notes
Main point summary
Jesus teaches that stumbling blocks are inevitable, but one must do everything to avoid creating them.
Arc
editing
NT
Matthew 18:5-9
nasb
And whoever receives one such child in My name receives Me;
but a whoever b causes one of these little ones who believe in Me to stumble , it 1 would be better for him to have a 2 heavy millstone hung around his neck, and to be drowned in the depth of the sea.
alternative
“Woe to the world because of its stumbling blocks !
For a it is inevitable that stumbling blocks come;
but woe to that man through whom the stumbling block comes!
concessive
ideaexplanation
“ a If your hand or your foot causes you to stumble ,
cut it off and throw it from you;
conditional
it is better for you to enter life crippled or lame, than 1 to have two hands or two feet and be cast into the eternal fire.
ground
a If your eye causes you to stumble ,
pluck it out and throw it from you.
It is better for you to enter life with one eye, than 1 to have two eyes and be cast into the 2 b fiery hell.
series
First class conditional assumed to be true from the author's perspective.
First class conditional assumed to be true from the author's perspective.
One can either receive Jesus' disciples, thus receiving Him or reject His disciples and thus reject Him. This is similar to Mt 10:40-42 and Mt 25:31-46.
discourse
Phrase
Matthew 18:5-9
The World and Its Stumbling Blocks
And whoever receives one such child in My name receives Me;
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.
“Woe to the world because of its stumbling blocks!
For it is inevitable that stumbling blocks come;
but woe to that man through whom the stumbling block comes!
The Disciple and His Stumbling Blocks
“If your hand or your foot causes you to stumble,
cut it off and throw it from you;
it is better for you to enter life crippled or lame, than to have two hands or two feet and be cast into the eternal fire.
If your eye causes you to stumble,
pluck it out and throw it from you.
It is better for you to enter life with one eye, than to have two eyes and be cast into the fiery hell.
phrasing