What does it mean that we should not let our left hand know what our right hand is doing (Matthew 6:3–4)?

Answer

In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus said, “But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your giving may be in secret. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you” (Matthew 6:3-4). Jesus’ instruction to give in a way that one hand is unaware of the other’s actions is clearly not meant to be taken literally.

The context implies that the directive to “not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing” pertains to giving alms discreetly and contrasts with seeking attention for our generosity. Those who give to gain praise from others have already received their reward «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. », (Matthew 6:2). God will reward those who give in secret.

Naturally, hands do not possess independent minds, and one cannot truly conceal something in one hand without the other hand being aware of it. Jesus’ analogy employs hyperbole—deliberate exaggeration to emphasize a point. We should engage in our charitable acts with such secrecy that, ideally, our right hand remains unaware of what the left hand is doing. Essentially, we should keep a very low profile when giving and showing mercy. Humility, not showiness, is the characteristic of a disciple of Christ.

Jesus’ analogy of the left hand being unaware of the right hand’s actions comes after His strong rebuke of “hypocrites,” likely referring to the Jewish religious leaders, in the preceding verse: “So when you give to the needy, do not announce it with

Trumpets, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and on the streets, to be honored by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full” «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. », (Matthew 6:2). Jesus also refers to these hypocrites in Matthew 6:5 regarding prayer and Matthew 6:16 regarding fasting.

After dealing with three common religious practices—almsgiving, prayer, and fasting—Jesus says not to store up treasures on earth but in heaven: “For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also” (Matthew 6:21;cf: Colossians 3:2). When we give “with stealth”—without our left hand knowing what our right hand is doing—we avoid the temptation of hypocrisy and lay up a truly priceless reward in eternity.

Do Jesus’ words “do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing” mean we should never let others know about our giving? Not necessarily. The focus is on the motive of our giving. Our generosity is to be motivated by our love for God and our focus on eternity rather than the temporary praises of people. Because of the temptation for pride associated with public displays of generosity, it is best not to draw attention to our gifts to those in need.