Jesus said to his disciples: "Things that cause people to stumble are bound to come, but woe to anyone through whom they come. It would be better for them to be thrown into the sea with a millstone tied around their neck than to cause one of these little ones to stumble. So watch yourselves." (v.1-3)
It appears that Jesus was directing this warning at the religious leaders who taught their converts their own hypocritical ways. Human nature being what it is, there will always be occasions that can cause us to stumble. However, Jesus makes it plain that it is a serious thing to cause a fellow believer to stumble or to tempt them to sin.
The Apostle Paul tells us in 1 Corinthians 8 to be sensitive to others, as our actions may inadvertently cause a weaker brother to stumble when we are taking our own liberty. He warns us to beware lest someone see our liberty and it becomes a stumbling block to them.
Therefore, we should lovingly watch over each other, learn to understand each other's weaknesses and do all that we can to keep one another from stumbling into sin.
The Truth
“Woe to the world because of the things that cause people to stumble! Such things must come, but woe to the person through whom they come!” (Matthew 18:7)
It appears that Jesus was directing this warning at the religious leaders who taught their converts their own hypocritical ways. Human nature being what it is, there will always be occasions that can cause us to stumble. However, Jesus makes it plain that it is a serious thing to cause a fellow believer to stumble or to tempt them to sin.
The Apostle Paul tells us in 1 Corinthians 8 to be sensitive to others, as our actions may inadvertently cause a weaker brother to stumble when we are taking our own liberty. He warns us to beware lest someone see our liberty and it becomes a stumbling block to them.
Therefore, we should lovingly watch over each other, learn to understand each other's weaknesses and do all that we can to keep one another from stumbling into sin.
The Truth
“Woe to the world because of the things that cause people to stumble! Such things must come, but woe to the person through whom they come!” (Matthew 18:7)
