Understanding Jesus’ Teaching on Good Works
When you do something good, should you keep it secret, or should you make it known? At first glance, two teachings of Jesus on this topic seem contradictory.
In one place, Jesus says: “But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your giving may be in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you. Matthew 6:3-4
But just a chapter earlier, He says:
“In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.” Matthew 5:16
So which is it? Should we keep our good deeds secret, or should we make them visible?
The Key to Understanding: Motive Matters
The answer comes down to one word: motive. Why are you doing what you are doing? Are you aiming to glorify God or yourself? In Matthew 6, Jesus is warning against performing good deeds for self-promotion. The religious leaders of His day were known for giving, praying, and fasting in ways designed to get attention and praise from others. For them, giving to the needy was not an act of love but a show of superiority. Jesus tells His followers to do good in secret because the focus should be on loving God and helping others, not building a reputation.
But in Matthew 5, Jesus isn’t telling us to put ourselves in the spotlight. He’s encouraging us to live righteous lives openly, not to be praised, but to point others to God’s greatness. Our good works should be like a light that guides people to the truth of who God is.
Created for Good Works
Paul makes this clear in Ephesians 2:10 “For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.” God created us for good works, but those works are meant to reflect His goodness, not our greatness.
Practically Living This Out
So, how do we put this into practice?
1. Check Your Motive – Before you do something good, ask yourself: “Am I doing this so others will think well of me, or because I want to honor God and help others?”
2. Keep a Private Side to Your Faith – Practice generosity and kindness without publicizing it. Serve someone without posting about it.
3. Let Your Light Shine for God’s Glory—When others see your good works, be quick to credit God. A simple “God has been so good to me, and I want to share that with others” can turn an ordinary good deed into an opportunity to share about Jesus.
Jesus calls us to do good works, but He is not calling us to glorify ourselves. When we give, serve, and shine, it should be a reflection of the God who has saved us and works through us.
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