Matthew 6:1Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

Hence, in God’s view, it is not the act of virtue itself that is acknowledged, but the motivation behind it. If you have deviated slightly from the righteous path, it makes little difference whether you turn to the left or to the right, if you have lost sight of the true direction.

When He instructs, “Take care not to practice your righteousness in front of others,” He does not imply that we should neglect the needy simply because we might be observed; rather, He further emphasizes that if our intentions are pure, performing these acts of service in public is acceptable. The underlying motivation is what truly matters, not merely the visibility of the act. A person who gives alms out of genuine compassion may do so publicly without any desire for acknowledgment, whereas one who conceals their acts might still seek the applause of others for their self-serving motivations. He cautions that if the intention behind their actions is to gain human approval, then they will not receive any divine reward, as they have already harvested the praise of men instead. Throughout His teachings, He consistently reminds them of the phrase “Your Father who is in heaven,” encouraging them to aspire to a higher calling and to conduct themselves in a manner worthy of their heavenly Father.

However, those who perform good works neither for the merit of goodness itself, nor for God’s reward, nor for human praise, might as well be considered less than human, akin to malevolent spirits. So, I ask you, in light of the Divine instruction that advises against performing acts of charity in public view, why do you condemn those who act out of a desire for recognition? Consider this: the individual who maintains purity for the sake of human approval stands in a higher place than one who fails to uphold that standard, even for the sake of glory. Indeed, the one who acts out of a desire for recognition is better off than someone who does not act at all; the former feels shame in the presence of others, while the latter remains unashamed before both humanity and God.

In response to your question regarding whether it is possible for someone to give alms without being seen, I affirm that Christ tests the true motivation of the giver. The one who seeks to please others in order to gain praise primarily acts for their own recognition. It is not all individuals whose charitable acts are visible who do so for the sake of visibility; it is only those who crave admiration and share their deeds to gain it. While it is inevitable that such actions become known, the giver should not declare their generosity publicly, as doing so dishonors the recipients and seeks a reward for themselves.

It is a more insidious danger because it masquerades as a virtue, thus tainting genuine virtues and rendering them barren, much like a worm that infiltrates the roots of a healthy, fruitful tree, ultimately damaging and desiccating it, rendering it incapable of yielding fruit.

From this vice, which acts almost like a contagion, the true Healer of our souls counsels the faithful, urging caution. He emphasizes that one must not perform acts of charity in front of others for the sole purpose of gaining their notice; otherwise, they will forfeit their reward from the Father in heaven. This admonition from the Savior does not imply that God disapproves of public acts of charity; there are moments when we must assist our neighbor openly, or when our visible acts of kindness may inspire others to engage in similar good works. However, the Savior here cautions our hearts against performing acts of charity with the aim of seeking human admiration or praise for our generosity. Such ulterior motives strip our charitable deeds of any potential reward from our heavenly Father.

God observes the intentions of our hearts, desiring to cultivate genuine love for our neighbor within us. He turns His gracious gaze toward those acts of charity motivated purely by compassion for others and a sincere desire to obey His commandments. Even if such acts are publicly evident, their sacred and pleasing intent remains a secret, known only to the Heart that rewards acts of kindness based on the purity of their motivation. Hence, due to the disdainful nature of vain intentions, acts of charity that stem from them do not merit any divine reward. As the Savior further instructs: "When thou doest 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."

The Monk John the Ladder wisely observes, “I become vain when I fast; yet I am vain again if I try to conceal my fasting from others, thinking myself clever. I succumb to vanity when I wear fine clothing; but wearing humble attire can also lead me to pride. When I speak, I struggle with vanity; when I remain silent, it overtakes me anew. Regardless of how one approaches this issue, one always finds a pitfall." A vain person is akin to an idolater: he believes he honors God, yet ultimately he seeks to please others. Among all virtues, vanity is particularly harmful to fasting, prayer, and charitable acts. As St. Chrysostom points out, “The Pharisee became proud through fasting when he proclaimed, ‘I fast twice a week; I give a tenth of all I possess.’ In his prayer, he sought admiration, praying merely to display himself, and sought recognition even when alone, trying to showcase himself before the publican.” Vanity is destructive to virtue itself. Therefore, when the Savior warns about it, it is as though He intends to caution us about a cunning and fierce beast ready to ensnare the unwary.

“Watch out,” He implores, “be vigilant and careful, DO NOT PERFORM YOUR GOOD DEEDS IN FRONT OF OTHERS.” This beast of vanity sneaks up on us, subtly scattering and stealing all the good within us without us realizing. After stating, “Do not do good in view of men,” the Lord emphasizes: NOT THAT THEY MIGHT SEE YOU. It is permissible to perform good acts before others, provided it is not for the sake of their admiration. If your motivation for doing good is merely to seek human praise, whether in your private space or public, it matters not: you act not for God, but for your own pride. God looks upon your heart, rewarding or chastising you not based on the deed alone but according to your intent.

