Matthew 6:4 (DRB)

Passage

That thy alms may be in secret, and thy Father who seeth in secret will repay thee.

Nearby Context

Matthew 6:2 Therefore when thou dost an alms-deed, sound not a trumpet before thee, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may be honoured by men. Amen I say to you, they have received their reward.

Matthew 6:3 But when thou dost alms, let not thy left hand know what thy right hand doth.

Matthew 6:4 That thy alms may be in secret, and thy Father who seeth in secret will repay thee.

Matthew 6:5 And when ye pray, you shall not be as the hypocrites, that love to stand and pray in the synagogues and corners of the streets, that they may be seen by men: Amen I say to you, they have received their reward.

Matthew 6:6 But thou when thou shalt pray, enter into thy chamber, and having shut the door, pray to thy Father in secret, and thy father who seeth in secret will repay thee.

Study Lenses

The verse centers on "alms", "secret", "father", "seeth", "repay", and "thee". It is saying that the verse draws attention to "alms" and "secret", so its meaning should be read from those terms before moving to application.

The nearby context moves from verse 3's "But when thou dost alms let not..." into verse 5's "And when ye pray you shall not...", so "alms" and "secret" belong inside that flow. In Matthew context, the local focus is Christ, faith, and discipleship.

A plain takeaway is to answer the verse's own emphasis on "alms" and "secret" with trust shaped by these words, not by a vague optimism outside the passage.