{"id":45536,"date":"2021-02-22T12:03:48","date_gmt":"2021-02-22T09:03:48","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/wingulamashahidi.org\/?p=45536"},"modified":"2025-05-12T02:35:47","modified_gmt":"2025-05-11T23:35:47","slug":"what-did-jesus-mean-by-saying-whoever-causes-one-of-these-little-ones-who-believe-in-me-to-sin-it-would-be-better-for-him-to-have-a-large-millstone-hung-around-his-neck-and-to-be-drowned-in-the-de","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/wingulamashahidi.org\/en\/2021\/02\/22\/what-did-jesus-mean-by-saying-whoever-causes-one-of-these-little-ones-who-believe-in-me-to-sin-it-would-be-better-for-him-to-have-a-large-millstone-hung-around-his-neck-and-to-be-drowned-in-the-de\/","title":{"rendered":"What did Jesus mean by saying, “it would be better for him to have a large millstone hung around his neck and to be drowned in the depths of the sea”?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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This <\/span>question <\/span>refers <\/span>to <\/span>a <\/span>verse <\/span>in <\/span>Matthew <\/span>18:<\/span>6, <\/span>where <\/span>Jesus <\/span>says, <\/span><\/p>\n

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“<\/span>But <\/span>whoever <\/span>causes <\/span>one <\/span>of <\/span>these <\/span>little <\/span>ones <\/span>who <\/span>believe <\/span>in <\/span>me <\/span>to <\/span>sin, <\/span>it <\/span>would <\/span>be <\/span>better <\/span>for <\/span>him <\/span>to <\/span>have <\/span>a <\/span>large <\/span>millstone <\/span>hung <\/span>around <\/span>his <\/span>neck <\/span>and <\/span>to <\/span>be <\/span>drowned <\/span>in <\/span>the <\/span>depths <\/span>of <\/span>the <\/span>sea” (<\/span>NIV). <\/span><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

This <\/span>verse <\/span>can <\/span>seem <\/span>difficult <\/span>when <\/span>we <\/span>compare <\/span>it <\/span>with <\/span>Jesus’ <\/span>words <\/span>in <\/span>Matthew <\/span>5:<\/span>43-<\/span>45, <\/span>where <\/span>He <\/span>teaches <\/span>us <\/span>to <\/span>love <\/span>our <\/span>enemies <\/span>and <\/span>pray <\/span>for <\/span>those <\/span>who <\/span>persecute <\/span>us.<\/span><\/p>\n

In <\/span>Matthew <\/span>5:<\/span>43-<\/span>45, <\/span>Jesus <\/span>instructs <\/span>us <\/span>to <\/span>love <\/span>our <\/span>enemies <\/span>and <\/span>pray <\/span>for <\/span>those <\/span>who <\/span>mistreat <\/span>us:<\/span><\/p>\n

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“<\/span>You <\/span>have <\/span>heard <\/span>that <\/span>it <\/span>was <\/span>said, ‘<\/span>Love <\/span>your <\/span>neighbor <\/span>and <\/span>hate <\/span>your <\/span>enemy.’ <\/span>But <\/span>I <\/span>tell <\/span>you, <\/span>love <\/span>your <\/span>enemies <\/span>and <\/span>pray <\/span>for <\/span>those <\/span>who <\/span>persecute <\/span>you”<\/span><\/strong> (<\/span>Matthew <\/span>5:<\/span>43-<\/span>44, <\/span>NIV).<\/span><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n


This <\/span>teaching <\/span>highlights <\/span>that <\/span>Christians <\/span>should <\/span>respond <\/span>to <\/span>wrongdoings <\/span>with <\/span>love <\/span>and <\/span>forgiveness, <\/span>mirroring <\/span>God’s <\/span>grace. <\/span>When <\/span>we <\/span>are <\/span>wronged, <\/span>we <\/span>are <\/span>not <\/span>to <\/span>take <\/span>revenge <\/span>but <\/span>rather <\/span>to <\/span>show <\/span>the <\/span>same <\/span>compassion <\/span>that <\/span>God <\/span>shows <\/span>to <\/span>us.<\/span><\/p>\n

