Matthew 6: 3 is the third verse of the sixth chapter of the Gospel of Matthew in the New Testament and is part of the Sermon on the Mount. This verse continues on the discussion of how people should give it to charity.
In the King James Version, the text reads:
- But when you do alms, do not you
- left hand knows what your right hand is doing:
The World English Bible translates this section as:
- But when you do good deeds, do not let
- your left hand knows what your right hand is doing,
For other versions of the collection, see here: Matthew 6: 3
The earlier two verses argue that charitable giving should be kept secret, so it is not done for the praise of others. This verse uses metaphors to construct this argument, but there is some debate about what this metaphor means. This verse is the origin of the general English phrase. However, "the left hand does not know what the right hand is doing" is generally a derision term for an organization where different members pursue conflicting or contradictory goals. This is very different from this verse where Jesus presents a lack of coordination as an ideal.
Because the owner of the hands must know what both do, Jesus' statement here is thus generally regarded as a funny hyperbole. One interpretation, outlined by Hendriksen, is that Jesus here states that just as we should avoid seeking other people's praise for our good deeds, we must also avoid welcoming ourselves to our piety. One should not be content with our own good, but it is better to try to forget our own good deeds. Hendriksen feels this view is supported by Matthew 25: 37-39. An alternative view, expressed by Filson, is that this verse is not a curse to the arrogant attitude, but rather a hoax for public praise. Giving should be an automatic action without considering potential rewards. If someone spends too much effort to ponder, someone will plan to make a secret contribution publicized so you may be praised. So the verse means that the right hand must be reflexively generous without the need for mental calculus, and if the mind is avoided as well as the left hand. This view sees this verse only as a metaphor that explains the rules set out in the previous two verses. Fowler agrees with this second interpretation, and believes that Matthew 6: 4 supports it. Lewis takes a third approach, arguing with the saying is a metaphor for secrecy, and that it was previously used as such by the Stoics. With this interpretation the left hand does not know what to do right is a metaphor for how secretive donor it should be. Harrington believed that the verse was based on an ancient proverb whose meaning is unknown. The guess is that it refers to a close friendship, and that this verse implies that friends who are even as near as one's left hand should not be made aware of the contribution.
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