📖 Biblical Definition
Almsgiving is charitable giving to the poor — and in Scripture it is one of the three pillars of Jewish piety Christ assumed His followers would practice (alongside prayer and fasting; Matthew 6). Christ does not say "if" you give alms; He says "when thou doest alms" (6:2). The giving is to be done quietly — not before men, not announced, not publicized: "But when thou doest alms, let not thy left hand know what thy right hand doeth: That thine alms may be in secret: and thy Father which seeth in secret himself shall reward thee openly" (6:3-4). The Father who sees in secret rewards openly. Tabitha at Joppa was "full of good works and almsdeeds which she did" (Acts 9:36).
📜 Webster 1828 Definition
ALMS, n.
expand to see more
Any thing given gratuitously to the poor; that which is bestowed in charity.
📖 Key Scripture
Matthew 6:1 — "Take heed that ye do not your alms before men, to be seen of them."
Matthew 6:3 — "When thou doest alms, let not thy left hand know what thy right hand doeth."
Acts 10:4 — "Thy prayers and thine alms are come up for a memorial before God."
Proverbs 19:17 — "He that hath pity upon the poor lendeth unto the Lord."
⚠️ Modern Corruption
Modern philanthropy puts the donor's name on the building; Christ said the right hand should not know.
expand to see more
Matthew 6 assumes the disciples will give alms; Christ does not argue for the practice but for the manner. When thou doest alms — not if. The corrective He attacks is the temptation to do alms publicly to be seen by men. The hypocrites in Christ's day announced their giving with trumpets; modern donors carve their names on the building. The mechanism is identical, the reward is identical: they have their reward.
The cure is hidden giving. Give where no one knows. Slip cash into the family at church whose father lost his job. Pay the medical bill anonymously. Tip extravagantly without explanation. Mail a card with no return address. The Father who sees in secret rewards openly — and the saint who gets used to hidden generosity discovers that hiddenness itself is half the joy.
🔗 Greek & Hebrew Roots
Greek eleemosune (G1654).
expand to see more
G1654 — eleemosune — mercy-deed; alms
G1656 — eleos — mercy
H6666 — tsedaqah — righteousness; almsgiving (post-biblical)
Usage
"Christ did not argue whether to give alms; He assumed it and corrected the manner."
"Modern donors carve names on buildings; Christ said the right hand should not know."
"Hidden giving is the saint's discipline; hiddenness itself is half the joy."