In this parable, Jesus begins by instructing his followers, “Judge not, that ye be not judged.” He goes on to illustrate his point with a metaphor: “And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother’s eye, but considerest not the beam that is in thine own eye?” Jesus uses the imagery of a small speck or mote in someone else’s eye compared to a large beam or log in one’s own eye. He emphasizes the hypocrisy of attempting to remove a tiny speck from another person’s eye while having a much larger obstruction in one’s own eye. It highlights the folly of being critical and judgmental of others while neglecting one’s own significant faults. The parable concludes with Jesus advising people to first address the beam in their own eye before attempting to help their brother with the speck in theirs. Jesus teaches that we should refrain from hypocritical judgment and criticism of others.
Parable of the Speck and the Log Meaning
The Parable of the Speck and the Log meaning can be found in Matthew 7:1-5 and Luke 6:37-42:
Matthew 7:1-5
“Judge not, that ye be not judged. For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again. And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother’s eye, but considerest not the beam that is in thine own eye? 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? Thou 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.”
Luke 6:37-42
“Judge not, and ye shall not be judged: condemn not, and ye shall not be condemned: forgive, and ye shall be forgiven: Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom. For with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again. And he spake a parable unto them, Can the blind lead the blind? shall they not both fall into the ditch? The disciple is not above his master: but every one that is perfect shall be as his master. And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother’s eye, but perceivest not the beam that is in thine own eye? 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.”
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