ACC ~ Matthew 6 v1 - 4

OVERVIEW:

Since egotism and virtue are directly opposed to each other, they can never happily coexist in the soul (ORIGEN). Alms may be given to be seen or not seen, depending upon inward intent (CHRYSOSTOM). One who acts to be seen by others not only fails to enter heaven but also earns pitiably little on earth (ANONYMOUS). We should not broadcast what we do, because it is not the mark of a devout mind to do any of the works of God in order to anticipate the glory of human praise (CHROMATIUS). Those who perform acts of kindness when others are present function like trumpets for their own goodness (ANONYMOUS). The pursuit of human praise will receive only that reward it seeks from other people (HILARY). Your quiet giving should be concealed from the very hands that give (CHRYSOSTOM). The right hand is not to know the left in giving alms (CHROMATIUS). Every good thing becomes more pleasing when hidden by us but revealed by God (ANONYMOUS). The praise of another need not even be sought by one who acts uprightly (AUGUSTINE).

6:1 | Beware of Public Piety

AS FIRE TO WATER, SO IS EGOTISM TO VIRTUE

ORIGEN: Just as water always conflicts with fire and fire with water and such things can never dwell together simultaneously, so likewise egotism and virtue are opposed to each other and can never easily coexist in one and the same soul. Therefore egotism is to be expelled from our souls, and we must abide in Christ’s commandments. FRAGMENT 114. [1]

[1] GCS 41.1:61.

THE FALSE PIETY THAT ATTEMPTS TO BE SEEN

CHRYSOSTOM: When Jesus warned, “Beware of practicing your piety before men,” he then added pointedly, “to be seen by them.” On first glance it seems as if the same thing were being repeated, but if you were carefully to pay attention, you will note a careful distinction. Alms may be given in the presence of others primarily to be seen by them, or they may be given in the presence of others but not to be seen, or they may be openly given in order to be seen but still not be seen, or they may be given quietly and still be seen. He is not focusing simply on the outward act done but the inward intent. THE GOSPEL OF MATTHEW, HOMILY 19.2. [1]

[1] PG 57:274; NPNF 1 10:131**. God sees the inward intent of good works.

REMOVING CARE FOR THE PRESENT

HILARY: He removes all concern for things of the present and bids those thunderstruck by the hope of the future to pursue neither the favor of others by parading their virtue nor religious boasting through an outpouring of public prayer. Rather, the fruit of good works is to be contained within the knowledge of faith, because the pursuit of human praise will receive only that reward which it looks for from people, while to yearn for God’s approval is to pursue a reward longed for patiently. ON MATTHEW 4.28. [1]

[1] 3.

NO REWARD FROM YOUR FATHER

ANONYMOUS: You who have offered nothing to God, what do you expect to receive from God? Everything done on account of God is given to God and received by God. But what is done to be seen by others is poured into the wind. … What is human praise but the sound of the whistling winds? … Those who act on account of others, to be praised by them, have wasted their energy. What sort of wisdom is it to put on a show and to prepare empty speeches? Those who do so scorn the treasure of God waiting in eternity in heaven, preferring fleeting human words. It is better to do nothing than to act to be seen. For those who do nothing, even if they do not enter heaven, at least squander nothing on earth. But those who act to be seen by others not only fail to enter heaven but also earn pitiably little on earth. INCOMPLETE WORK ON MATTHEW, HOMILY 13. [1]

[1] PG 56:706.

6:2 | Sounding No Trumpet

AGAINST BROADCASTING GOOD ACTS

CHROMATIUS: Earlier Jesus taught that the work of justice is to be done not for the sake of humans but for the sake of God. Now we are also instructed that we should not blow the trumpet when we perform acts of charity. That is, we should not broadcast what we do, because it is not the mark of a devout mind to do any of the works of God in order to anticipate the glory of human praise. Many people, you see, make a donation for the use of the poor in order to reap from the gesture the human praise and the renown of their contemporaries. The Lord shows that they have received the reward of their work in this age. For as long as they seek the glory of this age, they lose the reward of the future promise. TRACTATE ON MATTHEW 26.4.2. [1]

[1] CCL 9a:321.

