And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother’s eye, but considerest not the beam that is in thine own eye?
Parallel translations
- WEB Why do you see the speck that is in your brother’s eye, but don’t consider the beam that is in your own eye?
- BSB Why do you look at the speck in your brother’s eye, but fail to notice the beam in your own eye?
- NKJV And why do you look at the speck in your brother’s eye, but do not consider the plank in your own eye?
- NASB Why do you look at the speck that is in your brother’s eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye?
- NLT “And why worry about a speck in your friend’s eye when you have a log in your own?
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
Why notice a speck in another's eye while ignoring the plank in your own? Jesus exposes the hypocrisy of magnifying others' faults while excusing our own.
Overview
With deliberate exaggeration, Jesus pictures someone fixated on a tiny speck in a neighbor's eye while a great beam protrudes from his own. The image lays bare the hypocrisy of harsh judgment that overlooks one's larger sins. It calls for honest self-examination before any attempt to correct another.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 7
- John 8:7–9So when they continued asking him, he lifted up himself, and said unto them, He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her.
- Gal 6:1Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted.
- Luke 6:41–42And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother’s eye, but perceivest not the beam that is in thine own eye?
- 2 Sam 12:5–6And David’s anger was greatly kindled against the man; and he said to Nathan, As the LORD liveth, the man that hath done this thing shall surely die:
- Luke 18:11The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, God, I thank thee, that I am not as other men are, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican.
- Ps 50:16–21But unto the wicked God saith, What hast thou to do to declare my statutes, or that thou shouldest take my covenant in thy mouth?
- 2 Chr 28:9–10But a prophet of the LORD was there, whose name was Oded: and he went out before the host that came to Samaria, and said unto them, Behold, because the LORD God of your fathers was wroth with Judah, he hath delivered them into your hand, and ye have slain them in a rage that reacheth up unto heaven.
Themes, concepts, people & topics
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Christ at the center
Matthew presents Jesus as the promised King — son of David, son of Abraham — the new Moses and true Israel in whom every prophecy reaches 'that it might be fulfilled.'
How Matthew 7:3 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Greek word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.