Matthew 6:2-4

Almsgiving. Matthew 6:2. ἐλεημοσύνην, mercy in general, but specifically alms, as a common mode of showing mercy. Compare our word charity. σαλπίσῃς : to be understood metaphorically, as there is no evidence of the literal practice. Furrer gives this from Consul Wetstein to illustrate the word. When a man (in Damascus) wants to do a good act which may bring a blessing by way of divine recompense on his own family, e.g., healing to a sick child, he goes to a water-carrier with a good voice, gives him a piece of money, and says “Sebil,” i.e., give the thirsty a fresh drink of water. The water-carrier fills his skin, takes his stand in the market, and sings in varied tones: “O thirsty, come to the drink-offering,” the giver standing by, to whom the carrier says, as the thirsty drink, “God forgive thy sins, O giver of the drink” (Zscht. für M. und R., 1890. Vide also his Wanderungen d. d. H. L., p. 437). ὑποκριταὶ, stage-players in classics, used in N. T. in a moral and sinister sense, and for the Christian mind heavily burdened with evil connotation hypocrites! What a deepening of the moral sense is implied in the new meaning! The abhorrence of acting for effect in religion is due to Christ's teaching. It has not yet quite banished the thing. There are religious actors still, and they draw good houses. συναγωγαῖς : where alms were collected, and apparently also distributed. ῥύμαις, streets, in eastern cities narrow lanes, a late meaning; in earlier Greek = impetus onset. Vide Rutherford's New Phryn., 488. Cf. πλατειῶν, Matthew 6:5. πλατεῖα, supp. ὁδός = a broad street. δοξασθῶσιν : in chap. Matthew 5:16 God is conceived as recipient of the glory; here the almsgiver, giving for that purpose. ἀμὴν : introducing a solemn statement, and a very serious one for the parties concerned. ἀπέχουσι, they have in full; they will get no more, nothing from God: so in Luke 6:24; Philippians 4:18 (vide on Mark 14:41). The hypocrite partly does not believe this, partly does not care, so long as he gets the applause of his public.