[CYM] 29.0 Give in Secret

Yeshua strongly emphasized the importance of humility in spiritual practices, warning against performing righteous acts for public praise. In the Sermon on the Mount, He addresses this directly:

In Matthew 6:1–4, Yeshua says:

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. 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. But when thou doest alms, let not thy left hand know what thy right hand doeth: That thine alms may be in secret: and thy Father which seeth in secret himself shall reward thee openly.

Here, Yeshua commands that acts of generosity be done quietly, not for human applause but out of genuine love and obedience to God. The focus is on inward sincerity, with the promise that “your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.”

This command continues in Matthew 6:5–6 (prayer in secret) and 6:16–18 (fasting in secret), reinforcing the call to private devotion over public display.

In Luke 18:9–14, Yeshua tells the parable of the Pharisee and the tax collector. The Pharisee boasts in his religious acts, while the tax collector humbly asks for mercy. Yeshua declares the humble man justified, showing that God honors sincerity over showmanship.

Though this teaching is most detailed in Matthew, the principle is echoed across the scriptures in Yeshua’ warnings against hypocrisy and His praise for humble faith.

Yeshua calls His followers to a righteousness that seeks God’s approval alone, not public recognition.