Paragraph 6:41–42

In this paragraph, Jesus continued to challenge his disciples to be good leaders. He stated that a good leader examines his life to makes sure that he obeys all of Jesus’ teachings. The disciple must change any of his attitudes and actions that do not conform to Jesus’ teaching. Only then can the disciple lead others to examine and change their lives.

Jesus used rhetorical questions to emphasize his teaching. He also used a metaphor and exaggeration. The very small piece of wood and the very large beam represent a person’s faults or sins that he should abandon. The exaggerated contrast between something very small and something very large emphasizes what Jesus was saying. It is wrong to condemn a friend for his faults if you have not critically examined and changed your own behavior.

In 6:41–42 Jesus used the singular form of “you.” However, in these verses he gave a general teaching that applies to any disciple. Use appropriate forms in your language for this. You may want to refer to the note on 6:27b–28, which gives suggestions for forms to use for general commands.

6:41a–b

Why do you look at the speck in your brother’s eye, but fail to notice the beam in your own eye?: This is a rhetorical question. Jesus used this rhetorical question to rebuke his disciples. He rebuked them for seeing a small fault in another person’s life and not seeing a large fault in their own life. Jesus was emphasizing that a person’s sins blind him so that he cannot help others. A person who does not examine his own life will be like a blind guide.

Some ways to translate this rebuke are:

• As a rhetorical question. For example:

Why do you notice the little piece of dust in your friend’s eye, but you don’t notice the big piece of wood in your own eye? (New Century Version)

• As a statement or an exclamation. For example:

You can see the speck in your friend’s eye. But you don’t notice the log in your own eye. (Contemporary English Version)
-or-
You should not pay attention to the dust in your brother’s eye while ignoring the plank of wood in your own eye!

Translate this rebuke in a way that is natural in your language.

6:41a

Why do you look at: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as look at is literally “see.” In this context, this word implies that the person does more than “see” the speck of sawdust. He also criticizes him for it.

the speck in your brother’s eye: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as speck refers to a very small bit of wood, straw, or dust. Some other ways to translate this are:

piece of sawdust (God’s Word)
-or-
little piece of dust (New Century Version)

Jesus was using the speck as a metaphor to refer to a small fault or sin of another person. If the meaning of the metaphor is not clear to people in your culture, you could say:

the small faults/sins that your brother does/has, which are like a speck of sawdust in his eye

in your brother’s eye: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates literally as brother’s refers in this context to anyone from the same religious community. It does not refer only to a blood relative. You could use the word “brother” if it can be used in a general sense. Or you may have a general word for everyone from your same community or clan. If not, some other ways to translate this could be:

your friend’s eye (New Living Translation (2004))
-or-
your companion’s/neighbor’s eye
-or-
someone else’s eye

6:41b

but fail to notice: The Greek phrase that the Berean Standard Bible translates as fail to notice means “not consider carefully.” It includes the idea of “you do not see and so you are not aware of.” Some other ways to translate this are:

don’t notice (Contemporary English Version)
-or-
fail to notice (Phillips’ New Testament in Modern English)

the beam in your own eye: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as beam refers to a large, heavy piece of wood. It is usually used as a beam in building a house. Some other ways to translate this word are:

log (Good News Translation)
-or-
plank (New International Version)
-or-
big piece of wood (New Century Version)

Jesus was using the beam as a metaphor to refer to a large fault or sin that a disciple had done. If the meaning of the metaphor is not clear to people in your culture, you could say:

the big faults/sins that you do/have, which are like a beam in your own eye

It is, of course, impossible to have a beam in your eye. Jesus used the exaggerated contrast between something small and something large to emphasize what he was teaching. Jesus was teaching that it is wrong and hypocritical to condemn a friend for his faults if you have not examined and changed your own behavior.

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