Jesus said to his disciples, “Temptations to sin are sure to come, but woe to the one through whom they come! It would be better for him if a millstone were hung around his neck and he were cast into the sea than that he should cause one of these little ones to sin. (Luke 17:1-2)
Jesus said to his disciples that in this world there will always be temptations to sin, fall and fail. There will always be opportunities for, literally, scandal and stumbling.
In other words, life in this world will be tough. Life in this world will never be perfect. Sin, temptation and scandal remain a reality in our world, even in Christian organizations and churches. Sinless perfection is unattainable in this world and in our lives this side of heaven.
Therefore, we should not be surprised by imperfect churches because churches are made up of sinners, and sinner’s sin.
Of course, the Christian fights and battles against sin. We don’t love or cherish sin. We should be confessing and turning from sin.
Nevertheless, even though sin and stumbling are our reality, we must be very careful that we are not the cause of others sinning, stumbling or falling in their walk with God.
The Religious leaders at the time were guilty of this. They were meant to be the religious leaders, but they were hypocrites (Like 13:5) who loved money (Luke 16:14) and did a really bad job of teaching the Bible. In fact, they missed the Bible’s entire point (Luke 16:16-17). They caused others to sin and stumble in their walk with God by their bad example and bad teaching.
They failed to take spiritual care of others and were a terrible influence. They were spiritually unhelpful to people.
Verdict
What is Jesus’ verdict on those who are a bad spiritual influence and cause others to stumble in their faith?
…woe to the one through whom they come! (v1)
Jesus pronounced a woe, an oracle of future judgement from God.
Those who cause others to sin, or stumble, or falter by their living and teaching are under the judgement of God.
It would be better for him if a millstone were hung around his neck and he were cast into the sea than that he should cause one of these little ones to sin. (v2)
“These little ones” refer to the followers of Jesus, those who Jesus loves and died for.
In that 1st century agricultural society, donkeys or oxen pulled a huge millstone to grind the grain. The millstone was massive, heavy and very solid. To have a millstone hung around your neck and then be thrown into the sea guaranteed your death.
No escape or doubt, only certain death. And not a particularly nice way to die, either.
Astoundingly, Jesus said that it’s better to die in that way than to be under the judgment of God. Better to die that unpleasant way because God’s judgment is far worse. Why? Because your harmful influence may have massive and eternal consequences for others.
Preachers and pastors
Preachers and pastors, as those who exert spiritual influence, should pay heed to this warning.
Today, many preachers and pastors are self-appointed, have big churches, run influential online ministries, and are adored by thousands of devotees. They refer to themselves apostles and prophets and bishops.
They use Bible words; but they don’t teach what the Bible says.
They claim to be pastors; but their message is disguised paganism.
They choose ear-tickling topics and then select Bible verses to back up their own opinions.
They often live lavish lifestyles and are beyond rebuke.
They cause many thousands to have mistaken expectations, misguided views and misaligned understandings.
They distort the gospel and do disservice to God’s Word.
They cause thousands to stumble in their discipleship and thousands to falter in their faith.
They are spiritually disastrous for people and will be judged by God.
Woe to them. Better for them that they would have drowned with a millstone tied around their neck before they started their “ministries”.
Closer to home
But what about you and me?
Does our lifestyle and lips point people to Jesus and encourage them on their Christian journey? Or do we cause others to falter in their faith?
Are we perhaps unnecessarily condescending and hypocritical – and we think it’s a joke – but we cause others to sin? Do we perhaps err on the sides of lawlessness or legalism, and cause other to stumble in their grasp of the gospel?
Are we as Bible teachers and small group leaders super careful that what we teach is what the Bible actually says and not just our disguised opinions and novel insights?
Sin and stumbling are bound to happen, but let’s take care we are not the cause.