However, <\/span>Matthew <\/span>18:<\/span>6 <\/span>presents <\/span>a <\/span>stark <\/span>contrast. <\/span>Jesus <\/span>is <\/span>talking <\/span>about <\/span>causing <\/span>a “<\/span>little <\/span>one” (<\/span>a <\/span>believer <\/span>or <\/span>a <\/span>spiritually <\/span>immature <\/span>person) <\/span>to <\/span>stumble <\/span>in <\/span>their <\/span>faith. <\/span>He <\/span>warns <\/span>that <\/span>anyone <\/span>who <\/span>leads <\/span>such <\/span>a <\/span>person <\/span>into <\/span>sin <\/span>or <\/span>misguides <\/span>them <\/span>away <\/span>from <\/span>the <\/span>path <\/span>of <\/span>righteousness <\/span>faces <\/span>severe <\/span>consequences. <\/span>The <\/span>expression <\/span>of <\/span>a <\/span>millstone <\/span>being <\/span>tied <\/span>around <\/span>someone’s <\/span>neck <\/span>and <\/span>them <\/span>being <\/span>thrown <\/span>into <\/span>the <\/span>sea <\/span>symbolizes <\/span>the <\/span>gravity <\/span>of <\/span>this <\/span>offense. <\/span>It <\/span>is <\/span>a <\/span>metaphor <\/span>to <\/span>show <\/span>that <\/span>the <\/span>judgment <\/span>for <\/span>causing <\/span>someone <\/span>to <\/span>fall <\/span>into <\/span>sin, <\/span>especially <\/span>those <\/span>who <\/span>are <\/span>vulnerable <\/span>in <\/span>their <\/span>faith, <\/span>is <\/span>extremely <\/span>serious.<\/span><\/p>\n

In <\/span>this <\/span>context, <\/span>“<\/span>little <\/span>ones”<\/span><\/strong> refers <\/span>not <\/span>just <\/span>to <\/span>children <\/span>but <\/span>to <\/span>anyone <\/span>who <\/span>is <\/span>new <\/span>in <\/span>the <\/span>faith <\/span>or <\/span>spiritually <\/span>weak\u2014<\/span>those <\/span>who <\/span>are <\/span>innocent <\/span>and <\/span>easily <\/span>influenced. <\/span>Leading <\/span>such <\/span>a <\/span>person <\/span>astray <\/span>or <\/span>hindering <\/span>their <\/span>spiritual <\/span>growth <\/span>is <\/span>a <\/span>serious <\/span>offense <\/span>in <\/span>God’s <\/span>eyes. <\/span>The <\/span>punishment <\/span>described <\/span>by <\/span>Jesus <\/span>in <\/span>Matthew <\/span>18:<\/span>6 <\/span>signifies <\/span>how <\/span>severe <\/span>the <\/span>consequences <\/span>are <\/span>for <\/span>anyone <\/span>who <\/span>becomes <\/span>a <\/span>stumbling <\/span>block <\/span>to <\/span>others <\/span>in <\/span>their <\/span>walk <\/span>with <\/span>God.<\/span><\/p>\n

This <\/span>warning <\/span>aligns <\/span>with <\/span>the <\/span>broader <\/span>biblical <\/span>teaching <\/span>on <\/span>the <\/span>importance <\/span>of <\/span>protecting <\/span>the <\/span>faith <\/span>of <\/span>others, <\/span>particularly <\/span>those <\/span>who <\/span>are <\/span>spiritually <\/span>vulnerable. <\/span>In <\/span>1 <\/span>Corinthians <\/span>8:<\/span>9, <\/span>Paul <\/span>warns <\/span>about <\/span>causing <\/span>others <\/span>to <\/span>stumble:<\/span><\/p>\n

