This appears to be added for the consolation of the godly, that they may not be rendered uneasy by their condition, if they are despised by the world. To cure this disease, Christ threatens a dreadful punishment, if any man in his pride shall throw down those who are oppressed with poverty, or who in heart are already humbled. Anyone who causes a Christian who manifests this childlike attitude to sin, or who places anything in his way to impede his faithfulness, would be better off being weighted down and thrown to his death into the sea.It would be better for him to die before committing such a sin. The intensity of the depth is described as the image of the utter ruin which his crime deserves. #4 “it would be better for them to have a large millstone hung around their neck and to be drowned in the depths of the sea.” Christ uses the strongest language to convey the seriousness of the matter. "And if thine eye offend thee, pluck it out, and cast [it] from thee: it is better for thee to enter into life … The capital punishments among the Jews were either burning, stoning, strangling, or beheading. What if those who do the Tempter’s work should cause the “little one” to stumble and to fall? If the latter is meant, it certainly doesn’t negate the former. The idea may have been suggested by the word denoting the offence, . Both these expressions have been toned down by Luke.— : drowning was not a form of capital punishment in use among the Jews. Dr. John MacArthur writes: Church discipline “is not merely to punish the offender, or to shun him completely, but to remove him as a detrimental influence from the fellowship of the church, and then to regard him as an evangelistic prospect rather than as a brother” (The MacArthur Bible Commentary, p. 1,158). This often insnares the poor as much as the love of wealth does the rich. Matthew 18 - At that time the disciples came to Jesus and asked, "Who, then, is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?" The capital punishments among the Jews were either burning, stoning, strangling, or beheading. The Christian home is an instrument of incalculable power for drawing forth and presenting in their full form and force all those ministering qualities and energies by which, in all ages, society is blessed and saved. but whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in Me to stumble, it would be better for him to have a heavy millstone hung around his neck, and to be drowned in the depth of the sea. (Matthew 18:6; Mark 9:42) Certain death by drowning would be preferable to the dreadful punishment awaiting those who lead others into sin or wreck their faith. - Whatever determinations ye make, in conformity to these directions for your conduct to an offending brother, will be accounted just, and ratified by the Lord. But he appears to have had likewise another object in view; for a dispute had arisen amongst them as to the first place of honor, from which it might naturally have been inferred that the Apostles were tainted with sinful ambition. A great millstone. If you do, God will be … “Little ones” included not only children, but all the followers of Christ as well. Such an application would destroy all right as well as all hope. #2 “…one of these little ones—those who believe in me—” It is not certain whether Jesus is speaking of believing children, or adults who believe like children, but either way, the meaning is mostly the same. Notes: According to Matthew 18:1, the disciples approached Jesus with the question about who would be the greatest in the “kingdom of the heavens.” Matthew 18:15-20 is the most misapplied passage on church conflict. It is to make one offended with Christ. Two different principles and processes are at work. Jesus liked to used the analogy that a disciple needed to become like a child in wonder, humility, and faith (Mt 18:1-5). Jesus mentioned that there would be “woe,” distress, or grief for the world of mankind on account of those who … Then it gets even more shocking, as Jesus starts talking about cutting off limbs and plucking out eyes. ... Mat 18:6 - “If anyone causes one of these little ones—those who believe in me—to stumble, ... Interlinear Bibles Cross-Refs Commentaries Dictionaries Misc It of course implies that he perishes under the divine displeasure, and receives from God the depth of punishment of which the human penalty is so apt an image. offend = cause to offend, as in w. 8, 9, and Matthew 16:27. little ones. Matthew 18:6 Anyone who causes a Christian who manifests this childlike attitude to sin, or who places anything in his way to impede his faithfulness, would be better off being weighted down and thrown to his death into the sea. However we may no doubt also see behind this false teaching which leads people in the wrong way, for that is equally condemned in Scripture (2 Peter 2:1), unnecessary disparagement, acting towards young believers with a wrong attitude, lack of pastoral care and so on. Church discipline (Mat. (See Note on Mark 9:38.). Greek. The ludicrous picture of the huge millstone emphasises the seriousness of the offence, for no one would even consider using such a large weight for such an execution (the thickness of rope that would be required would be as thick as the neck). There is no reason to think that each individual will not be held accountable for his own sin, but it is also clear that those with influence bear a greater responsibility. The words offend and offences, in Protestant translation, do not express sufficiently the sense. By not walking in humility and lowliness, by not revealing Jesus, by not shining as lights in the world (Matthew 5:14; Matthew 5:16), they are thus leading others astray. Onikos. One of these little ones which believe in me. Sic. Matthew 18:6 REV and Commentary - but whoever causes one of these little ones who believes in me to fall away, it would be b - Bible verse Indeed, the whole must be figurative. See note on Matthew 18:7. 1 At that time the disciples came to Jesus, saying, “Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?” 2 And calling to him a child, he put him in the midst of them 3 and said, “Truly, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. ’ , the writer puts both verbs in the subjunctive after .— . 16 f And the Pharisees and Sadducees came, and g to test him h they asked him to show them i a sign from heaven. For the sheep, it would be prudent to heed Jesus’ warning to his disciples to be “be as shrewd as snakes and as innocent as doves” (Mt 10:16). The lesson is that being killed in this way would only involve death, while destroying the faith of these “little ones” would bring eternal punishment on that person. . 6 “If anyone causes one of these little ones—those who believe in me—to stumble, it would be better for them to have a large millstone hung around their neck and to be drowned in the depths of the sea. “Stumbling” or causing offense is the central image, repeated six times (Matthew 18:6, 7 [3x], 8, 9). This would be the purpose subserved by such conduct. He was unconsciously placing himself among those who were hindering the work of Christ, and so “offending” those who believed in him. (Witham) --- That is, shall put a stumbling-block in their way, and cause them to fall into sin.