Matthew 18:6-7 (NIV)
6 “If anyone causes one of these little ones—those who believe in me—to stumble, it would be better for them to have a large millstone hung around their neck and to be drowned in the depths of the sea. 7 Woe to the world because of the things that cause people to stumble! Such things must come, but woe to the person through whom they come!
Luke 17:1-2 (AMP)
Jesus said to His disciples, “Stumbling blocks [temptations and traps set to lure one to sin] are sure to come, but woe (judgment is coming) to him through whom they come! 2 It would be better for him if a millstone [as large as one turned by a donkey] were hung around his neck and he were hurled into the sea, than for him to cause one of these little ones to stumble [in sin and lose faith].
In the above verses Matthew and Luke give their account of the same teaching that the Lord had given to his disciples and other followers.
The Lord gives this teaching to the disciples not long after they had asked Him, “Who then is the greatest in the kingdom of God?” The Lord’s response to this question was:
Matthew 18:3-5 (NIV)
3 And he said: “Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. 4 Therefore, whoever takes the lowly position of this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. 5 And whoever welcomes one such child in my name welcomes me.
In Matthew 18:3 and 18:6 the Lord refers to His followers as ‘little children” and “little ones’ and qualifies this statement by telling us that by this term, He is referring to ‘those that believe in me (Him).” This tells us that He is not referring to actual children but to His disciples and other adult followers! Those that are in the Lord.
The inference from these verses is that we need to believe in the Lord as little children believe, without the encumbrance of our worldly knowledge, self-opinions and other such negative influences!
The Meaning of Stumble?
Now, in both Matthew and Luke’s account of this event they make use of the word “stumble” or “stumbling blocks”. Let’s examine this word “stumble” in a little more detail so that we can get a better picture of what the Lord is saying.
In Matthew 18:6 the original Greek word for ‘stumble’ is ‘skandalizó’ (pronounced: skan-dal-id'-zo) which is a verb, a doing word and its expanded meaning and application is: to put a snare (in the way of), to cause to stumble, to give offense to, to cause to sin, to cause to become indignant, to shock and to offend.
And in Luke 17:1 the Greek word for ‘stumbling block’ is ‘skandalon’ (pronounced: skan'-dal-on) which is a noun, a naming word and its expanded meaning and application is: a stick of a bait trap (the stick - the skandalon - is pulled away and the trap falls on whatever you are wanting to trap), generally a snare, a stumbling block, an offense, a cause for error.
Both ‘skandalizo’ and ‘skandalon’ carry the same meaning, the only difference being that ‘skandalizo’ is a verb, what we do to someone or something – to stumble, and ‘skandalon’ is a noun, what we name something that is done to someone that causes them to falter or to knock them off track – become a stumbling block.
As a matter of interest, we derive our English word ‘scandal’ from the Greek word ‘skandalon.’ A scandal is an action or event regarded as morally or legally wrong and causing general public outrage and individual humiliation.
So, my dear Readers, from our examination of the word stumble we can deduce that something that can cause us to stumble or falter in our Christian faith can be taken as an offense and a stumbling block is something that can cause us to be tripped up (stumbled) or offended in our Christian walk!
Being stumbled by something or someone in our Christian walk is not a good thing! How do we know this?
We know this because of the seriousness in which God views anyone who causes one of His children to stumble. Look what Jesus says in Matthew 18:6-7 and Luke 17:1-2 above – it would be better for them to have a millstone tied to their neck and be thrown into the sea.
So, on the one side of the “offense” coin we have a consequence for the perpetrator of the offense. They will be dealt with very severely by God unless they turn to Him in repentance and ask forgiveness! The “millstone” bit!
On the other side of the “offense” coin, we have the one who has taken offense and refuses to forgive and let go of the offense. These people cause spiritual problems for themselves through holding unforgiveness and bitterness in their hearts.
The true follower of Christ will be ever forgiving when asked to forgive and will constantly develop, in Christ Jesus and led by the Holy Spirit, a pure and humble heart.
How many times must I forgive?
Matthew 18:21-22 (NIV)
21 Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, “Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother or sister who sins against me? Up to seven times?”
22 Jesus answered, “I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times.
Always be quick to forgive others as God forgives us!
How do offenses come?
Offenses come through the words and actions of other people. These words and actions can be directed at us or at someone who we hold dear and we take offense for them.
But how does the taking of offense happen? What actually happens to us when we take offense?