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“<\/span>Be <\/span>careful, <\/span>however, <\/span>that <\/span>the <\/span>exercise <\/span>of <\/span>your <\/span>rights <\/span>does <\/span>not <\/span>become <\/span>a <\/span>stumbling <\/span>block <\/span>to <\/span>the <\/span>weak”<\/span><\/strong> (<\/span>NIV).<\/span><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n


Similarly, <\/span>James <\/span>3:<\/span>1 <\/span>speaks <\/span>to <\/span>those <\/span>who <\/span>teach, <\/span>emphasizing <\/span>the <\/span>responsibility <\/span>and <\/span>the <\/span>greater <\/span>judgment <\/span>teachers <\/span>will <\/span>face <\/span>for <\/span>leading <\/span>others <\/span>astray:<\/span><\/p>\n

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“<\/span>Not <\/span>many <\/span>of <\/span>you <\/span>should <\/span>become <\/span>teachers, <\/span>my <\/span>fellow <\/span>believers, <\/span>because <\/span>you <\/span>know <\/span>that <\/span>we <\/span>who <\/span>teach <\/span>will <\/span>be <\/span>judged <\/span>more <\/span>strictly”<\/span><\/strong> (<\/span>James <\/span>3:<\/span>1, <\/span>NIV).<\/span><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

Jesus\u2019 <\/span>teaching <\/span>also <\/span>reflects <\/span>the <\/span>seriousness <\/span>of <\/span>leading <\/span>someone <\/span>away <\/span>from <\/span>God’s <\/span>truth, <\/span>as <\/span>seen <\/span>in <\/span>the <\/span>story <\/span>of <\/span>Balaam <\/span>in <\/span>the <\/span>Old <\/span>Testament. <\/span>In <\/span>Numbers <\/span>25, <\/span>Balaam <\/span>deliberately <\/span>sought <\/span>to <\/span>lead <\/span>the <\/span>Israelites <\/span>into <\/span>sin <\/span>by <\/span>advising <\/span>the <\/span>Moabite <\/span>king <\/span>to <\/span>entice <\/span>them <\/span>into <\/span>idolatry <\/span>and <\/span>immorality, <\/span>knowing <\/span>it <\/span>would <\/span>provoke <\/span>God’s <\/span>judgment. <\/span>This <\/span>caused <\/span>Israel <\/span>to <\/span>fall <\/span>into <\/span>sin, <\/span>and <\/span>as <\/span>a <\/span>result, <\/span>many <\/span>were <\/span>punished. <\/span>This <\/span>account <\/span>shows <\/span>how <\/span>significant <\/span>the <\/span>impact <\/span>of <\/span>leading <\/span>others <\/span>astray <\/span>can <\/span>be <\/span>and <\/span>the <\/span>serious <\/span>consequences <\/span>it <\/span>carries <\/span>in <\/span>God’s <\/span>economy (<\/span>see <\/span>Revelation <\/span>2:<\/span>14 <\/span>for <\/span>reference).<\/span><\/p>\n

However, <\/span>the <\/span>key <\/span>difference <\/span>in <\/span>this <\/span>situation <\/span>is <\/span>that <\/span>Jesus, <\/span>throughout <\/span>His <\/span>ministry, <\/span>also <\/span>calls <\/span>us <\/span>to <\/span>forgive <\/span>and <\/span>show <\/span>mercy<\/span><\/strong> to <\/span>those <\/span>who <\/span>wrong <\/span>us. <\/span>As <\/span>in <\/span>the <\/span>case <\/span>of <\/span>Moses <\/span>interceding <\/span>for <\/span>the <\/span>Israelites (<\/span>Exodus <\/span>32:<\/span>9-<\/span>14), <\/span>we <\/span>are <\/span>called <\/span>to <\/span>intercede <\/span>for <\/span>others, <\/span>even <\/span>when <\/span>they <\/span>fall <\/span>short, <\/span>rather <\/span>than <\/span>seeking <\/span>vengeance. <\/span>In <\/span>the <\/span>same <\/span>way, <\/span>we <\/span>are <\/span>encouraged <\/span>to <\/span>pray <\/span>for <\/span>our <\/span>enemies (<\/span>Matthew <\/span>5:<\/span>44) <\/span>and <\/span>ask <\/span>God <\/span>for <\/span>mercy <\/span>upon <\/span>those <\/span>who <\/span>sin <\/span>against <\/span>us.<\/span><\/p>\n

