Matthew 6:1-4
The King calls His people to give quietly before the Father, not theatrically before people.
1 “Be careful that you don’t do your charitable giving before men, to be seen by them, or else you have no reward from your Father who is in heaven.
2 Therefore when you do merciful deeds, don’t sound a trumpet before yourself, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may get glory from men. Most certainly I tell you, they have received their reward.
3 But when you do merciful deeds, don’t let your left hand know what your right hand does,
4 so that your merciful deeds may be in secret, then your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly.
The King calls his people to give quietly before the Father, not theatrically before people.
Matthew records Jesus warning his disciples not to practice righteousness for human applause, using giving to the needy as the first example of Fatherward hidden devotion.
The Sermon on the Mount, where Jesus teaches disciples in the hearing of the crowds.
Hidden Righteousness, the Father’s Reward, and Seeking First the Kingdom
Kingdom righteousness lives before the Father rather than human applause, treasures God above earthly security, and seeks first his kingdom with childlike trust.