Devine Scripture

Matthew 7:5

What does Matthew 7:5 mean?

A plain-English look at Matthew 7:5 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.

What Matthew 7:5 means

Jesus directly labels the person who judges others while ignoring their own faults as a 'hypocrite.' He then issues a clear command: first, remove the significant sin ('beam') from your own life. Only after this self-examination and repentance will one gain the clarity and moral authority necessary to genuinely help another person with their smaller issue ('mote'). This teaching emphasizes the priority of personal holiness and humility as prerequisites for effective ministry and true discernment. It's a call to genuine self-purification before attempting to fix others.

Parallel translations

WEB

World English Bible · 2000

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.

KJV

King James Version · 1611

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.

ASV

American Standard Version · 1901

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.

BBE

Bible in Basic English · 1949

You false one, first take out the bit of wood from your eye, then will you see clearly to take out the grain of dust from your brother's eye.

YLT

Young's Literal Translation · 1862

Hypocrite, cast out first the beam out of thine own eye, and then thou shalt see clearly to cast out the mote out of thy brother's eye.

DRA

Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752

Thou hypocrite, cast out first the beam out of thy own eye, and then shalt thou see to cast out the mote out of thy brother's eye.

DBY

Darby Bible · 1890

Hypocrite, cast out first the beam out of thine eye, and then thou wilt see clearly to cast out the mote out of the eye of thy brother.

Context

This verse provides the culminating command in the 'mote and beam' discourse, directly addressing the 'hypocrite.' It transitions from illustrating the problem to offering the solution: repentance and self-correction. This command marks a shift in the Sermon on the Mount from solely diagnosing issues to providing practical steps for righteous living, setting the stage for further instructions on discernment and righteous action in the verses that follow.

v.4Or how wilt thou say to thy brother, Let me cast out the mote out of thine eye; and lo, the beam is in thine own eye?

v.5This passage

v.6Give not that which is holy unto the dogs, neither cast your pearls before the swine, lest haply they trample them under their feet, and turn and rend you.

Cross references

Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.

  • Luke 12:56

    Ye hypocrites, ye know how to interpret the face of the earth and the heaven; but how is it that ye know not how to interpret this time?

  • Luke 6:42

    Or how canst thou say to thy brother, Brother, let me cast 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 cast out the mote that is in thy brother’s eye.

  • Matthew 22:18

    But Jesus perceived their wickedness, and said, Why make ye trial of me, ye hypocrites?

  • Matthew 23:13

    But woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! because ye shut the kingdom of heaven against men: for ye enter not in yourselves, neither suffer ye them that are entering in to enter.

  • Luke 4:23

    And he said unto them, Doubtless ye will say unto me this parable, Physician, heal thyself: whatsoever we have heard done at Capernaum, do also here in thine own country.

  • Psalms 51:9

    Hide thy face from my sins, And blot out all mine iniquities.

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