Matthew Poole and continuators on Matthew 6:1

1. TAke heed that you do not your alms before men to be seen of them, otherwise ye have no reward of your Father which is in heaven.

Alms are any Acts of kindness freely done by us, for the relief of any that are in Destress and Misery, which when they are done, from a Principle of love to God, his Precepts, commanding them Obedience in Faith to his Promises made to the giving of them, and that he may be Glorified, are truly good Works, Acts of Religion, and Acceptable to God, tho Meritorious of nothing from him. Acts 10.31. otherwise they are meerly Acts of Humanity and Morality to the reward of which God is by no promise Obliged. Therefore Christs Disciples are Obliged, to take heed that in the doing of their Alms, tho they may do them before Men, that God may be Glorifyed, Phil. 2.15. 1 Pet. 2.12. yet they do them not before Men, on purpose that they should take notice of them, and Applaud them for them, for God rewardeth no Action, of which he is not the End.

Marginal references: Or, [illegible: 1 letter]ith.