But when thou doest alms, let not thy left hand know what thy right hand doeth:
Ver. 3. But thou when thou doest thine alms] The godly Christian must walk in a diverse way to a world of wicked people, as Noah did, a really reproving their darkness by his light, their pride by his lowliness, their vainglory by his modesty, their ostentation by his secret devotion; not only (planet-like) keeping a constant counter motion to the corrupt manners of the most, but also shining forth fair with a singularity of heavenly light, spiritual goodness, and God's sincere service, in the darkest midnight of damned impiety.
Let not thy left hand know, &c.] A proverbial speech, q.d. secrete thyself as much as may be, cast away the vain affectation of human applause. Let not thy left hand (if it had so much skill) understand what thou givest, and to whom, how much, how often, at what time, &c. God sets down every circumstance in his book of remembrance, Malachi 3:16, as our Saviour (that true Archdeacon, as well as Archshepherd, 1Pe 5:4) sat and viewed the estate, mind, and gift of every one that cast money into the treasury, Mark 12:41; and as he took special observation of those that came to hear him, how far they had come, how long they had been there, how little opportunity they had of providing for themselves, and how soon they might faint if sent away empty, Matthew 15:32. In pugillaribus suis omnia notat. "I know thy work and thy labour," Revelation 2:2, saith Christ to that Church: so to us, -I know thine alms, and thy privacy. Many give much, and are little noted or noticed. It matters not, saith our Saviour, though thy left hand should not know what thy right hand doth; there is no loss in that. Some talents are best improved by being laid up. A treasure that is hid is safer from thieves. Steal we therefore benefits upon men, as Joseph did the money into the sacks. And as he made a gain of the famine, and bought Egypt; so may we of the poor we relieve, and buy heaven, Luke 16:9; Romans 2:10. Ex fame quaestum captabat Iosephus, et benignitate sua emit Egyptum, nos coelum.
a Solus ipse diversa ambulavit via. Chrys. de Noa.