“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.
Observe here, 1. The duty directed to, almsgiving after a right manner; Do not your alms before man: some copies read it, Do not your rigteousness before men: because almsgiving is a considerable part of that righteousness and justice which we owe unto our neighbour: he that is uncharitable is unjust: acts of charity are acts of justice and equity.
Take heed that ye do not your alms before men, to be seen of them: otherwise ye have no reward of your Father which is in heaven. (1) Ambition makes alms vain. (a) This word "reward" is always taken in the scriptures for a free recompense, and therefore the schoolmen fondly set it to be answerable to a deserving, which they call "merit".
Hypocrisy is a subtle sin that steals into our alms unawares, and it is ruinous if it takes hold. Do good from an inward, vital principle approved by God, not to be applauded by men; vain-glory is the dead fly that spoils the whole box of precious ointment.
AI summary
Commenting on Matthew 6:1-4