DON'T CAUSE A BELIEVER TO STUMBLE

PROCLAMATION

“But whoso shall offend one of these little ones which believe in Me, it were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and that he were drowned in the depth of the sea.  Woe unto the world because offences for it needs be that offences come; but woe to that man by whom the offences cometh.”  Matthew 18:6-7 (NIV)

 

EXPLANATION

These words are from the gospel, the good news regarding Jesus, The Christ, which were spoken by Christ according to the Apostle Matthew.  While they were in Galilee, the disciples came to Jesus and asked, who would be the greatest in heaven?  Jesus answered them and said, “… Unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.  Therefore, whoever takes the lowly position of this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.” (Matthew 18:1-4)  Then He said that anyone who causes a believer to stumble and fall into sin would be better off with a large millstone around their neck and cast into the sea and drowned.  Woe unto them that cause a believer to stumble. (Matthew 18:6-7)  Then Jesus said if your hand, or foot, or any part of the body causes you to sin, cast it away from you.  It is better for you to enter into the kingdom of heaven maimed or crippled than to be whole and be cast into the fire of hell. (Matthew 18:8-9)  Then He told them The Parable of the Wandering Sheep. (Matthew 18:10-14)  Afterwards, He gave them specific instructions on dealing with sin in the church. (Matthew 18:15-20)  Then, in response to a question from Peter, Jesus said you should forgive your brother who sins against you seventy times seven times, then He told them The Parable of the Unmerciful Servant. (Matthew 18:21-35)

 

APPLICATION

We all know that it is bad for us to sin.  It is even worse for us to cause someone else to sin along with us.  However, it is even worse yet for us to 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)  It is important for us not to be a stumbling block or be the reason that a believer stumbles into sin.  Let us not only avoid sin, let us also abstain from even the appearance of sin. (1 Thessalonians 5:22)  Don’t be a stumbling block.