erefore, when thou doest thine alms, do not sound a trumpet
before thee, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues, and in the
streets, that they may have glory of men. Verily I say unto you,
They have their reward. 3. But when thou doest alms, let not thy
left hand know what thy right hand doeth; 4. That thine alms may be
in secret: and thy Father, which seeth in secret, Himself shall
reward thee openly. 5. And when thou prayest, 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. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward.'--MATT.
vi. 1-5.

Our Lord follows His exposition of the deepened sense which the old law
assumes in His kingdom, by a warning against the most subtle foes of
true righteousness. He first gives the warning in general terms in verse
1, and then flashes its light into three dark corners, and shows how
hankering after men's praise corrupts the beneficence which is our duty
to our neighbour, the devotion which is our duty to God, and the
abstinence which is our duty to ourselves. We deal now with the two
former.

We have first the general warning, given out like the text of a sermon,
or the musical phrase which underlies the various harmonies of some
concerto. The first word implies that the evil is a subtle and seducing
one. 'Take heed' as of something which may steal into and mar the
noblest lives. The serpent lies coiled under the leaves, and may sting
and poison the unwary hand. The generality of the warning, and the
logical propriety of the whole section, require the adoption of the
reading of the Revised Version, namely, 'righteousness.' The thing to be
taken heed of is not the doing it 'before men,' which will often be
obligatory, often necessary, and never in itself wrong, but the doing it
'to be seen of them.' Not the number of spectators, but the furtive
glance of our eyes to see if they are looking at us, makes the sin. We
are to let our good works shine, that men may glorify our Father. Pious
souls are to shine, and yet to be hid,--a paradox which can be easily
solved by the obedient. If our motive is to make God's glory more
visible, we shall not be seeking to be ourselves admired. The
harp-string's swift vibrations, as it gives out its note, make it
unseen.

The reason for the warning goes on two principles: one that
righteousness is