Matthew 7:3 Meaning and Explanation
“And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother's eye, but considerest not the beam that is in thine own eye?”
King James Version (KJV)
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Read Full Chapter →Jesus exposes the absurdity of fixating on a small fault in another while ignoring a far greater one in ourselves.
What Does Matthew 7:3 Mean?
Still teaching on judgment, Jesus paints a vivid and almost comic picture: a tiny speck of sawdust in a neighbor's eye set beside a wooden plank in one's own. His listeners, many of them familiar with the carpenter's trade, would have felt the force of the contrast.
The point cuts to the heart of self-deception. We are quick-eyed to the smallest flaw in others and strangely blind to our own. Jesus does not excuse the speck, but He insists that honest self-examination must come first. Before we presume to correct anyone, we must let God search and humble us.
Matthew 7:3 in the Original Language
karphos (κάρφος), 'mote' -- a tiny dry speck or splinter, contrasted with the great beam.
Frequently Asked Questions About Matthew 7:3
What does Matthew 7:3 mean?
Jesus exposes the absurdity of fixating on a small fault in another while ignoring a far greater one in ourselves.