Matthew 7:4 kjv

Or how wilt thou say to thy brother, Let me pull out the mote out of thine eye; and, behold, a beam is in thine own eye?

Matthew 7:4 nkjv

Or how can you say to your brother, 'Let me remove the speck from your eye'; and look, a plank is in your own eye?

Matthew 7:4 niv

How can you say to your brother, 'Let me take the speck out of your eye,' when all the time there is a plank in your own eye?

Matthew 7:4 esv

Or how can you say to your brother, 'Let me take the speck out of your eye,' when there is the log in your own eye?

Matthew 7:4 nlt

How can you think of saying to your friend, 'Let me help you get rid of that speck in your eye,' when you can't see past the log in your own eye?

Matthew 7 verses

Matthew 7 4 Meaning

Matthew 7:4 conveys Jesus' teaching on the hypocrisy of those who presume to correct minor faults in others while ignoring much greater faults within themselves. It illustrates the absurdity of attempting to remove a small "speck" from someone else's eye when a massive "beam" is present in one's own. This parable underscores the principle of self-examination and personal purification as prerequisites for righteously aiding or judging others, highlighting that true discernment begins with addressing one's own spiritual condition.

Matthew 7 4 Context

Matthew 7:4 is embedded within Jesus' Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5-7), specifically within the section addressing judging others (7:1-5). Jesus' discourse in chapters 5 and 6 sets forth a new standard of righteousness, one that penetrates beyond outward actions to the heart and inner disposition. Chapter 6 particularly criticizes the hypocrisy of external religious performance without true inward transformation. This verse directly follows Jesus' instruction, "Judge not, that you be not judged" (7:1), and builds upon it by illustrating the reason for such a prohibition: a lack of self-awareness concerning one's own significant flaws. The immediate cultural context included a Jewish society highly attuned to laws and religious observance, where self-righteousness and judging others for their perceived shortcomings (often minor infractions) were common tendencies. Jesus' teaching here directly challenges this inclination, advocating for an inward focus on personal spiritual integrity before attempting to correct others. It implicitly critiques a legalistic approach that emphasizes external faults while ignoring deeper, internal corruptions, a common polemic against the superficiality of some religious leaders of the time.

Matthew 7 4 Word analysis

• Or (ἢ - ē): A disjunctive particle, here introducing an alternative or consequential question. It highlights the logical absurdity and practical impossibility of the action being described, connecting it to the previous statement about judging.
• how (πῶς - pōs): An interrogative adverb meaning "in what manner, by what means." It emphasizes the inherent contradiction and the sheer impossibility of the situation Jesus is describing. It challenges the hearer to consider the irrationality of the proposed action.
• canst thou say (ἐρεῖς - ereis): From the verb legō (to say, speak), this is a future active indicative form. It presents the words as a direct, expressed intent or instruction. The future tense implies a persistent tendency or a proposed course of action.
• to thy brother (τῷ ἀδελφῷ σου - tō adelphō sou):
  • Brother (adelphos): Literally a blood brother, but widely used in Jewish and early Christian contexts to mean fellow countryman, kinsman, fellow human being, or most specifically, a fellow member of the community of faith. It implies a relationship of kinship and responsibility.
  • Thy (sou): Possessive pronoun, emphasizing the personal relationship and implication for the listener.
• Let me pull out (Ἄφες ἐκβάλω - Aphes ekbalō):
  • Let me (aphes): Second person singular aorist imperative of aphiēmi (to send away, leave, permit). It expresses permission or request, showing the hypocrite's stated desire or intent to "help."
  • pull out (ekbalō): Aorist active subjunctive of ekballō (to throw out, cast out, expel). This word can imply forceful removal or expulsion. Here, it suggests an intrusive, condescending, or even aggressive intervention in someone else's perceived fault.
• the mote (τὸ κάρφος - to karphos):
  • Mote: A small dry stick, straw, splinter, or speck of chaff. It denotes something trivial, small, insignificant, and easily overlooked by an observer focused on greater matters. It represents a minor flaw or a trivial misstep.
• out of thine eye (ἐκ τοῦ ὀφθαλμοῦ σου - ek tou ophthalmoū sou):
  • Eye (ophthalmos): Represents the seat of perception, discernment, and moral insight. A problem in the eye hinders proper seeing. Metaphorically, a "speck" in someone's eye affects their spiritual perception or minor flaw in their moral conduct. The "eye" here is not just a physical organ but signifies one's character and understanding.
• and, behold (καὶ ἰδοὺ - kai idou):
  • And (kai): A conjunction, connecting the two clauses.
  • Behold (idou): An interjection used to draw attention, like "Look!" or "Lo!" It highlights the shocking, obvious, and immediate contrast that follows, drawing attention to the blatant hypocrisy.
• a beam (ἡ δοκός - hē dokos):
  • Beam: A large piece of timber, a log, a rafter, used in building construction. It is something enormous, impossible to ignore, completely obstructing vision and obviously visible. The use of "beam" (dokos) contrasted with "mote" (karphos) is a stark, almost absurd hyperbole. This exaggeration powerfully highlights the gross disparity between the minor fault one seeks to correct in another and the monumental, obvious flaw in oneself.
• is in thine own eye (ἐν τῷ ὀφθαλμῷ σου - en tō ophthalmoū sou estin): Reiterates the direct personal impact. The contrast underscores that the problem is not external but deeply personal and debilitating, rendering one unfit to 'see' or correct anyone else.

