Luke 6 41

Luke 6:41 kjv

And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother's eye, but perceivest not the beam that is in thine own eye?

Luke 6:41 nkjv

And why do you look at the speck in your brother's eye, but do not perceive the plank in your own eye?

Luke 6:41 niv

"Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother's eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye?

Luke 6:41 esv

Why do you see the speck that is in your brother's eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye?

Luke 6:41 nlt

"And why worry about a speck in your friend's eye when you have a log in your own?

Luke 6 verses

Luke 6 41 Meaning

Luke 6:41 delivers a powerful condemnation of hypocrisy and a call for profound self-assessment. It challenges the inherent human tendency to criticize the minor faults of others while ignoring one's own major deficiencies. Jesus employs a vivid, hyperbolic image to emphasize the absurdity and self-deception involved in judging others without first examining and correcting one's own character and actions. The verse serves as a crucial prerequisite for offering genuine spiritual help to a brother, demanding personal humility and clear spiritual sight.

Luke 6 41 Context

Luke 6:41 is part of Jesus's extended Sermon on the Plain (Luke 6:17-49), a foundational discourse on the ethics and character of the Kingdom of God. It directly follows Jesus's teaching against judging and condemning others (Luke 6:37) and the parable of the blind leading the blind (Luke 6:39-40), which implies the necessity of the teacher (or helper) having clear spiritual insight. The "plank and speck" analogy highlights the inherent danger of hypocritical judgment, serving as a powerful warning against spiritual pride and a prerequisite for genuine discipleship. It leads naturally into Jesus's further teaching about good trees bearing good fruit (Luke 6:43-45), connecting outward actions and speech to the internal state of the heart. Culturally, Jesus frequently encountered self-righteousness, particularly among the Pharisees, whose emphasis on outward observance often masked internal moral failings.

Luke 6 41 Word analysis

• Why (τί - ti): This is a question word that conveys an accusation or strong rhetorical challenge. It expresses incredulity or disapproval, asking about the purpose or reason behind such an absurd action.
• do you look at (βλέπεις - blepeis): From blepo, meaning "to look," "see," or "perceive." It suggests a focused gaze, an active observation, often implying a critical or discerning inspection, specifically for finding fault.
• the speck (τὸ κάρφος - to karphos): Karphos refers to a tiny piece of wood, a dry twig, a splinter, or a particle of chaff. It highlights the insignificant nature of the perceived flaw in another person, making the intense focus upon it even more absurd given the juxtaposed "plank."
• of sawdust: Implied in karphos. It emphasizes something very small and easily overlooked or swept away, especially when compared to a major obstruction.
• in your brother’s (τοῦ ἀδελφοῦ σου - tou adelphou sou): Adelphos refers literally to a biological brother but is commonly used in Christian discourse to denote a fellow human being, particularly a fellow believer or a member of the covenant community. This highlights that the judgment is often directed towards someone with whom one should have a close, loving relationship.
• eye (ὀφθαλμῷ - ophthalmō): The eye is a symbol of perception, understanding, and even conscience. A "speck in the eye" implies a minor obstruction to someone's spiritual or moral vision or a small personal fault.
• and pay no attention to (δὲ τὴν δοκὸν οὐ κατανοεῖς - de tēn dokon ou katanoeis): The ou negates katanoeis. Katanoeō means "to understand thoroughly," "to perceive fully," "to consider carefully," or "to discern." The negative implies a deliberate or self-deceived failure to see, acknowledge, or consider the very large defect in oneself, showing willful blindness.
• the plank (τὴν δοκὸν - tēn dokon): Dokos refers to a large beam, a rafter, or a log used in construction. It's a huge, unmissable object, standing in stark, comical contrast to a tiny speck. It signifies a major moral or spiritual failing, a substantial character defect, or significant sin in one's own life.
• in your own eye? (τῷ ἰδίῳ ὀφθαλμῷ - tō idiō ophthalmō): Emphasizes personal ownership of the defect. It refers to one's own direct perception and moral integrity. A "plank in one's eye" would make it impossible to see anything clearly, let alone the small speck in someone else's eye, illustrating profound spiritual impairment and self-blindness.

Words-group by words-group analysis:

• "Why do you look at the speck... and pay no attention to the plank...": This pairing establishes the core irony and hypocrisy. The intense scrutiny ("look at") given to a minor fault in another is contrasted with the deliberate lack of attention ("pay no attention") to a massive, incapacitating fault in oneself. This highlights a distorted moral vision.
• "the speck of sawdust in your brother's eye... the plank in your own eye": The image creates a stark visual absurdity, designed to make the listener recognize the irrationality of their judgmental behavior. The relative sizes (insignificant karphos vs. massive dokos) dramatically amplify the point: one's own faults are incomparably larger and more debilitating than the minor faults one perceives in others. The focus shifts from outward critique to necessary inward introspection.

Luke 6 41 Bonus section

The teaching in Luke 6:41, closely mirrored in Matthew 7:3-5, stands as a central pillar of Christ's ethical demands for His disciples. It follows Jesus's declaration that a disciple is not above his teacher but will be like him (Lk 6:40), implying that disciples must embody Jesus's humble and non-judgmental approach. This principle also extends beyond individual critique to community dynamics, urging a culture of self-reflection and grace rather than constant fault-finding. The underlying message is that our ability to help others is directly tied to our own spiritual health and humility. Ignoring the "plank" means one is not operating from genuine spiritual insight or love, but from a place of self-deception, which can only harm both oneself and the "brother." It's an internal posture check: true help begins with honest self-assessment and a humble spirit.

Luke 6 41 Commentary

Luke 6:41 is a humorous yet piercing rebuke against self-righteous judgment. Jesus's use of hyperbole—the absurdity of someone with a massive construction beam in their eye trying to remove a tiny piece of sawdust from another's—strikes at the heart of hypocrisy. This passage is not a blanket prohibition against discernment or accountability among believers. Instead, it forbids hypocritical judgment where one condemns the minor faults of others while being blind to or ignoring their own more serious moral failures.

The "speck" represents a minor personal flaw or sin, while the "plank" signifies a significant moral defect, spiritual blindness, or habitual sin. The person with the plank in their eye is incapable of seeing clearly, making any attempt to help another remove their "speck" not only futile but actively damaging and morally perverse. Their judgment comes from a position of profound self-deception and spiritual impairment.

This teaching emphasizes the prerequisite of self-examination and repentance for anyone aspiring to help others grow spiritually. Before one can genuinely assist a brother in overcoming their faults, one must first confront and address their own major issues. This involves humility, self-awareness, and a willingness to acknowledge one's own sin before God. True spiritual clarity comes from addressing the "plank" in one's own eye, which then enables one to "see clearly" (Luke 6:42) and offer compassionate, effective assistance to others. The passage warns that a judgmental spirit indicates an absence of such clarity, flowing from pride and a lack of true wisdom.

• Examples:
  • A leader harshly criticizing members for minor shortcomings while engaging in major financial dishonesty.
  • A parent constantly correcting a child's small habits while exhibiting much greater anger or impatience themselves.
  • A church member gossiping about another's spiritual "immaturity" while consistently neglecting personal prayer and scripture study.