Mt 6:3-4

[belmontmac]

Our Lord speaks of not letting your right hand know what your left hand is doing when giving alms, to do them in secret. Can anyone give a further explanation on this with regards to giving to the poor. Say a husband and wife disagree on giving, but one thinks they understand the big picture more clearly, and doesn’t take away from family needs, only excess, is it wrong because it is done in secret? I’m torn.

 

[Rocks_91]

The verse basically means you are to give without reluctance, without thinking twice. A parallel to the teaching is in the Old Testament when Lot’s wife looks back at the evil city, her heart turns away from God and towards sin, and we hear she was turned into a pillar of salt. You get the idea.

And don’t give to earn the praise or admiration of men either, like the Pharisees in Jesus’ time did. They would babble long prayers in public in pretence, and screw up their faces to give the impression of fasting, and perform acts of charity when their heart was far away from it, only to earn the respect and honour of men, all the while being steeped in sin inside. Hence, give in secret; for the praises of God are worth more than the praises of men.

As for your situation, we are told in Scriptures that Jesus said the widow who gave only a few pennies to God is more exalted than even the rich men who gave lots of gold. Because the few pennies she gave were her life savings and everything she had, while the rich men gave only what they could spare.

Hope that helps.

 

[Gem]

If you are married, you can’t give large sums of money away in secret against your spouse’s wishes, regardless of how you perceive the justness of the giving. You are basically lying to or deceiving your spouse. These resources belong to both of you.

Discuss it with them. Come to an agreeement. Examine your finances and see what you really need. Maybe they will agree to some amount you can give even if they are somewhat uncomfortable with it.

 

[Nita]

Matthew 6:2 "Thus, when you give alms, sound no trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may be praised by men. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward. 6:3 But when you give alms, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, 6:4 so that your alms may be in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you.Verse 2 gives the behavior that Jesus is addressing in verses 3 and 4. He is saying don’t try to call attention to your charitable act. And don’t do it from a motive of wanting to be noticed and praised by others.

We should do it out of love and concern for the one in need and out of a desire to do what is pleasing to God.

 

[Nita]

…Say a husband and wife disagree on giving, but one thinks they understand the big picture more clearly, and doesn’t take away from family needs, only excess, is it wrong because it is done in secret? I’m torn.

If you are the wife and it is the husband who says “No” to the giving, then I think you should respect and obey your husband’s decision. God will honor your obedience; and if the motivation on your husband’s part was selfishness or greed, he will have to answer to God for that.

If you are the husband, then I think you have the right to make the final decision as to how the family finances are spent - as long as you are fulfilling your obligations to provide for your own family first.

That’s my 2 cents. And, I am a woman.

Just an added note as to something that my husband and I have done. By mutual agreement, years ago. I established a separate savings account which is mine to spend as I please, without consulting him. When we were first married, I was given a certain amount each month for groceries. Anything I didn’t spend that month I could put in my savings account. Later, the manner of providing funds for that account changed, but there has always been some source of funds. It is nice to be able to give charitably without having to make it known even to my husband.

 

[Jesus_123]

+The first verse of that paragraph of Sacred :bible1: Scripture explains the foundation for the instruction given in verses 3-4 of Matthew 6 . . . it is a cautionary instruction against the . . . sin of pride . . . polluting what should be a gift given from a merciful, humble and thankful . . . generousity . . . of heart . . .

:bible1: [1] Take heed that you do not your justice before men, to be seen by them: otherwise you shall not have a reward of your Father who is in heaven. [2] Therefore when thou dost an almsdeed, sound not a trumpet before thee, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may be honoured by men. Amen I say to you, they have received their reward. [3] But when thou dost alms, let not thy left hand know what thy right hand doth. [4] That thy alms may be in secret, and thy Father who seeth in secret will repay thee. [5] And when ye pray, you shall not be as the hypocrites, that love to stand and pray in the synagogues and corners of the streets, that they may be seen by men: Amen I say to you, they have received their reward.*** - Matthew 6:1-5***​

. . . all for Jesus+
. . . thank You Sweet Spirit of our Holy God+
. . . for God’s Precious Holy :bible1: Word+
. . . this Feast Day of the Blessed St. Jerome+​

 

[thistle]

Our Lord speaks of not letting your right hand know what your left hand is doing when giving alms, to do them in secret. Can anyone give a further explanation on this with regards to giving to the poor. Say a husband and wife disagree on giving, but one thinks they understand the big picture more clearly, and doesn’t take away from family needs, only excess, is it wrong because it is done in secret? I’m torn.

D-R Bible, Haydock Commentary:

Ver. 3. Be content to have God for witness to your good works, who alone has power to reward you for them. They will be disclosed soon enough to man, when at the day of general retribution the good and the evil will be brought to light, and every one shall be rewarded according to his works. (Haydock)

Ver. 4. This repaying or rewarding of good works, so often mentioned here by Jesus Christ, clearly evinces that good works are meritorious, and that we may do them with a view to a reward, as David did, propter retributionem. (Haydock)