DO NOT BE THE REASON THAT SOMEONE STUMBLES

PROCLAMATION

“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.’ ” Luke 17:1-2 (NIV)

 

EXPLANATION

These words are from the gospel, the good news regarding Jesus, The Christ, which were spoken by Christ according to Luke, the physician.  Jesus acknowledges that people, even believers, are going to sin.  Things and situations and temptations are going to come and present themselves to people, including believers, and they will stumble and fall into sin.  Then Jesus said, but woe be unto the person through which the temptation comes.  They would be better off being thrown into the ocean with a large stone tied around their neck.  Serious punishment is coming to anyone who causes a believer to stumble and sin.

 

APPLICATION

We all know that it is wrong for us to sin.  It is worse for us to cause someone else to sin or to engage in sinning with us.  However, it is even much worse for us if we cause a believer to stumble and fall into sin.  Christ clearly does not like those who lead believers into sin and His punishment for them will be severe.  “Woe unto the world because of the offences … but woe to the man by whom the offence cometh.” (Matthew 18:7)  He said, “Things that cause people to stumble are bound to come, but woe to anyone through whom they come.” (Luke 17:1)  It is important for us not to be a stumbling block or be the cause or reason that a believer stumbles into sin.  We should do our best to avoid sin.  However, when we sin, we should avoid taking another person down with us, especially another believer.  Because believers and others see our behavior, we should also abstain from even the appearance of sin. (1 Thessalonians 5:22)  Let us not be the reason that someone stumbles and falls into sin.