Single lesson
Giving without Showing Off
Matthew 6:1–4
Jesus teaches that giving can look generous on the outside while still aiming at human praise. In these verses, children can learn to notice the difference between helping others and trying to be noticed for it.
Before you teach
This short teaching comes from Jesus’ instruction about charitable giving. He warns his hearers to be careful about doing good deeds in front of people for attention. He contrasts public praise from people with the Father who sees what is done in secret.
Students will be able to explain from Matthew 6:1–4 that Jesus teaches people to give mercifully without trying to gain praise from others.
Welcome: What makes giving different?
5 minBegin by asking children to name simple ways people help others, such as sharing lunch, giving to a need, or helping someone quietly. Explain that Jesus is not saying giving is wrong. He says to be careful about why we do it. Today’s lesson compares generosity with wanting people to notice us.
Matthew 6:1, Matthew 6:2
Read and explain: Jesus warns about being seen
8 minRead Matthew 6:1–4 aloud slowly. Point out the repeated ideas: “be careful”, “to be seen by them”, “in secret”, and “your Father who sees”. Explain that “merciful deeds” means acts of kindness and help. Jesus describes people who do good publicly so others will praise them, and he warns that this praise is all they get.
Matthew 6:1, Matthew 6:2, Matthew 6:4
Discuss: Two different rewards
6 minTalk through the contrast in the passage. In verse 2, some people want glory from other people. Jesus says they have already received their reward. In verse 4, the Father sees secret giving. Help children notice that Jesus focuses on the giver’s audience: people watching, or the Father in heaven who sees what others may miss.
Matthew 6:2, Matthew 6:4
Make and respond: Secret giving reminder card
7 minInvite each child to choose a short phrase from the passage for a reminder card, such as “Be careful”, “in secret”, or “your Father who sees”. They can decorate the card and add one realistic example of quiet generosity, like leaving part of their pocket money for a need without announcing it. Emphasise that the example should fit Jesus’ teaching.
Matthew 6:1, Matthew 6:3, Matthew 6:4
Closing: Practise the lesson in one sentence
4 minFinish by asking each child to complete this sentence aloud or quietly: “Jesus teaches me to give without trying to be seen.” Summarise that generous actions can be real acts of mercy, but Jesus tells his followers not to turn them into a performance for praise. Review one key verse together before ending.
Matthew 6:1, Matthew 6:4
Questions to explore
According to Matthew 6:1, what danger does Jesus warn about when people give?
Look for the phrase about doing charitable giving “before men, to be seen by them” and notice that Jesus says, “Be careful.”
Matthew 6:1
In Matthew 6:2, what reward do the hypocrites receive?
The verse says they do merciful deeds so they “may get glory from men”, and Jesus says, “they have received their reward.”
Matthew 6:2
What does Jesus want giving to be like in Matthew 6:3–4?
Notice the phrases “don’t let your left hand know what your right hand does” and “your merciful deeds may be in secret”.
Matthew 6:3, Matthew 6:4
Make, think or respond
Secret Giving Reminder Card
What you’ll need
- card or paper
- pencils or pens
- coloured pencils or crayons
- scissors if desired
Try it together
- Read Matthew 6:1–4 again and ask each child to choose one short phrase from the passage.
- Fold or cut paper into a small card shape.
- Write the chosen phrase on the front and decorate it simply.
- Inside the card, write or draw one realistic example of giving or helping without showing off.
- Take the card home or place it somewhere visible as a reminder of Jesus’ teaching.
The card helps children remember that Jesus teaches merciful deeds should be done in secret rather than for praise from other people.
Adapt for your group
- For younger children, offer two phrase choices from the passage and let them draw their example instead of writing a full sentence.
- For stronger readers, ask them to compare verse 2 and verse 4 by writing one line about human praise and one line about the Father who sees in secret.
An optional closing prayer
You may pray: “Father in heaven, please help us to do kind and merciful things without showing off. Help us care about what you see more than what other people say. Amen.”
Read the Bible passage World English Bible Classic
Matthew 6
1 “Be careful that you don’t do your charitable giving before men, to be seen by them, or else you have no reward from your Father who is in heaven.
2 Therefore, when you do merciful deeds, don’t sound a trumpet before yourself, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may get glory from men. Most certainly I tell you, they have received their reward.
3 But when you do merciful deeds, don’t let your left hand know what your right hand does,
4 so that your merciful deeds may be in secret, then your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly.
World English Bible Classic. Public domain.