Sermon on Mount, law and fulfillment, visible and hidden, temporary and permanent, criticism and acceptance
Matthew 7:5 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.
Matthew 7:5 You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye.
You actor! First toss out that wooden beam from that eye of yours; and then you might see clearly to toss out the sawdust from the eye of that brother of yours.
Criticizing others is a form of virtue signaling. We must perfect ourselves before we can criticize others.
The word "hypocrite" actually means "actor." Jesus has used this word before but only in the context of showing off by virtual signaling. Its used here lumps criticizing others as a form of virtue signaling.This has not been clear until this verse because Jesus did not use the same phrases he used when discussing the other forms of virtue signaling: charity, public prayer, and fasting,
Sight is Jesus's metaphor for understanding. Light is his metaphor for knowledge and information. The idea of something in your eye is used an illustration of not being able to see.
- UW - Untranslated Word -- The word "hypocrite" means "actor." It is the untranslated Greek word adopted into English.
- MW - Missing Word -- The word "the" before "eye" is not shown in the English translation.
- IW - Inserted Word -- The word "own" doesn't exist in the source.
- CW - Confusing Word -- The "shall" does not mean the future tense.
- MW - Missing Word -- The word "the" before "brothers" is not shown in the English translation.
- UW - Untranslated Word -- The word "hypocrite" means "actor." It is the untranslated Greek word adopted into English.
- WW - Wrong Word -- The word translated as "take" should be "take out."
- MW - Missing Word -- The word "the" before "eye" is not shown in the English translation.
- IW - Inserted Word -- The word "own" doesn't exist in the source.
- WW - Wrong Word -- The word translated as "will" should be "might."
- CW - Confusing Word -- The "remove" is the same word translated as "take" above.
- MW - Missing Word -- The word "the" before "brothers" is not shown in the English translation.
Thou - The word "thou" does not appear in any Greek source. It is added because the following word is in the form of an address to the listening.
hypocrite, - UW) The Greek for "hypocrite" means only "actor." Today, we might say "faker" or "poser." It is a great example of a word that has taken its English meaning from how it is used in the Bible rather than the original Greek. Its literal meaning, "under separation," describes the separation between what is said and reality. Interestingly enough, it also means "interpreter," which is another separation between what is said and reality.
first - - The word translated as "first" takes a lot of different types of "first" meanings from its context. Here, it is technically an adjective but it plays the role of the English adverb "initially."
cast out - "Cast out" is a verb that means "throw out." Depending on the context, it can mean "toss out", "turn out," or "take out." It is usually translated as "cast out" in the NT.
the -- The word translated as "the" is the Greek definite article. The Greek article is much closer to our demonstrative pronouns ("this", "that", "these", "those") that the English "the." See this article for more.
beam - The term translated as "beam" means the main bearing beam in a house that holds up the roof or floor but also covers any stick of wood. It is perhaps meaningful that it is the term for the bar on a door.
out of - The Greek preposition translated as "of" means "out of" of "from." In Greek, they use the genitive case instead of a preposition for the types of phrases with usually use with "of."
thine -- The word translated as "thine" is the genitive form of the singular, second-person pronoun, which is most commonly the possessive form. This pronoun follows the noun so "of yours."
missing "the" -- (MW) The untranslated word is the Greek definite article, "the." The Greek article is much closer to our demonstrative pronouns ("this", "that", "these", "those"). See this article for more.
own -- (IW) There is nothing that can be translated as "it" in the Greek source.
eye; -- The Greek word for "eye" is the more technical terms for "eye" but it also means "sight". In Greek, an eye is a metaphor for comfort and cheer.
and -- The Greek word translated as "and" is used as the conjunction "and", but it also is used to add emphasis ("also"). In a series, it is best translated as "not only...but also." After words implying sameness "as".
then -- The Greek word for "then" means "at this time" or "then".
shalt -- (CW) This helping verb "shall" does not indicate the future tense, but that the verb describes a possibility, the subjunctive voice. A "might" or "should" in English is more appropriate, but is assumed in an "if/when/whoever/except" clause. Helping verbs are not needed in Greek since the main verb carries this information in its form.
thou -- This is from the second-person, singular form of the verb.
see clearly - The Greek word translated as "Shall thou see clearly" means literally "see through." It is not in the future tense, but the aorist which means something that takes place at some point of time.
to -- This "to" is added because the infinitive form of the verb requires a "to" in English.
cast out - "Cast out" is a verb that means "throw out." Depending on the context, it can mean "toss out", "turn out," or "take out." It is usually translated as "cast out" in the NT.
the -- The word translated as "the" is the Greek definite article. The Greek article is much closer to our demonstrative pronouns ("this", "that", "these", "those") that the English "the." See this article for more.
