Matthew 6:1

G. Campbell Morgan's Exposition on the Whole Bible - Matthew 6:1-34

In the first verse the Revised Version has substituted the word "righteousness" for "alms," "a reading approved of, almost unanimously, by the great editors and critics" (Morrison). This is a statement of a new motive for conduct. The application of the principle laid down in verse Mat 6:1 to the subject of alms follows. The secret alms is known to God, who sees in secret. A subject of the King no longer desirous of the applause of his fellow men quietly and secretly helps the needy, and the... read more

Robert Neighbour

Wells of Living Water Commentary - Matthew 6:1-15

The Sermon on the Mount (Continued) Matthew 5:43-48 ; Matthew 6:1-15 INTRODUCTORY WORDS I. A FOURFOLD COMMAND 1. "Love your enemies." The whole world loves those who love them. That is only natural. But the Lord asks us to go a step farther. He wants us to be better than the world. He wants us to actually love our enemies. Many people try to evade this command by saying that it is not for today. Of course this Scripture is applicable directly to the Kingdom age, but if it is for today, as... read more

James Nisbet

James Nisbet's Church Pulpit Commentary - Matthew 6:1-4

ALMSGIVING‘Take heed that ye do not your alms before men, to be seen of them … thy Father which seeth in secret himself shall reward thee openly.’ Matthew 6:1-Numbers : In this part of the Sermon on the Mount the Lord Jesus gives us instruction on the giving of alms, a subject to which the Jews attached great importance. It is also one which deserves the serious attention of all professing Christians. I. The duty of almsgiving.—Our Lord takes it for granted that all who call themselves His... read more

Peter Pett

Peter Pett's Commentary on the Bible - Matthew 6:1

“Take care that you do not do your righteousness before men, To be seen of them, Else you have no reward with your Father who is in heaven. These words introduce the whole passage from Matthew 6:1-18. The point being made is that in whatever they do, their righteousness (their pious behaviour and good works) is not to be publicly displayed so that men may see it, for otherwise it will result in a total lack of any recompense from their heavenly Father. They will get no spiritual benefit from... read more

Peter Pett

Peter Pett's Commentary on the Bible - Matthew 6:1-4

The Doing of Righteousness and The Giving of Gifts To The Poor (6:1-4). Analysis of Matthew 6:1-4 . In considering the following analyses the small letters indicate the chiasmus in each section, while the capital letters indicate a comparison with the sections that precede and follow, for from Matthew 6:1 to Matthew 7:6 all the sections follow a general pattern. They also indicate a progression in the argument in each small section. a “Take care that you do not do your righteousness before... read more

Peter Pett

Peter Pett's Commentary on the Bible - Matthew 6:1-7

The Sermon on the Mount Part 2. Seven Warnings Against False Behaviour, Each Accompanied by The Command To Take Action In The Opposite Direction, And Each of Which Culminates in Assurances of the Father’s (God’s) Resultant Blessing (6:1-7). Having brought out the full significance of God’s Law (in chapter 5), and having stressed the importance within that Law of right human relationships, and having shown them the final goal of full God-likeness at which they had to aim, Jesus now moves on to... read more

Peter Pett

Peter Pett's Commentary on the Bible - Matthew 6:1-18

The Importance of Their Worship And ‘Religious’ Service Being Genuine (6:1-18). Among the Jews almsgiving, prayer and fasting were seen as the basics of a godly life, and as being evidence of a life that was pleasing to God. For example in Tob 12:8 (a Jewish writing) we read, ‘prayer is good when it is accompanied by fasting, almsgiving, and righteousness’ (note the differing order from Jesus, Who valued righteousness and almsgiving above fasting). The principle in mind was clearly correct,... read more

Peter Pett

Peter Pett's Commentary on the Bible - Matthew 6:1-34

THE LAW AND THE PROPHETS. THE FULFILMENT OF THE INSTRUCTION OF YHWH AND OF THE PROPHETIC HOPES (5:17-7:12). Having revealed how God has worked in His disciples in a life-transforming way in Matthew 5:3-9, and having shown them that they are to be the salt of the earth and the light of the world in Matthew 5:13-16, Jesus now goes into detail about what that will involve, and how it will lead up to the final consummation, that is to the fulfilment of the Law (the Torah - The Instruction of God)... read more

Arthur Peake

Arthur Peake's Commentary on the Bible - Matthew 6:1-18

Matthew 6:1-Job : . The “ fulfilled” Law in Relation to the Life of the Pharisees.— Mt. only, though the digression on Prayer ( Matthew 6:7-Ezra :) has parallels in Lk. Matthew 6:1 is a general warning; three aspects of the mechanical “ righteousness” that is “ done” are given in detail in the following verses. Beneath the apparent contrast with Matthew 5:16 is an underlying unity. Matthew 6:2-Numbers : . Almsgiving.— This practice was not enjoined in the Law; it was a work of supererogation... read more

Matthew Poole

Matthew Poole's English Annotations on the Holy Bible - Matthew 6:1

Alms are any acts of kindness freely done by us for the relief of any that are in distress and misery, which, when they are done from a principle of love to God, his precepts commanding them, obedience in faith to his promises made to the giving of them, and that he may be glorified, are truly good works, acts of religion, and acceptable to God, Acts 10:31, though meritorious of nothing from him; otherwise they are merely acts of humanity and morality, to the reward of which God is by no... read more

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