The taking of offense, or feeling offended, often occurs when we have a negative emotional experience or reaction to something that has been said or done to us or to someone else which conflicts with what we expect and believe to be right and appropriate behaviour. Our personal, moral compass has been knocked off balance! Our pride and our flesh rears its ugly head. Who do they thing they are? How dare they? Don't they know who I am?
Feeling offended is deeply rooted in the expectations we have of others that govern our daily moral standing in life. These expectations are usually so high that nobody could ever possibly comply with them even if they knew what they were!
Taking offense at what someone else says or does is a choice – we can choose to take offense, or we can choose not to. Just like we can chose to sin or we can chose not to sin!
Taking offense can have a profound effect on our Christian walk, both in our mental feeling of well-being and on our own self-worth and self-esteem.
An offense can not only change how we see ourselves but how we see and interact with others. This change in a Christian affects our outlook in a negative way and hampers not only our relationship with others, but even more seriously our, personal relationship with Jesus – we start to withdraw from Him! Unforgiveness and bitterness puts a self-made and often impenetrable barrier between God and the offended one!
This taking on of an offense can lead to conflict with others and to us withdrawing from interaction with our brothers and sisters in Christ and to holding on to unforgiveness in one’s heart and to allowing bitterness to overcome ones life. And just as bad, it can lead to those around us whom we love, to tread lightly around us, walking on eggshells. This can really dampen our relationship with our loved ones and the ones dearest to us and of course to our brothers and sisters in Christ.
Holding on to offenses leads to emotional conflict within oneself and manifests outwardly by causing conflict with others and destroys the peace that we have available to us in Christ Jesus.
The apostle James warns us about this in the below scriptures:
Always taking things personally and becoming offended can lead to a low self-esteem. By constantly putting yourself in the position of feeling offended, you may start to create a sense of paranoia about how others view you.
It indicates a high level of self-absorption to hear what someone says and immediately assume they are being offensive to you. To hold on to offenses is a sin and needs to be repented from as it will not only defile you but will also defile those around you, even those that you love and that love you the most!
Jesus Himself warns us that our Christian walk will not be trouble free and that offenses will come, but when they do, to keep our eyes on Him alone! In Christ Jesus we have the victory for He has overcome the world!
How do we overcome the offenses we are holding on to?
As born again Christians we are so fortunate to have a Lord and Saviour who sets us the perfect example in overcoming this world, including the offenses that come our way. The Bible exhorts and encourages us to follow him in all His ways.
Jesus suffered and died for you and me. He was humiliated, sworn at, spat on whipped and beaten and killed for us – how offensive is that? Yet He chose not to be offended – He chose to forgive – no sin was found in Him – He let go of all human pride and emotions and chose to forgive.
Dear Readers, let’s be like Jesus and let go of the sin of offenses and pride before a root of bitterness sets in! Let’s choose to forgive others from the heart as Christ did, so that our sins can be forgiven!
If we hold on to offenses and hold unforgiveness in our hearts, how can our heavenly Father forgive us?
Let’s make it our mission to repent of the offenses we hold on to and ask God to forgive us in Christ Jesus and to make peace with others so that we can move on in our Christian walk to maturity.
Let’s chose to let go of our earthly baggage and allow the Holy Spirit to lead and guide us! Our Christian walk to maturity will be a much lighter load when we let go of offenses!
Prayer:
Heavenly Father
I pray in Jesus name that you Lord, forgive me for not letting go of my pride and the offenses that I have held on to in my heart. I pray that by the power of your Holy Spirit that you would help me to let go of all my pride and the offenses and unforgiveness that I am holding on to and deliver me from the root of bitterness. Amen.
Remember: Reading this article is no substitute for reading and studying the Bible for yourself! I am flawed the Bible is not!
Offenses come through the words and actions of other people. These words and actions can be directed at us or at someone who we hold dear and we take offense for them.
But how does the taking of offense happen? What actually happens to us when we take offense?
The taking of offense, or feeling offended, often occurs when we have a negative emotional experience or reaction to something that has been said or done to us or to someone else which conflicts with what we expect and believe to be right and appropriate behaviour. Our personal, moral compass has been knocked off balance! Our pride and our flesh rears its ugly head. Who do they thing they are? How dare they? Don't they know who I am?
Feeling offended is deeply rooted in the expectations we have of others that govern our daily moral standing in life. These expectations are usually so high that nobody could ever possibly comply with them even if they knew what they were!
Taking offense at what someone else says or does is a choice – we can choose to take offense, or we can choose not to. Just like we can chose to sin or we can chose not to sin!
Taking offense can have a profound effect on our Christian walk, both in our mental feeling of well-being and on our own self-worth and self-esteem.