mote - The Greek term translated as "mote" means something small like "twig", "straw," or "chaff." These terms, especially "chaff" have the sense of "trash", "rubbish," and "remains."
out of - The Greek preposition translated as "of" means "out of" of "from." In Greek, they use the genitive case instead of a preposition for the types of phrases with usually use with "of."
thy -- The word translated as "thy" is the genitive form of the singular, second-person pronoun, which is most commonly the possessive form. This pronoun follows the noun so "of yours."
missing "the" -- (MW) The untranslated word is the Greek definite article, "the." The Greek article is much closer to our demonstrative pronouns ("this", "that", "these", "those"). See this article for more.
brother's -- The word translated as "brother" means a biological brother, any kinsmen, and more broadly and friend or associate.
eye. -- The Greek word for "eye" is the more technical terms for "eye" but it also means "sight". In Greek, an eye is a metaphor for comfort and cheer.
You - The word "you" does not appear in any Greek source. It is added because the following word is in the form of an address to the listening.
hypocrite, - UW) The Greek for "hypocrite" means only "actor." Today, we might say "faker" or "poser." It is a great example of a word that has taken its English meaning from how it is used in the Bible rather than the original Greek. Its literal meaning, "under separation," describes the separation between what is said and reality. Interestingly enough, it also means "interpreter," which is another separation between what is said and reality.
first - - The word translated as "first" takes a lot of different types of "first" meanings from its context. Here, it is technically an adjective but it plays the role of the English adverb "initially."
take - (WW) "Take" is a verb that means "throw out." Depending on the context, it can mean "toss out", "turn out," or "take out." It is usually translated as "cast out" in the NT. However, it doesn't mean
"take" without the "out." The "out" below is from a preposition, not the verb.
the -- The word translated as "the" is the Greek definite article. The Greek article is much closer to our demonstrative pronouns ("this", "that", "these", "those") that the English "the." See this article for more.
plank - The term translated as "plank" means the main bearing beam in a house that holds up the roof or floor but also covers any stick of wood. It is perhaps meaningful that it is the term for the bar on a door.
out of - The Greek preposition translated as "of" means "out of" of "from." In Greek, they use the genitive case instead of a preposition for the types of phrases with usually use with "of."
your -- The word translated as "your " is the genitive form of the singular, second-person pronoun, which is most commonly the possessive form. This pronoun follows the noun so "of yours."
missing "the" -- (MW) The untranslated word is the Greek definite article, "the." The Greek article is much closer to our demonstrative pronouns ("this", "that", "these", "those"). See this article for more.
own -- (IW) There is nothing that can be translated as "it" in the Greek source.
eye; -- The Greek word for "eye" is the more technical terms for "eye" but it also means "sight". In Greek, an eye is a metaphor for comfort and cheer.
and -- The Greek word translated as "and" is used as the conjunction "and", but it also is used to add emphasis ("also"). In a series, it is best translated as "not only...but also." After words implying sameness "as".
then -- The Greek word for "then" means "at this time" or "then".
you -- This is from the second-person, singular form of the verb.
will -- (WW) This helping verb "will" does not indicate the future tense, but that the verb describes a possibility, the subjunctive voice. A "might" or "should" in English is more appropriate, but is assumed in an "if/when/whoever/except" clause. Helping verbs are not needed in Greek since the main verb carries this information in its form.
see clearly - The Greek word translated as "Shall thou see clearly" means literally "see through." It is not in the future tense, but the aorist which means something that takes place at some point of time.
to -- This "to" is added because the infinitive form of the verb requires a "to" in English.
see clearly to the speck from your brother’s eye.
remove - (CW) "Remove" is a verb that means "throw out." Depending on the context, it can mean "toss out", "turn out," or "take out." It is usually translated as "cast out" in the NT.
the -- The word translated as "the" is the Greek definite article. The Greek article is much closer to our demonstrative pronouns ("this", "that", "these", "those") that the English "the." See this article for more.
mote - The Greek term translated as "mote" means something small like "twig", "straw," or "chaff." These terms, especially "chaff" have the sense of "trash", "rubbish," and "remains."
out of - The Greek preposition translated as "of" means "out of" of "from." In Greek, they use the genitive case instead of a preposition for the types of phrases with usually use with "of."
thy -- The word translated as "thy" is the genitive form of the singular, second-person pronoun, which is most commonly the possessive form. This pronoun follows the noun so "of yours."
missing "the" -- (MW) The untranslated word is the Greek definite article, "the." The Greek article is much closer to our demonstrative pronouns ("this", "that", "these", "those"). See this article for more.
brother's -- The word translated as "brother" means a biological brother, any kinsmen, and more broadly and friend or associate.
eye. -- The Greek word for "eye" is the more technical terms for "eye" but it also means "sight". In Greek, an eye is a metaphor for comfort and cheer.
