Expositor's Bible Commentary 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)

The “speck of sawdust” could be any bit of foreign matter. The “plank” is obviously colorful hyperbole. Jesus does not say it is wrong to help a fellow Christian remove the speck of dust in his eye, but it is wrong for a person with a “plank” in his eye to offer help. That is sheer hypocrisy . But when a brother in a meek and self-judging spirit (cf. 1 Corinthians 11:31; Galatians 6:1) removes the log in his own eye, he has the responsibility of helping his brother remove his speck (cf. 18:15–20).