Parable of the Speck and the Log: Verse, Meaning & Lesson

The Parable of the Speck and the Log is in Matthew 7:1–5 and Luke 6:39–42. Jesus told this parable to warn against the hypocrisy of pointing out the sin in others while ignoring the obvious sin in our own lives.

This guide gives you a complete summary of the Parable of the Speck and the Log, including the verses in Scripture, the meaning, and lessons that can be applied to the Christian life.

Note: This parable is also referred to as the Parable of the Mote and the Beam. Some Bible translations use the word mote instead of speck and beam instead of log. The word plank is also used for log in some translations.

Parable of the Speck and the In Scripture

Matthew 7:1–5 – Parable of the Speck and the Log

“Don’t judge, so that you won’t be judged. For with whatever judgement you judge, you will be judged; and with whatever measure you measure, it will be measured to you. Why do you see the speck that is in your brother’s eye, but don’t consider the beam that is in your own eye? Or how will you tell your brother, ‘Let me remove the speck from your eye,’ and behold, the beam is in your own eye? You hypocrite! First remove the beam out of your own eye, and then you can see clearly to remove the speck out of your brother’s eye.”

Read Matthew 7

Luke 6:39–42 – Parable of the Speck and the Log

He spoke a parable to them. “Can the blind guide the blind? Won’t they both fall into a pit? A disciple is not above his teacher, but everyone when he is fully trained will be like his teacher. Why do you see the speck of chaff that is in your brother’s eye, but don’t consider the beam that is in your own eye? Or how can you tell your brother, ‘Brother, let me remove the speck of chaff that is in your eye,’ when you yourself don’t see the beam that is in your own eye? You hypocrite! First remove the beam from your own eye, and then you can see clearly to remove the speck of chaff that is in your brother’s eye.”

Read Luke 6

Parable of the Speck and the Log Meaning

This parable means you should not judge the flaw (sin) of another person while ignoring the obvious sin in your own life. Jesus warns against this hypocrisy by first examining ourselves and removing our own sin (log) before we can judge or correct the sin in others (speck).

Parable of the Speck and the Log Meaning Lessons

Do Not Be Quick to Judge Others

Jesus warns us not to judge others, or we will be judged by the same measure. We should not be quick to assume that we know the motives or intentions of others, or that we are better than them when spotting sin in their lives. A major lesson of this parable is that we should remember that we are all sinners in need of God’s grace and should give that same grace to others.

Examine Yourself Before Criticizing Others

Jesus reminds us to examine the sin in our own lives before criticizing the sin in others. In some ways, you may be committing a similar sin that is not as obvious without self-reflection, or you may be sinning in more areas than your brother or sister in Christ. We should not be hypocritical or self-righteous, but rather humble and honest. As Jesus said in John 8:7, “let he who is without sin cast the first stone.”

Help Others With Their Faults In a Loving Way

Although we should not be quick to judge others, this parable does not mean we should ignore or tolerate sin in ourselves or others. We should not condemn or ridicule others for their flaws but rather help them with compassion and kindness so they can work toward confession and repentance. We should also be open to receiving loving correction from others who care for us.

Seek God’s Wisdom for Guidance

We should always seek God’s counsel on how to respond to the sin we see in the lives of other Christians. We should not solely rely on our own instincts or opinions on what to say to that person but rather seek God’s guidance and direction through prayer. Then, trust that He will give us the wisdom on how to respond in a way that is beneficial for them and us.

Be Humble and Merciful

Jesus makes it clear that the final judgement of sin is to be done by God the Father, and humans should concern themselves with making their own souls ready for acceptance into the Kingdom of Heaven by rooting out their own sins. Therefore, we should be humble and merciful to others during their journey through life as Christians because we all have struggles with sin that require the help of God.

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Summary of the Parable of the Speck and the Log

We hope you enjoyed this summary of the Parable of the Speck and the Log.

As you discovered, the Parable of the Speck and the Log appears in two Scriptures: Matthew 7:1–5 and Luke 6:39–42. And the primary meaning of the parable is to warn against the hypocrisy of pointing out the sin in others while ignoring the obvious sin in our own lives. The life lessons include not being quick to judge others, examining yourself before criticizing others, helping others with their faults in a loving way, seeking God’s wisdom for guidance, and being humble and merciful to other Christians who struggle with sin.

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