In Matthew 6, Jesus addresses the attitude and mindset that should accompany acts of giving, prayer, and fasting. He emphasizes the importance of doing these good deeds not for the praise of others, but with sincerity before God. Here’s a summary of what Jesus teaches specifically about helping and giving in Matthew 6:1-4:

Matthew 6:1-4 (NIV)

1 “Be careful not to practice your righteousness in front of others to be seen by them. If you do, you will have no reward from your Father in heaven.
2 “So when you give to the needy, do not announce it with trumpets, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and on the streets, to be honored by men. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full.
3 But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing,
4 so that your giving may be in secret. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.”

Key Points from Matthew 6:1-4:

1. Give with the right motive: Jesus warns against performing acts of righteousness, including giving to the poor, just for the sake of public recognition. The true reward comes from God, not from the praise of others.
2. Give in secret: Jesus encourages giving in such a way that it is not done for show. He uses the metaphor of not letting your “left hand know what your right hand is doing” to highlight the importance of humility and privacy in giving.
3. God sees the heart: Jesus teaches that God sees all acts of generosity, even those done in secret, and He rewards them. The focus should be on pleasing God, not gaining human approval.

In this teaching, the emphasis is on the inner attitude behind the giving. Jesus challenges his followers to act with humility and to give out of a genuine desire to help others, rather than seeking attention or praise for their generosity. This principle helps guard against pride and encourages a more sincere, compassionate approach to serving others.