2. _Take heed that ye do not your alms before men, to be seen of them._ The thing which is here forbidden, is not, barely the doing good in the sight of men: this circumstance alone, that others see what we do, makes the action neither worse nor better: but the doing it before men, _to be seen of them_; with this view, from this intention only. I say, from _this intention only_; for this may, in some cases, be a part of our intention; we may design that some of our actions should be seen, and yet they may be acceptable to God. We may intend, that our _light should shine before men_, when our conscience bears us witness, in the Holy Ghost, that our ultimate end in designing they should _see our good works_, is, _That they may glorify our Father which is in heaven_. But take heed that ye do not the least thing with a view to your own glory. Take heed that a regard to the praise of men, have no place at all in your works of mercy. If ye seek your own glory, if you have any design to gain the honour that cometh of men, whatever is done with this view is nothing worth: it is not done unto the Lord: he accepteth it not; _ye have no reward_ for this _of your Father which is in heaven_.
3. _Therefore when thou dost thine alms, do not sound a trumpet before thee, as the hypocrites do, in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may have praise of men._ The word _synagogue_ does not here mean, a place of worship, but any place of public resort, such as the market-place or exchange. It was a common thing among the _Jews_, who were men of large fortunes, particularly among the Pharisees, to cause a trumpet to be sounded before them in the most public parts of the city, when they were about to give any considerable alms. The pretended reason for this was, to call the poor together to receive it: but the real design, that they might have praise of men. But be not thou like unto them. Do not thou cause a trumpet to be sounded before thee. Use no ostentation in doing good. Aim at the honour which cometh of God only. _They_ who seek the praise of men, _have their reward_. They shall have no praise of God.
4. _But when thou doest alms, let not thy left hand know what thy right hand doth._ This is a proverbial expression, the meaning of which is, do it in as secret a manner as is possible: as secret as is consistent with the doing it at all; (for it must not be left undone: omit no opportunity of doing good, whether secretly or openly) and with the doing it in the most effectual manner. For here is also an exception to be made. When you are fully persuaded in your own mind, that by your not concealing the good which is done, either you will yourself be enabled, or others excited to do the more good, then you may not conceal it: then let your light appear, and _shine to all that are in the house_. But unless where the glory of God and the good of mankind oblige you to the contrary, act in as private and unobserved a manner, as the nature of the thing will admit: _that thy alms may be in secret, and thy Father which seeth in secret, he shall reward thee openly_. Perhaps in the present world; many instances of this stands recorded in all ages: but infallibly in the world to come, before the general assembly of men and angels.
II. 1. From works of charity or mercy, our Lord proceeds to those which are termed works of piety. _And when thou prayest_, saith he, _thou shalt not be as the hypocrites are: for they love to pray standing in the synagogues, and in the corners of the streets, that they may be seen of men. Thou shalt not be as the hypocrites are._ Hypocrisy then, or insincerity, is the first thing we are to guard against in prayer. Beware not to speak what thou dost not mean. Prayer is, the lifting up of the heart to God: all words of prayer without this are mere hypocrisy. Whenever therefore thou attemptest to pray, see that it be thy one design, to commune with God, to lift up thy heart to him, to pour out thy soul before him. Not _as the hypocrites_, who _love_, or are wont, _to pray standing in the synagogues_, the exchange or market-places, _and in the corners of the streets_, wherever the most people are, _that they may be seen of men_: this was the sole design, the motive and end, of the prayers which they there repeated. _Verily I say unto you, they have their reward._ They are to expect none from your Father which is in heaven.