It is not always feasible for everyone to perform acts of charity in secret. Thus, do not claim, “Christ does not demand this,” for He desires your thoughts and intentions regarding your good deeds. Act before God, for God; do not fixate on whether others notice your actions. Otherwise, if your soul lacks this proper disposition, YOU SHALL NOT BE HONORED BY YOUR FATHER IN HEAVEN. If you seek human praise, you will receive those fleeting accolades—enough for you; do not anticipate any further reward from God.

Contemporary understanding often treats charity merely as a social obligation, focusing on its benefits to humanity and societal improvement. In our giving, we tend to perceive it as a service to individuals or the community. Occasionally, our awareness of God’s role becomes peripheral. This is why we naturally seek affirmation for our generosity from those we assist; we look for signs of gratitude in return. We give a coin to a beggar and hope for appreciation, or we contribute to a charitable cause and expect acknowledgment. The pursuit of recognition in the form of media coverage or public commendation is a common expectation if our deeds are done solely for human approval.

However, this contrasts sharply with how God instructs us to perceive our charitable actions. The true focus should be between myself and God when I give alms; it should be seen as a sacrifice to Him. The recipient of my charity is merely a living altar upon which I can express my love for God through this offering. I should feel thankful for the opportunity to assist them, as their presence allows me to fulfill my duty to God. The response or lack thereof from the recipient should bear no relevance to me, much like the material composition of the altar. While the altar should be composed of suitable materials, that consideration should not cloud the intention of my offering. The only desire I should harbor is for my sacrifice to be pleasing to God, which is more likely the more pure my motives are, devoid of any selfish desires for recognition or gratitude.

Sacred history presents us with the contrasting sacrifices of Cain and Abel; Cain's smoke rises horizontally across the earth, while Abel's ascends directly towards heaven. This may have been a divine sign indicating God’s rejection of one sacrifice and acceptance of the other. Similarly, our acts of giving ought to be evaluated. It is unfortunate if our charitable acts are broadcast far and wide, scattered by the winds of media into every community. It is far better if, akin to Abel’s offering, they rise unobtrusively to God amidst the serene silence of our hearts.

Viewing almsgiving and charitable works in this light makes it clear that we will eschew boasting about our deeds. Instead, we will strive to keep them concealed from the view of others, just as we protect our most treasured and personal moments, much like we do with our most earnest prayers when we seek solitude with God. Evidently, our left hand will remain unaware of what our right hand has accomplished, indicating that we will not dwell on our actions or place undue importance on them. In all that we do, our offerings are sacrifices to God and an expression of praise towards Him. Regardless of the nature of the sacrifice, it holds no weight before God except to the extent that it reflects our faith and love for Him.

When we light a candle or place incense in the censer, they are consumed in moments. Whether the incense is placed in large pieces or small, or whether the candle is adorned in gold or plain, does that distinction matter to God? Isn't it our faith and love that truly hold significance before Him? Will we linger on the thought of having offered a larger candle? Does it matter to Him who has created countless suns? Just as with our charitable offerings, the one who gives to God knows that the size of the gift, whether grand or modest, is insignificant in comparison to His vast dominion over heaven and earth and all the treasures within.

Thus, the generous giver will not pause to evaluate the import of their deed but will instead express gratitude to God for the opportunity to demonstrate their love and bring glory to Him. In the next moment, they will turn their attention to further glorifying God, without dwelling on what has already been done, similar to how one does not linger on the fleeting scent of incense.

When one attributes solely a human dimension to their good deeds, seeking recognition or gratitude, they must understand that they are performing a secular act rather than that of God. Such actions may mirror the deeds of a well-meaning nonbeliever but will not reflect the essence of a genuine Christian act. The fruits of such deeds may fade away, bound to this life and devoid of eternal significance. They do not ascend to God nor fulfill Christ's commandments.

News articles and public reports on charitable endeavors bear as much spiritual significance as an account of one's fervent prayers, sighs, or gestures of piety. These matters are profoundly personal and should remain shielded from public scrutiny. Any intrusion into these sacred acts by curious onlookers is ethically questionable. Thus, every good deed ought to be a manifestation of our prayers to God, a means of honoring His name, and a heartfelt expression of gratitude towards Him.

Even when one acts before an audience, the motivation must not be to garner attention, much like a person might refrain from actions in public yet still seek recognition. God's judgment focuses not solely on the act itself but on the motives behind it. Without this clear distinction, this teaching could cause confusion regarding the practice of almsgiving, as it is indeed possible for individuals to give in privacy everywhere (Chrysostom; cf. Theophylact). Otherwise, there will be no reward for you. Acts of goodness performed solely for the sake of human recognition do not embody true virtue; rather than stemming from a genuine compassion to assist others, they are driven by self-interest—the desire for human acclaim. Therefore, such actions fail to warrant a reward from God, receiving only empty praise from people.