Matthew 6:4 Meaning: When Giving in Secret Brings an Open Reward
so that your merciful deeds may be in secret, then your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly.
That thine alms may be in secret: and thy Father which seeth in secret himself shall reward thee openly.
that thine alms may be in secret: and thy Father who seeth in secret shall recompense thee.
that thy kindness may be in secret, and thy Father who is seeing in secret Himself shall reward thee manifestly.
so that thine alms may be in secret, and thy Father who sees in secret will render [it] to thee.
Meaning in one sentence
Jesus promises a reward for secret giving. Doesn't that contradict humility? Find the biblical perspective on motives, the Father's seeing, and the open reward.
Context
Jesus is on a mountainside, teaching a crowd of disciples and curious listeners. In Matthew 6, He turns to three practices that shaped Jewish piety: giving to the poor, prayer, and fasting. He has already warned against practicing righteousness just to be seen by others. Now He zeroes in on giving. The religious leaders of the day, the hypocrites, as Jesus calls them, looked for ways to make their generosity known. They wanted glory from people, and they got it. But Jesus invites His followers into a different way: giving that is done for an audience of One.
Key Words
The Greek word for giving here is eleēmosunē. It means a deed of mercy or compassion, not just dropping coins in a cup. It is the shape love takes when it meets a need. Jesus says to do this in kruptos, the secret, the hidden. The same word describes where the Father dwells (verse 6). And then comes the promise: the Father who sees in secret will apodōsei, will pay back what is due. That verb is the same one used for settling a debt or giving wages. So the Father is not offended by the idea of a reward. He simply insists that the motive be right. You give out of mercy, not for a return. But the return comes anyway, because the Father is generous.
How Christians Read This Verse
Christians across traditions have wrestled with the open reward. Calvin stressed that Jesus was cutting off ambition: we must do good simply for God, not for human praise. He saw the open reward as God's final approval at the last day. Barnes, writing in the 1800s, agreed that much of the reward comes in the life to come, but also pointed to Proverbs 19:17, giving to the poor is lending to the Lord, and He repays even now. Matthew Henry noted that the three duties of alms, prayer, and fasting are the foundations of the law, and we must perform them from an inward principle, not for applause. All traditions agree: the reward is real, but it belongs to those who seek God, not glory.
A common misunderstanding
Some readers think Jesus wants us to hide our giving so completely that even we ourselves do not know about it. They take the left-hand metaphor literally. In fact, the phrase is a proverbial image for secrecy (Barnes). The point is not self-deception but the direction of your heart. You can know you gave. The question is whether you want anyone else to know. The sin Jesus targets is the love of human praise, not the awareness of your own generosity.
Living This Out
Think of the last time you helped someone. Was there a part of you that hoped they would mention it later, or that someone else would notice? This verse asks you to practice giving that stays between you and the Father. This week, try one act of kindness that no one will trace back to you. Pay for a stranger's coffee. Leave a gift on a neighbor's porch. Write a note of encouragement and do not sign it. Let the pleasure be simply that God saw it. He sees. That is enough.
Main takeaway: The Father sees every hidden act of mercy, and He will see that it is not forgotten, so you can give without worrying who notices.
For Families
For ages 5, 8
When you give someone a gift, try not to tell everybody about it. God sees what you did, and He is happy. That is the best reward.
For ages 9, 12
Jesus says to keep your giving a secret. That is hard because you want people to see that you are kind. But if you practice giving without telling anyone, you start to care more about what God thinks than what others think. And God promises to reward you, maybe not right away, but in ways that matter forever.
Questions People Ask
What does 'reward you openly' mean in Matthew 6:4?
It can mean reward in this life, Proverbs says giving to the poor is lending to the Lord, and He repays (Barnes). But many Christians also understand it as the final judgment: God will honor those who served Him quietly before angels and people (Gill, Calvin). The open reward may not be immediate, but it is certain.
Does this verse forbid all public giving, like sponsoring a child through a charity?
No. The issue is the heart. Jesus praised the widow who gave two copper coins publicly (Mark 12). The problem is when you give to be praised. If you sponsor a child, you can do it for God, not for a newsletter. The key is motive, not visibility.
What is the 'left hand not knowing' metaphor in verse 3?
It is a Hebrew way of saying 'do it as secretly as possible' (Barnes). Of course your left hand knows what your right hand does. Jesus uses strong language to say: do not even let your own body know, meaning do not let anyone else know. The emphasis is total privacy.
Does seeking a reward contradict Jesus' teaching on humility?
Not if the reward is the Father's approval, not human praise. Jesus does not say 'do not seek reward.' He says 'do not seek reward from people.' The desire for God's yes is not selfish, it is faith that He is good and that He keeps His promises.
For pastors & researchers
Greek interlinear, 8 commentaries & word study