Take heed that you give not your alms before men, to be seen of them: otherwise you have no reward of your Father who is in heaven.
All Commentaries on Matthew 6:1 Go To Matthew 6
Theophylact of Ochrid
AD 1107
. Having led them up to the greatest of the virtues, which is love, now He drives away vainglory, which follows after the achievement of the virtues. See what He says, "Take heed," as if speaking of some terrible wild beast. Take heed that it not tear you limb from limb. If you give alms "before men" but your motive is not "to be seen by them," you are not condemned. But if your motive is vainglory, then even if you give alms from within your inner chamber, you are condemned. For it is the intent that God either punishes or crowns.
