Matthew Henry Commentary Matthew 7:1-6

"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 unto you. 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 cast out the mote out of thine eye; and lo, the beam 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 out of thy brother`s eye. Give 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." — Matthew 7:1-6 (ASV)

We must judge ourselves and judge our own acts, but not make our word a law for everyone. We must not judge rashly, nor pass judgment on our brother without any basis. We must not assume the worst of people. This is a just reproof to those who quarrel with their brothers for small faults, while they allow themselves greater ones.

Some sins are like motes, while others are like beams; some like a gnat, others like a camel. Not that any sin is small; if it is a mote, or splinter, it is in the eye; if a gnat, it is in the throat. Both are painful and dangerous, and we cannot be at ease or well until they are removed. What charity teaches us to call merely a splinter in our brother's eye, true repentance and godly sorrow will teach us to call a beam in our own.

It is as strange that a person can be in a sinful, miserable condition and not be aware of it, as that a person should have a beam in their eye and not notice it; but the god of this world blinds their minds. This is a good rule for reprovers: first reform yourself.