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“Take heed that you do not do your charitable deeds before men, to be seen by them. Otherwise you have no reward from your Father in heaven.”
— Matthew 6:1 (NKJV)
The central theme of this song is very clear: God is not first interested in what we *do* but in *why* we do it. He weighs motives. He sees the hidden place. He rewards what is done in secret.
This passage in Matthew 6 is part of what we call the Sermon on the Mount. Jesus is dealing with the inner life of the believer. Not the outward form. Not religious performance. But the secret relationship between the child and the Father.
We see three repeated emphases in the passage and echoed in the lyrics:
1. “Be careful” – there is a spiritual danger here.
2. “To be seen by them” – the danger is living for the eyes of people.
3. “No reward from your Father” – the consequence is loss of eternal reward.
The song circles around this warning and promise:
“Your Father who sees in secret will Himself reward you openly” (cf. Matthew 6:4, 6, 18).
These words were spoken by Jesus to His disciples and the gathered crowds in Galilee. Israel at that time was a highly religious culture. The Pharisees, scribes, and other leaders were meticulous in outward observances—fasting, giving alms, long public prayers. Outwardly, they seemed righteous. Inwardly, many were full of spiritual pride.
Jesus is not speaking abstract theory. He is exposing a very real, visible religious system that had drifted from God’s heart. Three key areas are addressed in Matthew 6:1–6 (and continued in vv. 16–18):
1. Giving to the needy (almsgiving)
2. Prayer
3. Fasting
These were the three pillars of Jewish piety. Jesus does not say, “If you give… if you pray… if you fast…” He says, “*When* you give… *when* you pray… *when* you fast…” He assumes these practices. His issue is not whether they are done, but how and why.
The common practice among many religious leaders of His day was:
In that environment, Jesus speaks words that cut across the entire religious culture:
> “And when you pray, you shall not be like the hypocrites. For they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the corners of the streets, that they may be seen by men. Assuredly, I say to you, they have their reward.”
> — Matthew 6:5
He contrasts two audiences:
And He contrasts two kinds of reward:
The song is essentially a meditation on this contrast, calling us away from the stage of religious performance into the secret place of genuine devotion.
Let us look carefully at two key expressions from this passage that deepen our understanding.
### 3.1 “To be seen by them” – θεαθῆναι (theathēnai)
In Matthew 6:1, the phrase is:
> “Take heed that you do not do your charitable deeds before men, to be seen by them…”
The verb here is θεάομαι (theaomai), from which we get our English word “theater.” The form used, θεαθῆναι, carries the sense: *to be made a spectacle, to be put on display, to appear in a way that draws attention*.
This is more than people simply noticing what you do. Jesus is addressing a *motive*:
So the warning is not against visible good works (cf. Matthew 5:16), but against theatrical righteousness—acts done for the *purpose* of being watched and admired.
This clarifies the line in the lyrics:
> “Be careful not to show off your good deeds
> In front of others just to be seen and praised…”
It is the inner drive “just to be seen and praised” that turns a good act into spiritual theater and empties it of eternal reward.
### 3.2 “Reward” – μισθός (misthos)
Repeatedly in this passage we read:
The Greek word is μισθός (misthos). It means wages, payment, recompense, what is due for work rendered.
In other words, God presents Himself here as a just employer. He keeps accounts. He does not forget any act of obedience—even a cup of cold water given in His name (Matthew 10:42).
But there are two different paymasters:
1. People – when we work for their praise, their applause is our wage. We have been paid in full. Nothing remains due.
2. The Father – when we act for His eyes alone, He Himself holds our reward in store, to be manifested in His time and His way.
This clarifies the line:
> “They’ve already received their full reward”
The Greek emphasis is: they have been paid in full—there is nothing more coming from God. Human applause has exhausted the account.
On the other hand:
> “Your Father who sees everything you do
> Will reward you openly one glorious day
> When heaven’s light reveals what was hidden away”
This is fully consistent with 1 Corinthians 4:5:
> “…the Lord comes, who will both bring to light the hidden things of darkness and reveal the counsels of the hearts. Then each one’s praise will come from God.”
God will not only reveal what we did, but *why* we did it. And then He will give His praise, His reward.
Let us work through the themes of the lyrics and connect them to Scripture.
### 4.1 The Danger of Displayed Righteousness
> “Be careful not to show off your good deeds
> In front of others just to be seen and praised
> If you do, that’s all the reward you’ll get
> No treasure waiting for you in heaven”
Jesus begins with “Take heed” or “Be careful.” This is language of spiritual danger. We are dealing here with a subtle, deadly temptation: using the things of God to promote self.
