It is said that among the Arabs the right and the left hand are figurative of close friends. There is no need, Jesus says, for closest friends to know about one’s pious deeds. In this graphic figure of speech Christ uses the hyperbole of emphasis. He does not mean that almsgiving is always to remain a complete secret (MB 80). Paul commended the generosity of the Christians of Macedonia (Phil. 4:16) and wrote to the Corinthians that their “zeal” had “provoked very many” to be active for God (2 Cor. 9:2). What Jesus does mean is that Christians are not to perform acts of charity in order to secure the praise and honor of men.

 The word “thou” is singular. Jesus addressed each member in His audience personally. Concerning the responsibility of the rich toward the “poor” as set forth in the law of Moses see on Lev. 25:25, 35; Deut. 15:7, 11.