📖 Biblical Definition
Christ's parable in Matthew 7:3-5 about hypocritical judgment: "why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother's eye, but considerest not the beam that is in thine own eye?" The disproportion is the point: speck (Greek karphos, a tiny chip) vs beam (dokos, a load-bearing rafter). The hypocrite focuses on others' small flaws while ignoring his own large ones. The cure: deal with your own beam first; THEN you can see clearly to help with your brother's speck.
📜 Webster 1828 Definition
Mt 7:3-5: hypocritical judgment; speck vs load-bearing beam.
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Christ's parable in Matthew 7:3-5 (par. Luke 6:41-42) about hypocritical judgment. The disproportion is the point: karphos (a tiny chip, splinter, mote) in the brother's eye versus dokos (a wooden beam, load-bearing rafter, like the main support of a house) in your own eye. The hypocrite focuses on others' small flaws while ignoring his own large ones. The cure is not to refuse helping the brother altogether but to deal with your own beam first — "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." The verse does not abolish discernment; it abolishes hypocritical discernment.
📖 Key Scripture
Matthew 7:3-5 — "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 6:41-42 — "And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother's eye, but perceivest not the beam that is in thine own eye?"
Romans 2:1 — "Therefore thou art inexcusable, O man, whosoever thou art that judgest: for wherein thou judgest another, thou doest the same things."
⚠️ Modern Corruption
Often quoted as "don't judge" abolition; Christ's actual point is hypocritical judgment, not all judgment.
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Matthew 7:1 ("Judge not, that ye be not judged") and Matthew 7:3-5 are often quoted to abolish all moral discernment. But the very next sentence (7:5) ends "and then shalt thou see clearly to cast out the mote out of thy brother's eye" — helping the brother is still appropriate, after dealing with your own beam. Christ abolishes hypocritical judgment, not all judgment.
Recover the precision: deal with your own beam first. THEN help your brother. The order matters; both halves are commanded.
🔗 Greek & Hebrew Roots
Greek karphos vs dokos.
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['Greek', 'G2595', 'karphos', 'speck, mote, splinter']
['Greek', 'G1385', 'dokos', 'beam, rafter']
Usage
"Beam in own eye before mote in brother's."
"Hypocritical judgment abolished, not all judgment."
"First cast out beam; then see clearly to help."