This is exactly what the Pharisees did:
> “But all their works they do to be seen by men.”
> — Matthew 23:5
The problem is not the good works themselves. In fact, in Matthew 5:16, just one chapter earlier, Jesus says:
> “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.”
We must keep these two passages balanced:
The issue is motive and direction of glory.
The song captures this:
“Live for His smile, not the world’s applause.”
That is the dividing line between true and false righteousness. Who are you trying to please?
Paul expresses this principle clearly:
> “For do I now persuade men, or God? Or do I seek to please men? For if I still pleased men, I would not be a bondservant of Christ.”
> — Galatians 1:10
Where you seek your approval determines whose servant you are.
### 4.2 Hidden Acts and the All-Seeing Father
> “Your Father sees what’s done in secret
> He’s watching every quiet act of love”
This reveals a central truth: God sees in secret.
Repeatedly in Matthew 6 Jesus says:
Notice the double emphasis:
1. The Father is in the secret place. That is where He is found.
2. The Father sees in secret. Nothing escapes His attention.
Hebrews 4:13 confirms:
> “And there is no creature hidden from His sight, but all things are naked and open to the eyes of Him to whom we must give account.”
Many believers fear that what they do for God is unnoticed, forgotten, wasted. But Scripture never allows that. The Father observes every “quiet act of love”:
Hebrews 6:10 says:
> “For God is not unjust to forget your work and labor of love which you have shown toward His name…”
For God to overlook a genuine act of love done unto Him would be injustice. He cannot be unjust. Therefore He cannot forget.
The song rightly aligns with this reality:
“What’s done in secret will last forever long.”
### 4.3 Giving: Quiet Generosity vs. Religious Show
> “When you give to someone in need
> Don’t announce it with trumpets like the hypocrites
> They love the applause in the streets and synagogues
> They’ve already received their full reward
> But when you give, keep it quiet and low
> Let your left hand not know what your right hand does”
Jesus says:
> “Therefore, when you do a charitable deed, do not sound a trumpet before you as the hypocrites do… that they may have glory from men. Assuredly, I say to you, they have their reward.”
> — Matthew 6:2
Whether trumpets were literally blown, or this is a figure of speech, the picture is clear: announced generosity. People who give in such a way that everyone must see, must know, must praise.
Jesus calls them hypocrites. The Greek word ὑποκριτής (hypokritēs) originally meant an actor, one who wears a mask. Outwardly, they appear compassionate. Inwardly, the driving motive is self-glorification.
Then He adds an almost shocking instruction:
> “But when you do a charitable deed, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing.”
> — Matthew 6:3
This is deliberate, intentional secrecy. It is symbolic of radical inward privacy about our giving. So hidden that even our “left hand” is ignorant.
This does not forbid transparency in all financial dealings. It forbids ego involvement. Our giving is to be:
The song reflects this inner discipline: “keep it quiet and low.”
Paul connects giving and motive in 2 Corinthians 9:7:
> “So let each one give as he purposes in his heart, not grudgingly or of necessity; for God loves a cheerful giver.”
God watches *why* and *how* we give, not merely *how much* we give.
### 4.4 Prayer: Secret Communion vs. Public Performance
> “When you pray, don’t stand on the corners shouting loud
> Like the hypocrites who love to be noticed
> They’ve got their reward in full already
> But you—go into your room, close the door
> Pray to your Father who is unseen
> He hears every whisper from the heart”
Here we see again the contrast between religious acting and true relationship.
Jesus says:
> “And when you pray, you shall not be like the hypocrites. For they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the corners of the streets, that they may be seen by men. Assuredly, I say to you, they have their reward.”
> — Matthew 6:5
They “love to pray”—but not because they love God. They love to be seen praying. Prayer is not fellowship. It is performance.
This does not forbid any public prayer. Jesus Himself prayed publicly at times (John 11:41–42). The issue again is motive. Public prayer can be spiritual reality; it can also be theater.
Jesus gives a concrete command:
> “But you, when you pray, go into your room, and when you have shut your door, pray to your Father who is in the secret place…”
> — Matthew 6:6
The “room” (Greek: ταμεῖον, tameion) was the inner store room, a private chamber. The picture is of deliberate withdrawal from people’s eyes into a place where only the Father sees.
The song expresses this with “go into your room, close the door.”
This reveals the essence of prayer:
God is “unseen” (6:6), yet most real in that unseen place. There He shapes our character, cleanses our motives, and rewards our seeking (cf. Hebrews 11:6).