ὑποκριτά, (noun sg masc voc) "Thou hypocrite" is from hypokrites means "interpreter" or "actor."
ἔκβαλε (2nd sg aor imperat act) "Cast out" is from ekballo and means "throw out", "cast out of a place,"and "expose." Ek means "out of", "from," and "away from." Ballo is "to throw" or "to scatter."
πρῶτον (adj sg neut nom ) "First" is from protos. In place, this means "the foremost." Of time, it means "the initial." In order, it means "the first." In math, it means the prime numbers. Of rank or degree, it means "the highest" or "the best." -
ἐκ (prep) "Out of" is from ek, which means 1) [of motion] "out of", "from", "by", "away from;" 2) [of place] "beyond", "outside of", "beyond;" 3) [of succession] "after", "from;" 4) [of rest] "on", "in," 5) [of time] "since", "from", "at", "in;" 5) [of materials] "out of", "made from."
τοῦ -- (article) Untranslated is the Greek definite article, hos, ("the").
ὀφθαλμοῦ (noun sg masc gen ) "Eye" is from ophthalmos, which means "eye", "sight", "the dearest and best", "light", "cheer", "comfort," and "the bud [of a plant]."
σοῦ (pron 2nd sg gen ) "Thy" is from sou which means "you" and "your."
τὴν (article sg fem acc) "The" is the Greek definite article, hos, ("the").
δοκόν, (noun sg fem acc) "Beam" is from dokos, which means "bearing-beam", "main beam", "plank", "support", "beam", "strut", "brace", "firewood", "bar [of a gate or door]," and "a kind of meteor." --
καὶ (conj) "And" is from kai, which is the conjunction joining phrases and clauses, "and," or "but." After words implying sameness, "as" (the same opinion as you). Used in series, joins positive with negative "Not only...but also." Also used to give emphasis, "even", "also," and "just."
τότε (adv) "Then" is from tote, which means "at that time" and "then."
διαβλέψεις (2nd sg aor subj act ) "Shall thou see clearly" is from diablepo, which means "stare with eyes wide open", "to look through", "see through," and "see clearly."
ἐκβαλεῖν (aor inf act) "Cast out" is from ekballo and means "throw out", "cast out of a place,"and "expose." Ek means "out of", "from," and "away from." Ballo is "to throw" or "to scatter."
τὸ - The word translated as "the" is the Greek definite article. The Greek article is much closer to our demonstrative pronouns ("this", "that", "these", "those") that the English "the." See this article for more.
κάρφος (noun sg neut nom ) "Mote" is from karphos, which means "any small dry body", "dry stalk", "dry twigs", "chips," "chaff," "straws", "bits of wool", "toothpick", "a small piece of wood on which the watchword was written," and "ripe fruit[plural],." -
ἐκ (prep) "Out of" is from ek, which means 1) [of motion] "out of", "from", "by", "away from;" 2) [of place] "beyond", "outside of", "beyond;" 3) [of succession] "after", "from;" 4) [of rest] "on", "in," 5) [of time] "since", "from", "at", "in;" 5) [of materials] "out of", "made from."
τοῦ (article sg masc gen) Untranslated is the Greek definite article, hos, ("the").
ὀφθαλμοῦ (noun sg masc gen ) "Eye" is from ophthalmos, which means "eye", "sight", "the dearest and best", "light", "cheer", "comfort," and "the bud [of a plant]."
τοῦ - (article sg masc gen) Untranslated is the Greek definite article, hos, ("the").
ἀδελφοῦ (noun sg masc gen ) "Brother's" is adelphos,which means "son of the same mother", "kinsman", "colleague", "associate," and "brother."
σου. (pron 2nd sg gen ) "Thy" is from sou which means "you" and "your."
A play on the double meaning of "eye" and "sight" with two different perspectives on how our vision is blocked.
The word for "beam" means a beam for barring a door.
The phrase "cast out the mote" also means "to toss out the rubbish."
Eleasar laughed. Copying the Master, he covered his own eye with one of his forearms and waved it.
“You actor!” the Nazarene said in mock horror.
We laughed and applauded.
The plump baker took a little bow, still waving the arm covering his eye.
“Toss out, first, out of that eye of yours,” the Teacher then continued, removing his forearm from his eye, “that roof beam!”
The baker copied him, removing his arm from his eye. The Master smiled and nodded to him.
“And then you might see clearly,” continued the Teacher happily, looking around and blinking, “to toss out that speck from that eye of that brother of yours!”
He made his throwing-out-the-trash gesture.
The baker copied the gesture.
His mimicking the gesture won our applause.
Then the two embraced, and the Nazarene sent the baker back into the crowd.