Matthew 7:3-4 NIV

The Pulpit Commentary - Matthew 7:1-12

(2) As anxiety about the things of this life hinders us Godwards ( Matthew 6:19-34 ), so does censoriousness manwards ( Matthew 7:1-12 ), our Lord thus tacitly opposing two typically Jewish faults. Censoriousness—the personal danger of having it ( Matthew 7:1 , Matthew 7:2 ), its seriousness as a sign of ignorance and as a hindrance to spiritual vision ( Matthew 7:3-5 ), even though there must be a recognition of great moral differences ( Matthew 7:6 ). Grace to overcome it... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Matthew 7:1-12

Sermon on the mount: 6. Against judging others. This "Judge not, that ye be not judged," comes in unexpectedly, and seems out of its place. But the superficial, ostentatious righteousness which our Lord has been exposing betrays itself in nothing more certainly than in censoriousness. To sigh and shake the head over a sinful world is one of the easiest roads to a reputation for sanctity. The reasons our Lord gives for refraining from judging others are two. 1 . If we judge harshly and... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Matthew 7:1-20

Various practical rules issuing out of the central duty of self-consecration. I. CONDUCT TOWARDS OTHERS . 1 . Gentleness in our estimate of the lives of others. The hypocrites trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and despised others; they made an ostentatious display of their own supposed good deeds, and passed stern judgments on their neighbours. The righteousness of Christ's disciples must exceed that of the Pharisees in both respects. Indeed, Christ's words must not... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Matthew 7:3

Parallel passage: Luke 6:41 . And why —when it is so contrary to common sense— beholdest thou the mote, etc.? A Jewish proverbial saying, e.g. Talm. Bab., 'Bab. Bathra,' 15b, Rabbi Jochanan (third century A.D.),expounding Ruth 1:1 , says, "A generation which when under judgment ( טפשנש ) judgeth its judges. When one saith to a man, Cast out the mote out of thine eyes, he saith (in answer), Cast out the beam out of thine eyes." In Talm. Bab., 'Erach.,' 16 b , "Out of thy teeth"... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Matthew 7:3

Honest self-estimates. It is plain that our Lord's figure is paradoxical. Beams of wood in eyes is quite an impossible conception; and when he spoke of it it must have caused a smile. With a curious realism, the old Bible picture represents a man with a long beam of wood, standing straight out from his eye, and unsupported. Our Lord's teachings require to be read with our faculty of imagination in healthy activity. Probably in this case our Lord used a familiar Jewish proverb, which... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Matthew 7:3-5

The heinousness of censoriousness as a hindrance to one's self and to one's work for others. read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Matthew 7:3-5

The confronting question. The question or questions of these verses arise only too directly out of the matter that immediately precedes. The habit, so human, of sitting in judgment on our fellow-beings is almost invariably aggravated by' other satellite habits, also very human, and that fail to amaze and to shame us only by reason of our too intimate familiarity with them. Thus— I. LITTLE FAULTS IN OTHERS WE SEE VERY LARGE , AND LARGE FAULTS IN OURSELVES WE ... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Matthew 7:4

Parallel passage: Luke 6:42 . Or . A second case is supposed. You may only see the mote or you may offer to remove it. How; with any conscience. Wilt thou say to thy brother, Let me pull out? Let me ( ἄφες , Luke 3:15 ). There is nothing here of the rudeness that so often accompanies censeriousness. Pull out ; Revised Version, cast out ( ἐκβάλω ). The thought is of the completeness, not the method, of the removal (of. Matthew 9:38 ). A beam; the beam (Revised... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Matthew 7:4-6

Reproving. This is kindred to judging, and so these are here closely associated. The Duty of reproving should be discharged with discretion. I. THE REPROVING OF A BROTHER SHOULD BE CONSIDERATE . 1 . Reproof is a precious and holy thing. (a) Saves souls from death (see James 5:19 , James 5:20 ). (b) Frees our souls from the guilt of complicity. (c) Leaves the sinner without excuse. So the fidelity of Noah condemned the antediluvians ( Hebrews 11:7 ). ... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Matthew 7:3

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. The meaning is, that “we are much more quick and acute to judge of small offences in others,... read more

The Pulpit Commentary - Matthew 7:1-12

The Pulpit Commentary - Matthew 7:1-12

The Pulpit Commentary - Matthew 7:1-20

The Pulpit Commentary - Matthew 7:3

The Pulpit Commentary - Matthew 7:3

The Pulpit Commentary - Matthew 7:3-5

The Pulpit Commentary - Matthew 7:3-5

The Pulpit Commentary - Matthew 7:4

The Pulpit Commentary - Matthew 7:4-6

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Matthew 7:3

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