TRUMPETING ONE’S OWN GOODNESS

ANONYMOUS: Every act or speech through which one boasts in good works is like a trumpet. Consider one who performs an act of kindness when he sees someone present but does not do so when no one is there. He is like a trumpet, because through this act his boasting is broadcast. Likewise, consider one who performs an act of kindness when someone asks him to do so but does not do it when no one asks. This bad habit is a trumpet. Again, consider one who gives something of value to an upper-class person, should he see one, a person who is able to reciprocate. But to the lowly and to the poor chained by sufferings, he gives nothing. This too is a trumpet, even if he acted in secret, as long as he did it to seem praiseworthy (first, because he did it; second, because he did it secretly). The very act of concealment trumpets his charity. Whatever this man did, thanks to which he stands out or desires to stand out … that is a trumpet. The very act of kindness, although it actually happened, trumpets itself. Therefore it is not so much the place or the act, but rather the intention, that is to be kept secret. INCOMPLETE WORK ON MATTHEW, HOMILY 13. [1]

[1] PG 56:707.

6:3 | Right and Left Hands

NOT LITERAL HANDS

CHRYSOSTOM: Jesus is not talking about literal left and right hands. Rather, he speaks spiritually with intentional exaggeration. “If it is possible,” he says, “for you to remain unaware, let this be your goal. The result, if it be possible, is that your giving be concealed from the very hands that serve.” It is not, as some say, that we should hide it from wrong-headed people, for he has commanded here that it should be concealed from all. THE GOSPEL OF MATTHEW, HOMILY 19.2. [1]

[1] PG 57:275; NPNF 1 10:131**.

ALMS NOT FOR BOASTING

CHROMATIUS: Here the Lord is not speaking literally of the hands of the human body. Hands as such cannot know, having the senses neither of seeing nor or language. Rather, “on the right hand” means righteous deeds and “on the left” signifies sinful deeds or persons. Thus we read it written in the book of Kings that “hand” means people when it says, “Do I not have ten hands in Israel?” [1] —that is, ten tribes of Israel. Therefore, there is no doubt that “on the right hand” means “the just” and “on the left” means “sinners,” according to what Solomon related: “The Lord acknowledges the divisions on the right; the perverse are those who are on the left.” [2] The Lord makes very plain the meaning of this “right” and “left” in the Gospel when he declares that the just are to be placed at the right, the sinners on the left. [3] If something is to be accomplished according to the teaching of the Lord, then the right hand of the just must not know what the left is doing. That is, in order to labor religiously and faithfully, we should not boast in the sight of sinners and unfaithful people. TRACTATE ON MATTHEW 26.5.2-4. [4]

[1] 2 Sam 19:43.

[2] cf. Eccles 10:2; Prov 4:27.

[3] Mt 25:33.

[4] CCL 9a:322.

6:4 | Alms Given in Secret

ALMSGIVING IN SECRET

AUGUSTINE: A hypocrite is one who pretends to be something one is not. This person pretends to be righteous yet shows no evidence of righteousness. All attention is focused on how one is being perceived or praised by others. Even pretenders may receive this praise precisely while they are deceiving those to whom they seem to be good. But they receive no reward from God the searcher of the heart—only reproach for their deceit. They may have a human reward, but from God they hear, “Depart from me, you workers of deceit. You may speak my name, but you do not do my works.” [1] So you receive your reward with others, you have received the glory of others—so what? If you do good for the express purpose of having human glory, what good have you? The praise of others need not even be sought by one who acts rightly. We ought to follow one who acts rightly, profiting by imitating what we praise. SERMON ON THE MOUNT 2.2.5. [2]

[1] Mt 7:21-23.

[2] PL 34:1271-72; NPNF 1 6:35**; ACW 5:95-96. In the presence of God it is pointless to focus on how one is being perceived. Hypocrisy is rejected by the One who sees through our deceptions. The praise of others need not even be sought by one who acts rightly.

GOD WILL REVEAL GOOD WORKS IN DUE TIME

ANONYMOUS: Understand that he means the secret place of the heart rather than a location. For the Lord dwells in the recesses of your heart, not in a particular secret place. Remember that the Lord does not wish us to act in secret in order that our work may be invisible. Elsewhere he says, “Let your light shine so that others may see your good works and may glorify your Father who is in heaven.” [1] But it is the Lord who in due time will reveal. Every good thing becomes more pleasing when it is hidden by us but revealed by God. If you display yourself, there are few who will praise you, and few will understand, even if you should appear humble. The one who does understand this will lament you rather than praise you. If, on the other hand, God reveals you, no one will find fault, except perhaps an evil person, to whom a good person is displeasing. For it is impossible that the Lord would ignore the good work of a good person done in secret. God will make such a one known in this age and boast in him in the future, because the glory comes from God. INCOMPLETE WORK ON MATTHEW, HOMILY 13. [2]

[1] Mt 5:16.

[2] PG 56:708.