Matthew 6:4 (WEB)

Passage

so that your merciful deeds may be in secret, then your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly.

Nearby Context

Matthew 6:2 Therefore when you do merciful deeds, don’t sound a trumpet before yourself, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may get glory from men. Most certainly I tell you, they have received their reward.

Matthew 6:3 But when you do merciful deeds, don’t let your left hand know what your right hand does,

Matthew 6:4 so that your merciful deeds may be in secret, then your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly.

Matthew 6:5 “When you pray, you shall not be as the hypocrites, for they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and in the corners of the streets, that they may be seen by men. Most certainly, I tell you, they have received their reward.

Matthew 6:6 But you, when you pray, enter into your inner room, and having shut your door, pray to your Father who is in secret, and your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly.

Study Lenses

The verse centers on "merciful", "deeds", "secret", "father", "sees", "reward", and "openly". It is saying that the verse draws attention to "merciful" and "deeds", so its meaning should be read from those terms before moving to application.

The nearby context moves from verse 3's "But when you do merciful deeds don..." into verse 5's "When you pray you shall not be...", so "merciful" and "deeds" 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 "merciful" and "deeds" with trust shaped by these words, not by a vague optimism outside the passage.