Matthew 7:3-5 reads as follows.
And why do you look at the speck in your brother’s eye, but do not consider the plank in your own eye? Or how can you say to your brother, “Let me remove the speck from your eye”; and look, a plank is in your own eye? Hypocrite! First remove the plank from your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye. (NKJV)
In place of “plank” in the NKJV, the ESV uses the word “log.” The familiar KJV uses the word “beam.” A “beam” brings to mind the massive, squared trees used a century ago for the interior skeletal structure inside huge dairy barns.
We are to look and to examine ourselves before we concern ourselves about others. We need to look at ourselves before examining how others are living. “Therefore, you are inexcusable, O man, whoever you are who judge, for in whatever you judge another you condemn yourself; for you who judge practice the same things” (Romans 2:1).
What is a speck? The dictionary says a speck is a small discoloration or a spot especially from a stain or decay. It is small like a very tiny spot or a dot. Sometimes we get something like an eyelash in an eye. It is tiny and very painful.
What is a plank? Its definition is a heavy, thick board. It is impossible to fit in one’s eye.
What do these objects, a “speck” or a “plank,” in one’s eye mean? A speck is something very tiny and a plank is something exceptionally large. Christ used these objects in the Sermon on the Mount. When Christ taught lessons, He used things about which people knew so they could understand what He was teaching. He used simple and easy words so He would not be misunderstood. The people did not go away and say, “I wonder what that Jesus meant by what He was saying.”
What is a hypocrite? He or she is a person who puts on a false appearance of religion or a person who acts in contradiction to his or her stated beliefs or feeling. In other words, a hypocrite says one thing and lives another. Hypocrites want people to think more highly of them than they really deserve. Christ used the word hypocrite in Matthew 23:13-15, 23, 25, 27, 29 when talking to the Scribes and Pharisees. We are taught in the Scriptures that our sins will catch up with us, and they will be found out. If not in this world, but for sure in the Day of Judgment our sins will surface if we have not sought forgiveness.
I have heard and thought to myself, “I hope such and such is listening to the sermon.” Instead of thinking of others who need to heed to a Gospel sermon, I should have been examining my life and my heart, not pointing a finger at others. This is what it means to be hypocritical. I do not need to worry about anyone else until I get my life right with the Lord. I need to get the “beam” out of my eye first.
A beam in my eye is much too large for me to see others. I need to work on my own sins and not worry or try to fix someone else until I have made my life right with the Lord. If I have my life right, then I can help others along the way on their journey to Heaven.
Brethren, we need to try to get to Heaven and take as many as we can with us! We cannot be hypocritical and do this work to help others if we ourselves are not right with God. Remember, actions speak louder than words!