Matthew 7:5

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 7:4-6

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

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Matthew 7:5

Parallel passage: Luke 6:42 . Thou hypocrite ( Matthew 6:2 , note). The thought here is of the personation of a part (a man free from impediment in his vision)which does not belong to you. First cast out the beam out of thine own eye, In Luke 6:3 the order of the words lays the emphasis on "thine;" here, on the eye. It is in thine eye, of all places, that the beam now is. And then shalt thou see clearly to cast out the mote out of thy brother's eye . Surely a promise as well as a... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Matthew 7:5

Thou hypocrite, first cast out ... - Christ directs us to the proper way of forming an opinion of ethers, and of reproving and correcting them. By first amending our own faults, or casting the beam out of our eye, we can “consistently” advance to correct the faults of others. There will then be no hypocrisy in our conduct. We shall also “see clearly” to do it. The beam, the thing that obscured our sight, will be removed, and we shall more clearly discern the “small” object that obscures the... read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Matthew 7:3-5

Matthew 7:3-5. And why beholdest thou the mote, &c. In particular, why do you open your eyes to any fault of your brother, while you yourself are guilty of a much greater? The word καρφος , here rendered mote, according to Hesychius, may signify a little splinter of wood. This, and the beam, its opposite, were proverbially used by the Jews to denote, the one, small infirmities, the other, gross, palpable faults. And how wilt thou say, &c. With what face can you undertake to... read more

Donald C. Fleming

Bridgeway Bible Commentary - Matthew 7:1-6

43. Judging others (Matthew 7:1-6; Luke 6:37-42)People who continually find fault with others only invite judgment upon themselves, both from their fellows and from God. In pointing to the faults in others, they attract attention to themselves. They too have faults, and though they themselves may be unaware of them, other people see them very clearly (Matthew 7:1-5).Nevertheless, there is a kind of judgment that is necessary. Those who present the gospel must be able to judge the difference... read more

James Burton Coffman

Coffman Commentaries on the Bible - Matthew 7:5

Thou hypocrite, cast out first the beam out of thine own eye; and then shalt thou see clearly to cast out the mote out of thy brother's eye.This shows that Christ does not minimize any moral fault, however tiny. It is implicit in the comparison that the mote should be cast out of the eye. Tiny as it is, it may not be accepted lightly. Surely, this is an inspired metaphor. Judging and disposing of the faults of others is: (1) dangerous, (2) hypocritical, and (3) futile. If one would truly aid... read more

Thomas Coke

Thomas Coke Commentary on the Holy Bible - Matthew 7:5

Matthew 7:5. Thou hypocrite— As by the eye we judge of things relating to the body, so by the understanding we judge of things pertaining to the soul. You may therefore lay this down as fixed and certain, that the more grace and holiness you yourself possess, the better will you be able to judge of your brother's faults; and the better qualified, both in point of skill and authority, to reclaim him through the grace of God. Your judgment of his character and actions will be so much the more... read more

Robert Jamieson; A. R. Fausset; David Brown

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible - Matthew 7:5

5. Thou hypocrite—"Hypocrite." first cast out the beam out of thine own eye; and then shalt thou see clearly to cast out the mote out of thy brother's eye—Our Lord uses a most hyperbolical, but not unfamiliar figure, to express the monstrous inconsistency of this conduct. The "hypocrisy" which, not without indignation, He charges it with, consists in the pretense of a zealous and compassionate charity, which cannot possibly be real in one who suffers worse faults to lie uncorrected in himself.... read more

Thomas Constable

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - Matthew 7:1-5

The disciple’s relationship to brethren 7:1-5 (cf. Luke 6:37-42)Jesus first laid down a principle (Matthew 7:1). Then He justified this principle theologically (Matthew 7:2). Finally He provided an illustration (Matthew 7:3-5). read more

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