Luke 6:42 Meaning and Explanation
“Either how canst thou say to thy brother, Brother, let me pull out the mote that is in thine eye, when thou thyself beholdest not the beam that is in thine own eye? Thou hypocrite, cast out first the beam out of thine own eye, and then shalt thou see clearly to pull out the mote that is in thy brother’s eye.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →Before offering to remove a brother's speck, Jesus says, first cast the beam out of your own eye; then you will see clearly to help.
What Does Luke 6:42 Mean?
Jesus presses the picture into speech: 'Brother, let me pull out the mote that is in thine eye' — spoken by a man blind behind his own beam. The word for such a person is 'hypocrite,' the Greek term for a stage actor: someone playing the part of a helper while avoiding his own healing.
Notice that Jesus does not cancel the speck-removal; he re-orders it. First the beam, then — 'then shalt thou see clearly' — the gentle service of a brother's eye. Honest repentance is what qualifies us to help, because it teaches both humility and the delicacy that eyes require. Cleansed sight exists to serve love, never superiority.
Luke 6:42 in the Original Language
hypokrites (ὑποκριτής), 'hypocrite' -- a stage actor, one who plays a part behind a mask.
Frequently Asked Questions About Luke 6:42
What does Luke 6:42 mean?
Before offering to remove a brother's speck, Jesus says, first cast the beam out of your own eye; then you will see clearly to help.