Matthew 7:3

Why do you look at the speck in your brother’s eye, but fail to notice the beam in your own eye?

BSB

Parallel translations

4 additional translations

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KJV

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

ASV

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

YLT

`And why dost thou behold the mote that is in thy brother's eye, and the beam that is in thine own eye dost not consider?

DBT

But why lookest thou on the mote that is in the eye of thy brother, but observest not the beam that is in thine eye?

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Commentary voices

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Voices6

On this verse

(Vers. 3-5.) But why do you see the speck in your brother's eye, and not see the beam in your own eye? Or how can you say to your brother, 'Brother, let me remove the speck from your eye,' while the beam is in your own eye? Hypocrite, first remove the beam from your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother's eye. He speaks of those who, while being subject to mortal sin themselves, do not overlook minor sins of their brothers: straining out a gnat and swallowing a camel (Matthew 23).

Jerome· Commentary on Matthew, 420patristic

Related commentary

And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother's eye?.... By "mote" is meant, any little bit of straw, or small splinter of wood, that flies into the eye, and does it damage, hinders its sight, and gives it pain; and designs little sins, comparatively speaking, such as youthful follies, human frailties, and infirmities, inadvertencies and imprudencies; which may be said to be light faults, in comparison of others: and though not to be vindicated, nor continued in, yet not to be severely looked upon and chastised.

John Gill· Exposition of the New Testament (1746-1748)reformed

And why beholdest thou the mote ... - A mote signifies any light substance, as dry chaff, or fine spires of grass or grain. It probably most usually signified the small spiculae or beards on a head of barley or wheat. It is thus placed in opposition to the word beam. Beam - The word used here signifies a large piece of squared timber. The one is an exceedingly small object, the other a large one.

Albert Barnes· Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)evangelical

And why beholdest thou the mote--"splinter," here very well rendered "mote," denoting any small fault. that is in thy brother's eye, but considerest not the beam that is in thine own eye?--denoting the much greater fault which we overlook in ourselves.

Jamieson, Fausset & Brown· Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible, 1871reformed

In particular, why do you open your eyes to any fault of your brother, while you yourself are guilty of a much greater? The mote - The word properly signifies a splinter or shiver of wood.

John Wesley· Explanatory Notes upon the New Testament, 1755evangelical

They were severe upon Christ's disciples for eating with unwashen hands, which was scarcely a mote, while they encouraged men in a contempt of their parents, which was a beam. Pride and uncharitableness are commonly beams in the eyes of those that pretend to be critical and nice in their censures of others.

Matthew Henry· Commentary on the Whole Bible, 1710puritan

Voices on this verse

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Rabbinic commentary

How the Hebraic tradition has read this verse — and Marcus Brown’s own reading of it.

Cross-references

12 linked verses

The verses this one reaches12

John 8:7–9
When they continued to question Him, He straightened up and said to them, “Let him who is without sin among you be the first to cast a stone at her.”
Galatians 6:1
Brothers, if someone is caught in a trespass, you who are spiritual should restore him with a spirit of gentleness. But watch yourself, or you also may be tempted.
Luke 6:41–42
Why do you look at the speck in your brother’s eye, but fail to notice the beam in your own eye?
2 Samuel 12:5–6
David burned with anger against the man and said to Nathan: “As surely as the LORD lives, the man who did this deserves to die!
Luke 18:11
The Pharisee stood by himself and prayed, ‘God, I thank You that I am not like the other men—swindlers, evildoers, adulterers—or even like this tax collector.
Psalms 50:16–21
To the wicked, however, God says, “What right have you to recite My statutes and to bear My covenant on your lips?
2 Chronicles 28:9–10
But a prophet of the LORD named Oded was there, and he went out to meet the army that returned to Samaria. “Look,” he said to them, “because of His wrath against Judah, the LORD, the God of your fathers, has delivered them into your hand. But you have slaughtered them in a rage that reaches up to heaven.
Matthew 15:3
Jesus replied, “And why do you break the command of God for the sake of your tradition?
Mark 10:25
It is easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.”
Mark 7:2
and they saw some of His disciples eating with hands that were defiled—that is, unwashed.
Hosea 4:4
But let no man contend; let no man offer reproof; for your people are like those who contend with a priest.
Mark 2:24
So the Pharisees said to Him, “Look, why are they doing what is unlawful on the Sabbath?”

Cross-references

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The quotation web

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Original language

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The walk8

Where the connections lead

Follow this verse’s cross-references two steps out. Each card is a verse this one points to, and beneath it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several different paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first — the text keeps returning to it. Every stop shows its own words, and every stop is a page.

Through
Galatians 6:1
Brothers, if someone is caught in a trespass, you who are spiritual should restore him with a spirit of gentleness. But watch yourself, or you also may be tempted.
leads to
- Romans 15:1
  We who are strong ought to bear with the shortcomings of the weak and not to please ourselves.
- 2 Timothy 2:25
  He must gently reprove those who oppose him, in the hope that God may grant them repentance leading to a knowledge of the truth.
- 2 Thessalonians 3:15
  Yet do not regard him as an enemy, but warn him as a brother.
- James 5:19–20
  My brothers, if one of you should wander from the truth and someone should bring him back,
- Jude 1:22–23
  And indeed, have mercy on those who doubt;
Through
Luke 18:11
The Pharisee stood by himself and prayed, ‘God, I thank You that I am not like the other men—swindlers, evildoers, adulterers—or even like this tax collector.
leads to
- Matthew 6:5
  And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites. For they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by men. Truly I tell you, they…
- Revelation 3:17
  You say, ‘I am rich; I have grown wealthy and need nothing.’ But you do not realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind, and naked.
- Isaiah 65:5
  They say, ‘Keep to yourself; do not come near me, for I am holier than you!’ Such people are smoke in My nostrils, a fire that burns all day long.

The whole web at once: see the Arc.

Where the connections lead

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