Matthew 6:3

Thursday, 26 December 2024

 

But when you do a charitable deed, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, Matthew 6:3

 

“And you doing compassionateness, not it know your left what it does your right” (CG).

 

In the previous verse, Jesus told His disciples to not trumpet their charitable deeds before others like the hypocrites do. In doing so, there will be no reward from the Father. Now, He continues that thought, saying, “And you doing compassionateness.”

 

Jesus acknowledges that doing such deeds is something expected of people. Otherwise, He would have said, “If you do...” It is assumed that people will, in fact, do such things. This is especially so because those under the law were told to do certain charitable things. To not do them would then be sin. However, Jesus says that in their doing them, “not it know your left what it does your right.”

 

Both words are introduced into the New Testament. The first, aristeros, left, comes from the same root as the word ariston, meaning a breakfast or midday meal. The word ariston properly signifies “undetermined.” Thus, it is a meal eaten at any point before the main meal.

 

As such, the aristeros, left, gives the sense of second best. That then is contrasted to dexios, right. That is from dechomai, to take, receive, accept, welcome, etc. The right throughout the world is considered the predominant hand. It is the one that is generally used for grabbing things, hailing others, receiving gifts, and so forth.

 

Thus, in the Bible, it signifies the position of power (such as “sit at My right hand” in Psalm 110:1) and blessing, both in receiving and in bestowing (such as Psalm 16:11, receiving, and when the hand is placed on another to bless him, as in Genesis 48:13, bestowing).

 

The left is considered the weaker and less predominant side, but it is generally not so in a negative sense. Rather, it speaks of a different or lesser position.

 

Jesus is letting the disciples know that in the giving of alms or doing other charitable deeds, one should be so secretive that the hands – metaphorically speaking of positions of authority – shouldn’t know what one another has done. It may not be a great way to run a government or a business, but it is the appropriate way to do one’s acts of charity.

 

Life application: It is not always easy to live up to these words. As social beings, we desire recognition. We also want things credited to our accounts with others. In doing something nice for another, we can then hope for something in return if a need were to arise.

 

These thoughts will often permeate our thinking. However, if we trust that the Lord has everything figured out, then future needs will be met according to His wisdom. Having account balances with others shouldn’t be a consideration.

 

And for those who could not help in the future, such as the poor, why should helping them be something we want others to see? But we do. It is again something that we find desirable. As it is so, we should make a conscious effort to try to quell those feelings and simply be pleased that the Lord is seeing and approving of our actions.

 

Jesus is speaking to His disciples while still under the law, but the premise of His words holds true at any time. God’s standards of approval will not change in such matters. The only difference is that those under the law had mandates on them that we don’t.

 

We do not have sin imputed for not doing the things required under the law. As Paul says, “sin is not imputed where there is no law” (Romans 5:13). Therefore, we can be grateful for the grace, receive that as a blessing, and be content with this knowledge and not seek further approval from others. The knowledge of what Jesus has done should be sufficient to motivate us to acts of goodness without extra recognition from others.

 

Heavenly Father, Jesus came and lived out the law, fulfilling it and then setting it aside. Now, You offer grace through faith in what He has done. What more could we ask for? It is sufficient to impel us forward, all the days of our lives. Help us to rest in this knowledge and be satisfied in the grace that comes through His work! Amen.