The Giving of Alms

ASIDE FROM PRAYING, there are two other things that Jesus Christ forbids the Christian from doing openly. It can be read in Matthew 6:2-4, 16—

“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. … Moreover when ye fast, be not, as the hypocrites, of a sad countenance: for they disfigure their faces, that they may appear unto men to fast. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward.”

The other gesture that Christ doesn’t want the Christians to do in public is the giving of alms, or the act of helping others. During the time of Christ, there were hypocrites who even blew trumpets whenever they gave alms, or whenever they helped others. They advertised their acts of charity. And, should the same thing will be done now, definitely, our Lord Jesus Christ will despise that. Remember, it was He, Himself, who commanded that, whenever you give alms, “let not thy left hand know what thy right hand doeth.” And surely, our Father who sees in secret will reward you.

Aside from the giving of alms, fasting is another act that God wants you to do secretly. Whenever we fast, God doesn’t want us to imitate the hypocrites, or the pretenders, because they deliberately disfigure their faces so that the people would know that they are fasting. And for this reason, they must not expect any reward from the Father. As mentioned--

“Verily I say unto you, they have their reward.”

Now, let us find out what is God’s advice to Christians who will go fasting? This is what Matthew 6:17-18 says—

“But thou, when thou fastest, anoint thine head, and wash thy face; that thou appear not unto men to fast, but unto thy Father which is in secret: and thy Father, which seeth in secret, shall reward thee openly.”

From this verse, we can see how the hypocrites pray, give alms, and fast. They do those things with utmost superficiality and hypocrisy. And Christ doesn’t want us to imitate them because hypocrisy is against the will of God.