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What Do These Bible Verses Mean To You?

ChristineES

Tiggerism
Premium Member
I am wondering what both theists and atheists, both Christians and nonChristians think of the following verses. Although I believe they speak for themselves, I want to see if there is something about them that I may not have thought of. It's true they are out of context, but I don't think the meaning would really change even if you read them in context. It is MKJV (Modern King James Version).



Matthew 7:3 And why do you look on the splinter that is in your brother's eye, but do not consider the beam that is in your own eye?
Matthew 7:4 Or how will you say to your brother, Let me pull the splinter out of your eye; and, behold, a beam is in your own eye?
Matthew 7:5 Hypocrite! First cast the beam out of your own eye, and then you shall see clearly to cast the splinter out of your brother's eye.
 

dyanaprajna2011

Dharmapala
From a simple reading, without trying to add any bias or interpretation to it, it seems to me that it's saying, don't look upon another persons small sin, when you have such larger sins to deal with. Deal with your own sins first, and then deal with the other person's sin. Which, makes no sense. Doesn't that chapter start off "Judge not, lest ye be judged"? These verses here are almost indicating that, it's ok to judge as long as there is nothing in your life to be judged in return.
 

elmarna

Well-Known Member
Wanting someone to "see", is a avenue we all take so that the undestanding is embraced.
I respond to it in a good way is to consider that you as well must see it in a reasonable manner.
If you are not seeing in a wise way you can not point out to your brother nothing more than another unwise way to see. Blinded to the world in truths to realize ccan never let us "see" the truths that is what will let us realize and see clearly!
 

Skwim

Veteran Member
Good advice, like "measure twice, cut once," or "Choose a job you love, and you will never have to work a day in your life."

 

Madhuri

RF Goddess
Staff member
Premium Member
Well I don't think it's literal, lol. The splinter might represent a 'blindness' or ignorance. The use of the word 'beam' confuses me. But it seems the verse is telling us about how we see faults in other people and we tell them what they should think of be aware of but we are hypocrites, because we also are not aware without realising it. Instead of worrying about what others cannot see, we should try to improve ourselves.
 

Pegg

Jehovah our God is One
its part of our human nature to go easy on ourselves and our own mistakes, but to get on edge at other peoples mistakes. Jesus doesnt want us to get uptight and personal about other peoples mistakes....he wants us to focus on our own shortfalls and work on them.
 

Susan_jane

New Member
Every human being has spirituality. He believes in what he does and what he going to do. "Bible" it means as how we believe in god.
 

McBell

Resident Sourpuss
From a simple reading, without trying to add any bias or interpretation to it, it seems to me that it's saying, don't look upon another persons small sin, when you have such larger sins to deal with. Deal with your own sins first, and then deal with the other person's sin. Which, makes no sense. Doesn't that chapter start off "Judge not, lest ye be judged"? These verses here are almost indicating that, it's ok to judge as long as there is nothing in your life to be judged in return.
The judge not lest ye be judged is not a command to not judge.
It is a warning that the standards with which you use to judge others will be the same standards used to judge you.
 

dyanaprajna2011

Dharmapala
The judge not lest ye be judged is not a command to not judge.
It is a warning that the standards with which you use to judge others will be the same standards used to judge you.

That's an interesting way at looking at it. Matter of fact, that view goes along with things Paul has said, such as to judge what is good, etc.
 

4consideration

*
Premium Member
The judge not lest ye be judged is not a command to not judge.
It is a warning that the standards with which you use to judge others will be the same standards used to judge you.

I looks to me that the instruction actually involves a choice between the two -- that you can avoid judgment simply by not creating it for yourself. But, if you do it, you set the standard for it by that which you use.

(This is wording I am referring to in the version I have) Matthew 7:

1 If you want to avoid judgment, stop passing judgment.
2 Your verdict on others will be the verdict passed on you. The measure with which you measure will be used to measure you.
 

4consideration

*
Premium Member
I am wondering what both theists and atheists, both Christians and nonChristians think of the following verses. Although I believe they speak for themselves, I want to see if there is something about them that I may not have thought of. It's true they are out of context, but I don't think the meaning would really change even if you read them in context. It is MKJV (Modern King James Version).


I see them as a rather humorous presentation of the concept that the little imperfections we see in someone else may only be visible to us because we have a really big issue with the same thing, ourselves.
 

connermt

Well-Known Member
I am wondering what both theists and atheists, both Christians and nonChristians think of the following verses. Although I believe they speak for themselves, I want to see if there is something about them that I may not have thought of. It's true they are out of context, but I don't think the meaning would really change even if you read them in context. It is MKJV (Modern King James Version).

Mind your own business
-or-
Get your house in order before you play maid in someone else's house
 

Jainarayan

ॐ नमो भगवते वासुदेवाय
Staff member
Premium Member
Well I don't think it's literal, lol. The splinter might represent a 'blindness' or ignorance. The use of the word 'beam' confuses me.

It refers to the size of the object that is blinding a person to his own faults. If he has such a huge object in his spiritual field of vision (the beam or plank), he has to remove it first to see well enough to remove a smaller obstacle to another's vision (splinter or speck). And that's a very hard or impossible thing to do.
 

9-10ths_Penguin

1/10 Subway Stalinist
Premium Member
I think the verses are meant to condemn self-righteousness, but I think that it can also be interpreted to say "don't try to make things better unless you don't have any faults yourself", which reminds me of another (non-Biblical) saying: "the perfect is the enemy of the good."
 

Me Myself

Back to my username
The way I see it:

Sin is lack of comprehension or vision. When you become as holy as you can, you´ll have better vision/understanding and it will be easier to you to help others to remove their sins/misunderstandings. You must first try to be as holy as you can, and only after you´ve achieved being more comprehensive of others you can advice on how to attain such comprehension. Otherwise, it´s better you keep your focus in yourself, as it will eventually lead to helping others if you yoourself have this good understanding.
 

1137

Here until I storm off again
Premium Member
I am wondering what both theists and atheists, both Christians and nonChristians think of the following verses. Although I believe they speak for themselves, I want to see if there is something about them that I may not have thought of. It's true they are out of context, but I don't think the meaning would really change even if you read them in context. It is MKJV (Modern King James Version).

I think it means that you should look in the mirror before scrutinizing other people. It is easy to find the flaws in others, it is much harder and more respectable to find those in yourself.
 

ChristineES

Tiggerism
Premium Member
Thanks for all the replies!! I am enlightened a bit by some of them. I never thought of vision, but it makes sense since Jesus was talking about eyes. And I agree, it is symbolic.
 
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