Albert Barnes Commentary Matthew 7:3

"And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother`s eye, but considerest not the beam that is in thine own eye?" — Matthew 7:3 (ASV)

And why beholdest thou the mote, etc. 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 beard on a head of barley or wheat. It is thus placed in opposition to the word beam.

Beam. This word 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 small offences in others, than much larger offences in ourselves. Even a very small object that would hinder another's vision, we would discern much more quickly than a much larger one in our own sight. This was also a proverb in frequent use among the Jews, and the same sentiment was common among the Greeks, and deserves to be expressed in every language.