God’s <\/span>judgment <\/span>and <\/span>mercy <\/span>both <\/span>coexist <\/span>in <\/span>His <\/span>nature<\/span><\/strong>\u2014<\/span>He <\/span>is <\/span>just, <\/span>and <\/span>He <\/span>is <\/span>merciful. <\/span>Jesus’ <\/span>words <\/span>in <\/span>Matthew <\/span>18:<\/span>6 <\/span>are <\/span>a <\/span>serious <\/span>warning <\/span>about <\/span>the <\/span>consequences <\/span>of <\/span>causing <\/span>others <\/span>to <\/span>sin, <\/span>particularly <\/span>when <\/span>their <\/span>faith <\/span>is <\/span>fragile. <\/span>However, <\/span>this <\/span>should <\/span>not <\/span>lead <\/span>us <\/span>to <\/span>take <\/span>matters <\/span>into <\/span>our <\/span>own <\/span>hands <\/span>or <\/span>seek <\/span>personal <\/span>vengeance. <\/span>Instead, <\/span>we <\/span>are <\/span>called <\/span>to <\/span>be <\/span>intercessors <\/span>and <\/span>to <\/span>pray <\/span>for <\/span>those <\/span>who <\/span>may <\/span>stumble <\/span>in <\/span>their <\/span>faith.<\/span><\/p>\n

In <\/span><\/strong>conclusion<\/strong>, <\/span>while <\/span>Matthew <\/span>5 <\/span>emphasizes <\/span>forgiveness <\/span>and <\/span>love <\/span>for <\/span>enemies, <\/span>Matthew <\/span>18:<\/span>6 <\/span>warns <\/span>of <\/span>the <\/span>severe <\/span>consequences <\/span>for <\/span>leading <\/span>others <\/span>away <\/span>from <\/span>God\u2019s <\/span>truth, <\/span>particularly <\/span>those <\/span>who <\/span>are <\/span>spiritually <\/span>vulnerable. <\/span>We <\/span>must <\/span>be <\/span>careful <\/span>not <\/span>to <\/span>harm <\/span>the <\/span>faith <\/span>of <\/span>others <\/span>and <\/span>should <\/span>strive <\/span>to <\/span>protect <\/span>and <\/span>nurture <\/span>their <\/span>spiritual <\/span>growth. <\/span>This <\/span>teaching <\/span>calls <\/span>us <\/span>to <\/span>take <\/span>responsibility <\/span>for <\/span>how <\/span>our <\/span>actions <\/span>influence <\/span>others, <\/span>ensuring <\/span>we <\/span>build <\/span>up, <\/span>rather <\/span>than <\/span>tear <\/span>down, <\/span>the <\/span>faith <\/span>of <\/span>those <\/span>around <\/span>us.<\/span><\/p>\n

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This <\/span>revised <\/span>explanation <\/span>combines <\/span>the <\/span>different <\/span>scriptural <\/span>teachings <\/span>while <\/span>maintaining <\/span>the <\/span>theological <\/span>depth <\/span>of <\/span>the <\/span>original <\/span>answer. <\/span>It <\/span>provides <\/span>a <\/span>logical <\/span>flow <\/span>of <\/span>ideas <\/span>and <\/span>ensures <\/span>clarity <\/span>for <\/span>readers.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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