Matthew 7:4 Meaning and Explanation
“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?”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →It is hypocrisy to offer to remove a small fault from another while a far larger one blinds us.
What Does Matthew 7:4 Mean?
Jesus presses the image further. He imagines the would-be helper stepping close, offering to pick the speck from a brother's eye, all while a plank juts from his own. The scene is meant to be heard as both ridiculous and sobering.
The folly is not in wanting to help, but in being unfit to do so. A person blinded by his own unaddressed sin cannot see clearly enough to aid anyone. Jesus calls us to recognize how our own faults disqualify our self-righteous corrections, and to come humbly before we come helpfully.
Frequently Asked Questions About Matthew 7:4
What does Matthew 7:4 mean?
It is hypocrisy to offer to remove a small fault from another while a far larger one blinds us.