Words-Group by Words-Group Analysis:

• "Or how canst thou say to thy brother, 'Let me pull out the mote...'": This opening phrase sets up the hypocritical proposition. The emphasis on "how" underscores the sheer absurdity of someone with a massive spiritual blindness presuming to offer aid or correction on a minor issue to another. It points to a judgmental spirit coupled with a profound lack of self-awareness.
• "...and, behold, a beam is in thine own eye": This concluding phrase delivers the crushing blow of reality, exposing the severe hypocrisy. The "behold" demands recognition of the internal, massive fault that renders the one judging entirely unqualified to pass judgment. It's a vivid picture of someone with a grave personal impediment trying to correct a trivial one in another, demonstrating both arrogance and spiritual blindness.

Matthew 7 4 Bonus section

The hyperbole in Matthew 7:4, characteristic of Jesus' teaching style, is designed not for literal interpretation (no one actually walks around with a log in their eye) but to highlight a spiritual truth through memorable, exaggerated imagery. It was a common teaching method in Jewish culture, aimed at striking the audience and making a lasting impression. The very absurdity of the image serves to make the point undeniable: how ludicrous it is for someone with overwhelming spiritual baggage to condemn others for their much lesser burdens.

This passage is foundational to understanding the New Testament's emphasis on introspection and self-awareness as vital components of spiritual maturity. The call to first "remove the beam" (Mt 7:5) indicates that self-assessment and repentance are continuous processes. The "eye" here functions as the lamp of the body (Mt 6:22), suggesting that if one's spiritual vision is corrupted, then one's entire moral perception is flawed. This warning is particularly relevant for those who assume roles of spiritual leadership or correction within the community, requiring them to embody the very standards they wish to uphold. It cautions against the human tendency towards moral selective vision.

Matthew 7 4 Commentary

Matthew 7:4 vividly exposes the irrationality of spiritual hypocrisy. Jesus employs hyperbole, contrasting a "mote" (a tiny speck of dust or splinter) with a "beam" (a large construction timber) in the eye, to shock His hearers into recognition of a prevalent human flaw: the propensity to see and criticize small imperfections in others while being utterly blind to colossal failures in oneself.

The "eye" serves as a metaphor for spiritual perception, moral judgment, and the lens through which one views the world and others. If one's own perception is obscured by a "beam" of sin, self-righteousness, or moral blindness, any attempt to correct a "speck" in another becomes not an act of helpful love, but one of arrogant and debilitating hypocrisy. Jesus implies that such a person is not only incapable of providing true assistance but is also dangerous, as they operate from a position of profound self-deception.

This verse does not prohibit all forms of discernment or constructive help but emphatically condemns the judgmental spirit that operates from a position of unacknowledged personal sin. The problem isn't the act of seeing a speck, but the presumption to remove it when one's own vision is fundamentally obstructed by a much larger fault. True and loving correction (as described in Matthew 18:15-17 or Galatians 6:1) can only flow from a humble heart that has first dealt with its own spiritual defects (Mt 7:5). This necessitates rigorous self-examination and repentance, focusing inward on one's own condition before presuming to rectify the state of another. It promotes a path of genuine righteousness that starts with inner purity, leading to humble service rather than self-righteous condemnation.

Examples:

1. A parent harshly scolding a child for a minor untruth, while consistently exaggerating facts themselves or breaking promises.
2. A church member constantly pointing out trivial dress code violations or small errors in worship format, yet holding grudges and refusing to forgive fellow members for years.
3. A leader criticizing a subordinate for a small procedural oversight, while themselves lacking integrity in major ethical decisions or personal conduct.