| I Samuel 15:30 | Then he said, “I have sinned; yet please honor me now before the elders of my people and before Israel, and come back with me, that I may worship Yahweh your God.” |
| Job 31:16 | “If I have withheld the poor from their desire, or have caused the eyes of the widow to fail, |
| Job 31:20 | if his heart hasn’t blessed me, if he hasn’t been warmed with my sheep’s fleece; |
| Psalms 37:21 | The wicked borrow, and don’t pay back, but the righteous give generously. |
| Psalms 112:9 | He has dispersed, he has given to the poor. His righteousness endures forever. His horn will be exalted with honor. |
| Proverbs 19:17 | He who has pity on the poor lends to Yahweh; he will reward him. |
| Proverbs 20:6 | Many men claim to be men of unfailing love, but who can find a faithful man? |
| Ecclesiastes 11:2 | Give a portion to seven, yes, even to eight; for you don’t know what evil will be on the earth. |
Interlinear and lexical data from STEPBible (CC BY 4.0). Cross-reference data from OpenBible.info (CC BY 4.0). Commentaries are public domain.
For personal reflection
Read the devotional page — prayer, application, and "for families"
What the Commentators Say
10 public-domain commentaries, condensed into plain language.
Adam Clarke's Commentary Methodist/Wesleyan 1826
Clarke examines the phrase "sound a trumpet" as more than a metaphor. He notes that alms chests in the synagogue had trumpet-shaped openings, and ostentatious givers would drop their coins loudly into these holes to draw attention, fulfilling the warning literally without an actual trumpet.
Barnes' Notes on the Bible Protestant 1832
Barnes traces the word "hypocrite" to its root meaning of a stage actor who speaks another's lines. He explains that such people used the trumpet not to gather the poor but to draw attention to their own generosity, and the applause they gained is their only reward.
Calvin's Commentaries Reformed 1564
Calvin treats the sounding of trumpets as a figurative
Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges Anglican 1880
The comments note that the temple alms chests were called "trumpets" because of their shape, so the warning may allude to these. The word translated "hypocrites" literally means "actors," people whose actions do not match their real thoughts. Their reward is received fully on earth, not in heaven.
Geneva Bible Notes Reformed 1599
The Geneva Notes stress that hypocrites give alms specifically to be noticed and praised by others, which is their only reward. By acting publicly, they receive the human approval they wanted, but nothing more. True giving is to be done quietly, with no thought of earthly recognition.
Gill's Exposition of the Bible Baptist 1748
Gill explains that "sounding a trumpet" was not a literal practice but a proverb for doing good deeds in public places like synagogues and streets. The hypocrites sought applause from onlookers, and that fleeting human praise was the only reward they would receive.
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Commentary Protestant 1871
JFB notes that sounding a trumpet is a figure for advertising one's charity. A hypocrite, literally one who plays a role, seeks human applause and gets exactly that — but nothing beyond it. Christ speaks as the Lawgiver and Judge, declaring that such praise is their entire reward.
Matthew Henry's Commentary Reformed/Presbyterian 1710
Matthew Henry stresses that almsgiving, prayer, and fasting must flow from an inward, vital principle, not from a desire for human applause. Hypocrisy, he warns, is a subtle sin that can ruin a person if it reigns in the heart, so believers must watch against it carefully.
Vincent's Word Studies Evangelical 1887
Vincent argues that sounding a trumpet when giving alms was not a literal custom; the phrase is figurative for drawing attention. He suggests the image may come from the trumpet-shaped offering chests in the temple. The Greek verb for "have their reward" means receiving in full, with nothing more to come.
Wesley's Explanatory Notes Methodist/Wesleyan 1754
Wesley identifies the hypocrites as the scribes and Pharisees, who made a show of calling the poor together for almsgiving. Their reward is only the human praise they sought; they receive nothing from God.