6 “Whoever causes one of these little ones who
believe in Me to sin, it would be better for him if a millstone were hung
around his neck, and he were drowned in the depth of the sea. 7 Woe to the world because of offenses! For
offenses must come, but woe to that man by whom the offense comes! 8 “If
your hand or foot causes you to sin, cut it off and cast it from you. It
is better for you to enter into life lame or maimed, rather than having two
hands or two feet, to be cast into the everlasting fire. 9 And
if your eye causes you to sin, pluck it out and cast it from you. It is
better for you to enter into life with one eye, rather than having two eyes, to
be cast into hell fire. 10 “Take heed that you do not despise one of these little
ones, for I say to you that in heaven their angels always see the face of My
Father who is in heaven. 11 For
the Son of Man has come to save that which was lost.
Now the Lord Jesus warns that causing one of His own children to sin, either through enticements to sin (Matt. 18:7) or by schemes or plots to make one stumble (Psalm 140:40) or as is implied in the passage taking advantage of our innocence or humble trust in the Lord will reap for themselves the severest and gravest of all punishments when the Lord Jesus Christ sits on His Throne in His Glory and Judges and Repays the world for its iniquities. For the Lord Jesus Christ takes the protection and perseveration of His children from sin very personally and very seriously (consider 1 Thess. 4:3-7). And so, this passage’s warning is encompassing, including both children in general, but also is truly referring to all of us who belong to Him regardless of our age or gender when it comes to anyone who would cause one of these “little ones” who believe in Him to sin.
Vs. 7 “Woe to the world because of offenses! For offenses must come, but woe to that man by whom the offense comes!”
In this world where sin and inducements to sin is continually put forth and forwarded through every possible means and by seemingly every personality in popular culture, (who wants to appeal to those doing and desiring the same), the Lord Jesus warns us all that there will be a very deliberate Judgment that will come upon all such individuals who forwarded the same. For though offenses must come as He says, the Lord Jesus Christ now pronounces a very ominous woe on all those individuals through whom the offense comes. Therefore, whether inside the church or out the Lord Jesus’ warning applies to us all.
Vs. 8-9 8 “If your hand or foot causes you to sin, cut it off and cast it from you. It is better for you to enter into life lame or maimed, rather than having two hands or two feet, to be cast into the everlasting fire. 9 And if your eye causes you to sin, pluck it out and cast it from you. It is better for you to enter into life with one eye, rather than having two eyes, to be cast into hell fire.
Now to strengthen His warning the Lord Jesus Christ tells us that whether it is hand or foot or eye, whatever member of the body that causes one to sin, it is better for us to enter into life lame or maimed or blind (having lost one of our members) than to remain as we are bodily whole and then in the end be cast into the everlasting fire in the first instance, hell in the second. Now both are referring to the same place just two different ways to describe them. Any teaching then that denies hell as being a place of everlasting fire is non-Scriptural. Therefore, when one comes to the Lord Jesus Christ one must not only be willing to forsake one’s own life; but also, in the cause against sin, be willing to sacrifice one of one’s bodily members if keeping it would keep them from entering into life by repentance towards God and faith in the Lord Jesus Christ.
Vs. 10-11 10 “Take heed that you do not despise one of these little ones, for I say to you that in heaven their angels always see the face of My Father who is in heaven. 11 For the Son of Man has come to save that which was lost.
The Lord Jesus now seemingly returns to the defense of little children, warning us all not to despise them; but given that the word translated despise implies to despise or feel contempt for someone or something; to basically see someone as having no value (see LN. 88.192). I believe the Lord Jesus Christ is not just referring to little children (since few people despise or hold little children in contempt, or as having no value, indeed the Scripture places a very high value on children, consider Psalm 127:3-5). Therefore, I believe He is also referring to us all who belong to Him, regardless of where we came from and out of. For the Lord Jesus Christ views us all who believe in Him as His little ones, showing partiality to no one. Therefore, He warns us all not to despise any of these little one’s, for as He says “their angels always see the face of My Father who is in heaven.” Something which applies to all the little children and all who belong to Him. For as the Lord Jesus concludes this segment: “the Son of Man has come to save that which was lost.” Which encompasses more than just children, but everyone one of God’s children who are separated and alienated from Him (John 1:12).
