ACC ~ Matthew 6 v3

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.