King James Bible
"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."
Jesus directly addresses those who judge others while ignoring their own faults, using the Greek word that originally meant 'stage actor'—one who wears a mask. This sharp rebuke exposes the pretense of moral superiority while harboring unexamined sin. The hyperbolic image of a wooden beam versus a speck illustrates how our own sins often dwarf those we criticize in others. Jesus commands prioritizing radical self-examination and repentance before attempting to correct anyone else. Only after genuine self-correction can one gain the spiritual clarity and humility needed for constructive help. This transforms judgment into compassionate restoration, where the goal shifts from condemnation to genuinely helping a brother overcome sin.