Preamble: Though this
section is divided from the previous; this section is a continuation on of what the Lord Jesus
began in Matt. 18:1-5
Commentary
Vs.
6
“Whoever causes one of these little ones who
believe in Me to sin, it would be better for him if a millstone were hung
around his neck, and he were drowned in the depth of the sea.” Now the Lord Jesus warns that causing one of His own children to sin, either through enticements to sin (Matt. 18:7) or by schemes or plots to make one stumble (Psalm 140:40) or as is implied in the passage taking advantage of our innocence or humble trust in the Lord will reap for themselves the severest and gravest of all punishments when the Lord Jesus Christ sits on His Throne in His Glory and Judges and Repays the world for its iniquities. For the Lord Jesus Christ takes the protection and perseveration of His children from sin very personally and very seriously (consider 1 Thess. 4:3-7). And so, this passage’s warning is encompassing, including both children in general, but also is truly referring to all of us who belong to Him regardless of our age or gender when it comes to anyone who would cause one of these “little ones” who believe in Him to sin.
Vs. 7 “Woe to the world because of offenses! For offenses must come, but woe to that man by whom the offense comes!”
In this world where sin and inducements to sin is continually put forth and forwarded through every possible means and by seemingly every personality in popular culture, (who wants to appeal to those doing and desiring the same), the Lord Jesus warns us all that there will be a very deliberate Judgment that will come upon all such individuals who forwarded the same. For though offenses must come as He says, the Lord Jesus Christ now pronounces a very ominous woe on all those individuals through whom the offense comes. Therefore, whether inside the church or out the Lord Jesus’ warning applies to us all.
Vs. 8-9 8 “If your hand or foot causes you to sin, cut it off and cast it from you. It is better for you to enter into life lame or maimed, rather than having two hands or two feet, to be cast into the everlasting fire. 9 And if your eye causes you to sin, pluck it out and cast it from you. It is better for you to enter into life with one eye, rather than having two eyes, to be cast into hell fire.
Now to strengthen His warning the Lord Jesus Christ tells us that whether it is hand or foot or eye, whatever member of the body that causes one to sin, it is better for us to enter into life lame or maimed or blind (having lost one of our members) than to remain as we are bodily whole and then in the end be cast into the everlasting fire in the first instance, hell in the second. Now both are referring to the same place just two different ways to describe them. Any teaching then that denies hell as being a place of everlasting fire is non-Scriptural. Therefore, when one comes to the Lord Jesus Christ one must not only be willing to forsake one’s own life; but also, in the cause against sin, be willing to sacrifice one of one’s bodily members if keeping it would keep them from entering into life by repentance towards God and faith in the Lord Jesus Christ.
Vs. 10-11 10 “Take heed that you do not despise one of these little ones, for I say to you that in heaven their angels always see the face of My Father who is in heaven. 11 For the Son of Man has come to save that which was lost.
The Lord Jesus now seemingly returns to the defense of little children, warning us all not to despise them; but given that the word translated despise implies to despise or feel contempt for someone or something; to basically see someone as having no value (see LN. 88.192). I believe the Lord Jesus Christ is not just referring to little children (since few people despise or hold little children in contempt, or as having no value, indeed the Scripture places a very high value on children, consider Psalm 127:3-5). Therefore, I believe He is also referring to us all who belong to Him, regardless of where we came from and out of. For the Lord Jesus Christ views us all who believe in Him as His little ones, showing partiality to no one. Therefore, He warns us all not to despise any of these little one’s, for as He says “their angels always see the face of My Father who is in heaven.” Something which applies to all the little children and all who belong to Him. For as the Lord Jesus concludes this segment: “the Son of Man has come to save that which was lost.” Which encompasses more than just children, but everyone one of God’s children who are separated and alienated from Him (John 1:12).
Scripture Quotations
The New King James Version. Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 1982.
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