SOTM 22—Alms

<p>For additional notes and resources check out Douglas’ <a href="https://www.douglasjacoby.com/som-22/" target="_blank"><strong>website.</strong></a></p><p>“Thus, when you give to the needy, sound no trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may be praised by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward. </p><p>But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your giving may be in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you” (Matthew 6:2-4).</p><p><strong>Comment:</strong></p><ul><li>Jesus said not <i>if</i> you give alms, but <i>when</i> you give alms.</li><li>We are not to trumpeting our piety.</li><li>Hypocrites: <i>hypokritēs</i> literally meant a play-actor. People who trumpet their almsgiving are only <i>pretending</i> to care about the poor.</li><li>There is a reward in heaven for giving alms, but not when we do this to impress others.</li><li>The words about the left hand and the right hand are metaphorical (like cutting off the hand in <strong>Matt 5:30</strong>). The focus is on the heart, not the hand.</li><li>Our giving should, as much as possible, be in secret (private).</li></ul><p><strong>History</strong></p><ul><li>A great source for the views of the early church is <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Dictionary-Early-Christian-Beliefs-Reference/dp/1565633571/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=dictionary+bercot+early+christian&qid=1579543042&sr=8-1"><i>A Dictionary of Early Christian Beliefs.</i></a> (The subtitle is <i>A Reference Guide to More than 700 Topics Discussed by the Early Church Fathers.</i>)</li><li>Early church<ul><li><strong>Aristides</strong>: “Christians do not proclaim in the ears of the multitude the kind deeds they do. Instead, they are careful that no one notices them. In fact, they conceal their giving just like one who finds a treasure and conceals it.” <i>Apology</i> 15 (ANF 9.278)</li><li><strong>Tertullian</strong>: “Our compassion spends more in the streets th