### 4.5 Living for God’s Smile, Not Human Applause
> “The spotlight fades, the crowd moves on
> But what’s done in secret will last forever long
> No need for praise from human eyes
> Your Father sees and He will reward
> Live for His smile, not the world’s applause
> True worship rises from a hidden heart”
Here we have the central contrast between the temporary and the eternal.
Paul writes:
> “For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal.”
> — 2 Corinthians 4:18
If we live for what is seen—applause, recognition, reputation—we are living for what is passing away. But if we live for the unseen smile of the Father, we are investing in eternal realities.
“True worship rises from a hidden heart.” Jesus said:
> “God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth.”
> — John 4:24
True worship begins in the spirit, not on the platform. It is first hidden, then sometimes expressed outwardly. But its value before God is measured by what is inward and unseen.
### 4.6 The Day of Open Reward
> “Give in secret, pray in secret, love in secret too
> Your Father who sees everything you do
> Will reward you openly one glorious day
> When heaven’s light reveals what was hidden away
> Keep your heart pure, your motives true”
There is coming a day of revelation. The Bible is clear:
> “For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive the things done in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad.”
> — 2 Corinthians 5:10
This is not the judgment of condemnation for believers (Romans 8:1), but the judgment of evaluation and reward. The fire of God’s scrutiny will test not only the quality of our work, but the motives behind it (1 Corinthians 3:13–15; 4:5).
What is hidden now will be revealed then. Secret sins will be exposed. Secret obedience will be honored.
Therefore, Jesus says, live now for that day. Keep your heart pure. Guard your motives. Practice righteousness with God alone as your ultimate audience.
How do we apply this teaching in a practical, disciplined way? Let me give you four clear steps or practices.
### 5.1 First: Establish the Secret Place as a Non-Negotiable
Decide that your primary spiritual life will be in secret with God.
Matthew 6:6 is a command, not a suggestion. The secret place is where God deals with pride, ambition, and desire for recognition. It is also where He gives comfort, direction, and reward.
Make this simple commitment: *My deepest spiritual life will be the part nobody sees.*
### 5.2 Second: Practice Anonymous Obedience
Deliberately choose some acts of obedience that no one knows about but God.
For example:
By doing this you train your soul to be satisfied with God’s knowledge alone. Every time you feel the urge to tell others what you did, you have a concrete opportunity to crucify the desire for praise and reaffirm: *My Father knows. That is enough.*
### 5.3 Third: Test Your Motives Before God
Bring your heart under the light of the Word and the Spirit. Pray as David prayed:
> “Search me, O God, and know my heart;
> Try me, and know my anxieties;
> And see if there is any wicked way in me,
> And lead me in the way everlasting.”
> — Psalm 139:23–24
Ask yourself honestly before God:
Be ruthless with hypocrisy in your own heart. Confess it as sin. Ask the Holy Spirit, the Spirit of truth, to purify your motives.
### 5.4 Fourth: Shift Your Focus to Eternal Reward
Meditate on the promises of eternal reward. Fill your mind with Scriptures like:
Consciously say to the Lord: *I choose Your reward above man’s reward. I choose Your praise above man’s praise.*
When tempted to boast, remind yourself: human applause is full payment. If you take it now as your goal, you forfeit something eternal. Let that sober you and strengthen you to remain hidden.
### Proclamation of Faith
Make this your declaration, out loud, before God:
> **I affirm that God is my Father, and He sees in secret.
> I renounce the fear of man and the desire for human applause.
> I refuse to practice my righteousness as a performance before people.
> I choose to give in secret, to pray in secret, to love in secret.
> My deepest life with God will be hidden from the eyes of men.
> My Father who sees in secret will reward me in His way and in His time.
> I live for His smile, not the world’s approval.
> I set my heart on eternal reward at the judgment seat of Christ.
> By the grace of God and the power of the Holy Spirit,
> my worship will rise from a pure and hidden heart.
> Amen.**
### Prayer
Father, in the name of Jesus, I bring my heart into Your light.
Forgive me where I have used spiritual things for my own glory.
Cleanse me from hypocrisy, from pride, and from the love of human praise.
Holy Spirit, Spirit of truth, search me and show me my motives.
Teach me to love the secret place with my Father.
Train me to give, to pray, and to serve in ways seen only by You.
Lord Jesus, fix my eyes on Your coming and on Your reward.
Deliver me from living for the temporary and the visible.
Establish in me a hidden life of obedience that will stand in eternity.
I choose today to live before Your face alone.
Let my life be true worship, arising from a pure and hidden heart.
In Jesus’ name, Amen.
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