so that your giving may be in secret. And your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.
Parallel translations
- WEB so that your merciful deeds may be in secret, then your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly.
- KJV That thine alms may be in secret: and thy Father which seeth in secret himself shall reward thee openly.
- NKJV that your charitable deed may be in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will Himself reward you openly.
- NASB so that your charitable giving will be in secret; and your Father who sees what is done in secret will reward you.
- NLT Give your gifts in private, and your Father, who sees everything, will reward you.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
Give quietly, and God who sees what is hidden will reward you. Acts done for God's eyes rather than human applause have lasting value.
Overview
Concluding Jesus' teaching on almsgiving, this verse contrasts secret generosity with the public display of the hypocrites. The Father who sees in secret is intimately aware of the heart and motive behind every act. Jesus directs the disciple's attention away from the reward of human praise toward the approval of God, who alone gives an enduring reward of grace.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 17
- Matt 6:18so that your fasting will not be obvious to men, but only to your Father, who is unseen. And your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.
- Matt 6:6But when you pray, go into your inner room, shut your door, and pray to your Father, who is unseen. And your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.
- Jer 17:10I, the LORD, search the heart; I examine the mind to reward a man according to his way, by what his deeds deserve.
- Luke 14:14and you will be blessed. Since they cannot repay you, you will be repaid at the resurrection of the righteous.”
- Ps 44:21would not God have discovered, since He knows the secrets of the heart?
- Matt 25:34–40Then the King will say to those on His right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world.
- Luke 8:17For there is nothing hidden that will not be disclosed, and nothing concealed that will not be made known and brought to light.
- Jer 23:24“Can a man hide in secret places where I cannot see him?” declares the LORD. “Do I not fill the heavens and the earth?” declares the LORD.
- 1 Sam 2:30Therefore, the LORD, the God of Israel, declares: ‘I did indeed say that your house and the house of your father would walk before Me forever. But now the LORD declares: Far be it from Me! For I will honor those who honor Me, but those who despise Me will be disdained.
- Ps 139:1–3For the choirmaster. A Psalm of David. O LORD, You have searched me and known me.
- Matt 10:42And if anyone gives even a cup of cold water to one of these little ones because he is My disciple, truly I tell you, he will never lose his reward.”
- Heb 4:13Nothing in all creation is hidden from God’s sight; everything is uncovered and exposed before the eyes of Him to whom we must give account.
- Ps 139:12even the darkness is not dark to You, but the night shines like the day, for darkness is as light to You.
- Jude 1:24Now to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you unblemished in His glorious presence, with great joy—
- 1 Cor 4:5Therefore judge nothing before the appointed time; wait until the Lord comes. He will bring to light what is hidden in darkness and will expose the motives of men’s hearts. At that time each will receive his praise from God.
- Rev 2:23Then I will strike her children dead, and all the churches will know that I am the One who searches minds and hearts, and I will repay each of you according to your deeds.
- Ps 17:3You have tried my heart; You have visited me in the night. You have tested me and found no evil; I have resolved not to sin with my mouth.
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Christ at the center
Matthew presents Jesus as the promised King — son of David, son of Abraham — the new Moses and true Israel in whom every prophecy reaches 'that it might be fulfilled.'
How Matthew 6:4 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
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