An offense can not only change how we see ourselves but how we see and interact with others. This change in a Christian affects our outlook in a negative way and hampers not only our relationship with others, but even more seriously our, personal relationship with Jesus – we start to withdraw from Him! Unforgiveness and bitterness puts a self-made and often impenetrable barrier between God and the offended one!
This taking on of an offense can lead to conflict with others and to us withdrawing from interaction with our brothers and sisters in Christ and to holding on to unforgiveness in one’s heart and to allowing bitterness to overcome ones life. And just as bad, it can lead to those around us whom we love, to tread lightly around us, walking on eggshells. This can really dampen our relationship with our loved ones and the ones dearest to us and of course to our brothers and sisters in Christ.
Proverbs 17:9 (AMP)
He who covers and forgives an offense seeks love,
But he who repeats or gossips about a matter separates intimate friends.
Proverbs 19:11 (AMP)
Good sense and discretion make a man slow to anger,
And it is his honor and glory to overlook a transgression or an offense [without seeking revenge and harboring resentment].
Holding on to offenses leads to emotional conflict within oneself and manifests outwardly by causing conflict with others and destroys the peace that we have available to us in Christ Jesus.
The apostle James warns us about this in the below scriptures:
Hebrews 12:14-15 (NKJV)
14 Pursue peace with all people, and holiness, without which no one will see the Lord: 15 looking carefully lest anyone fall short of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up cause trouble, and by this many become defiled;
It indicates a high level of self-absorption to hear what someone says and immediately assume they are being offensive to you. To hold on to offenses is a sin and needs to be repented from as it will not only defile you but will also defile those around you, even those that you love and that love you the most!
Jesus Himself warns us that our Christian walk will not be trouble free and that offenses will come, but when they do, to keep our eyes on Him alone! In Christ Jesus we have the victory for He has overcome the world!
John 16:33 (AMP)
I have told you these things, so that in Me you may have [perfect] peace. In the world you have tribulation and distress and suffering, but be courageous [be confident, be undaunted, be filled with joy]; I have overcome the world.” [My conquest is accomplished, My victory abiding.]
How do we overcome the offenses we are holding on to?
As born again Christians we are so fortunate to have a Lord and Saviour who sets us the perfect example in overcoming this world, including the offenses that come our way. The Bible exhorts and encourages us to follow him in all His ways.
Luke 23:34-35 (NKJV)
34 Then Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they do.”
And they divided His garments and cast lots. 35 And the people stood looking on. But even the rulers with them sneered, saying, “He saved others; let Him save Himself if He is the Christ, the chosen of God.”
Jesus suffered and died for you and me. He was humiliated, sworn at, spat on whipped and beaten and killed for us – how offensive is that? Yet He chose not to be offended – He chose to forgive – no sin was found in Him – He let go of all human pride and emotions and chose to forgive.
1 John 3:5-6 (NIV)
5 But you know that he appeared so that he might take away our sins. And in him is no sin. 6 No one who lives in him keeps on sinning. No one who continues to sin has either seen him or known him.
Matthew 6:14-15 (AMP)
14 For if you forgive others their trespasses [their reckless and willful sins], your heavenly Father will also forgive you. 15 But if you do not forgive others [nurturing your hurt and anger with the result that it interferes with your relationship with God], then your Father will not forgive your trespasses.
Matthew 18:35 (AMP)
My heavenly Father will also do the same to [every one of] you, if each of you does not forgive his brother from your heart.”
If we hold on to offenses and hold unforgiveness in our hearts, how can our heavenly Father forgive us?
Let’s make it our mission to repent of the offenses we hold on to and ask God to forgive us in Christ Jesus and to make peace with others so that we can move on in our Christian walk to maturity.
Let’s chose to let go of our earthly baggage and allow the Holy Spirit to lead and guide us! Our Christian walk to maturity will be a much lighter load when we let go of offenses!
Matthew 5:9 (NKJV)
Blessed are the peacemakers,
For they shall be called sons of God.
Matthew 11:28-30 (NKJV)
28 Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29 Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.”
To Jesus belongs all glory, honour and praise!
Jesus, the Name above all names!
Prayer:
Heavenly Father
I pray in Jesus name that you Lord, forgive me for not letting go of my pride and the offenses that I have held on to in my heart. I pray that by the power of your Holy Spirit that you would help me to let go of all my pride and the offenses and unforgiveness that I am holding on to and deliver me from the root of bitterness. Amen.
Remember: Reading this article is no substitute for reading and studying the Bible for yourself! I am flawed the Bible is not!
