Matthew 7: See the plank!

Major Ian Mountford regards judgement as no laughing matter.

Key texts

• Matthew 7:1–5

Have you seen the 1967 slapstick film The Plank, starring Eric Sykes and Tommy Cooper? It presents the story of two hapless builders trying to transport a long, wooden plank across a town. The comedy lies in them being completely oblivious to the chaos they cause with this massive object. They are focused on distractions and their destination, blind to the disruption trailing behind them. This absurd scenario mirrors Jesus’ teaching in our study passage.

Jesus warns against judging others while ignoring our own faults. Like the builders with their plank, we often fail to see what’s right in front of us – our own shortcomings – while fixating on the flaws in others. I consider Matthew 7:1–5 to be a key moment in the Sermon on the Mount. In these verses, Jesus addresses the dangers of hypocritical judgement with hyperbolic humour not dissimilar to the behaviour of Sykes and Cooper – it could be entitled ‘The Plank v the Speck’.

It may have drawn laughter, but its aim was provocative: Jesus sought to point out the ‘plank’ in people’s thoughts on judgement and hypocrisy. However, while it is direct teaching, it’s not a blanket prohibition against discernment or correction: only a few verses later are we encouraged to judge, and to be wise in our judgement. Jesus says: ‘You can identify them by their fruit, that is, by the way they act’ (Matthew 7:16 New Living Translation).

Jesus speaks of our need for self-awareness, humility and grace, and calls us to spiritual discernment in place of judgement. He warns that the measure we use to judge others will be used against us: ‘in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you’ (vv1 and 2).

Jesus uses vivid imagery – the plank in our own eye versus the speck in another’s – to highlight the absurdity and danger of hypocrisy. Let’s face it, the things that bother us most are often the habits we dislike in ourselves but fail to name. Often, we are all too ready to criticise others without checking first whether or not that same criticism applies to ourselves.

Instead, we hide our own faults and highlight those of others. The Greek word Jesus uses for ‘hypocrite’ (v5) literally means ‘actor’ or ‘mask-wearer’ – someone pretending to be righteous while hiding serious flaws. This kind of judgement is performative, not restorative. It elevates self at the expense of others and is a recurring theme in Jesus’ teaching.

Jesus’ call to correction is not one of judgement, but one of personal repentance, forgiveness and discipleship.

Pause and reflect

• What does the image of a plank in your eye reveal about the nature of self-deception?
• Recall a time when you were quick to judge someone else. In the future, how might you behave differently?
• As disciples of Jesus, what helps us become more aware of our own blind spots?

There are other passages in Scripture that help deepen our understanding of how we are apt to judge others, reinforcing Jesus’ call to examine our own hearts before pointing fingers. In Luke 18:9–14, the Pharisee and the tax collector present a contrast in self-righteousness and humility. In John 8:1–11, people harshly judge a woman caught in adultery but Jesus exposes the hypocrisy of her accusers. In Romans 2:1–4, the apostle Paul warns against judging others while doing the same things ourselves.

Pause and reflect

• How do you define hypocrisy?
• Why do you think Jesus challenges us on how we judge others?
• How might hypocrisy be evident in our lives or communities?

A tiny speck in the eye can cause immense discomfort. If you’ve ever had something small – translated in the King James Version as ‘mote’ (v3) – in your eye, you know about it. You don’t need others to point it out!

Those grappling with personal struggles are often painfully aware of them. They might welcome help, but only from someone who approaches with humility, not hypocrisy. The size of the plank – likely a beam used in construction – underscores the scale of the problem. It’s not just about faults – it’s about the blindness that comes from ignoring them.

In Hebrews 12:2, we are reminded to fix our eyes on Jesus. That is one of the great privileges of discipleship. Each of us can come to the great optician – Jesus. He makes himself available to us and simply invites us to lift our eyes towards him and allow him to undertake any necessary work of irrigation. After all, that is his mission and his ministry. Jesus sees each speck and offers the solution.

Jesus is not only Judge of all, but also Lord of all. John the Baptist testifies to this when he is preaching by the River Jordan and, as Jesus approaches, tells his listeners: ‘Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!’ (John 1:29).

Pause and reflect

• What practices help you fix your eyes on Jesus?
• What might Jesus need to remove from your eyes?

We need to consider how we can support one another in growing in Christ-centred self-awareness and humility. Perhaps we need to ask Jesus to thoroughly irrigate our eyes and remove whatever blocks our vision or hinders our walk with him.

Join me in a prayer attributed to Richard of Chichester: ‘Day by day, dear Lord, of thee three things I pray: to see thee more clearly, to love thee more dearly, to follow thee more nearly, day by day.’