Offenses Will Come

Offenses Will Come

Matthews 18:6-7(KJV)
But whoso shall offend one of these little ones which believe in me, it were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and that he were drowned in the depth of the sea. Woe unto the world because of offences! for it must needs be that offences come; but woe to that man by whom the offence cometh!

So that we have a better understanding of the what is being said to us let read Matthews 18-6-7  This often heard verse is almost never identified in scripture because of it often mis-uses. miscues, and possibly controlling spirit of those that hide behind it.

My personal Commentary (FireSpeaks)
A mature Christian should never do those thing which would lead a new convert to sin or incorrectly perceive God. This is about how to rightly disciple the new Christian. Jesus Christ wants us to not just tell people about Christ but disciple them to maturity in their faith, not say those things which can cause a new Christian to regret,  coming to God, stumble in his faithfulness toward God, be offended in  his faith feel inferior to his leader.

Christ warns “Whoso shall offend one of these little one” The word used for offend is skandalizō (skan-da-le-zoo ) which means;  

• to put a stumbling block or impediment in the way, upon which another may grow {in his faith} 
•  to cause a person to begin to distrust and desert one whom he ought to trust and obey { as in the church, Christianity of even God and Christ Jesus}

Little ones does not mean young in age but rather young in his walk with Christ. we get this from the content of verse 6b “Which Believes in me”. Now here comes the warning, “it were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck,” This is not a generalization but a pinpointed targeted warning that is only associated to one person, HE THAT OFFENDS !!!!

Now we get to verse 7  which starts with a warning to the entire world of those that will offend new convert to Christ. “Woe unto the world because of offences!” Now the realizations concerning offenses “for it must needs be that offences come;” Christ is saying He knows that people will get offended, That is, such is the depravity of man that there will be always some who are attempting to make others sin; some people of wickedness endeavoring to lead Christians astray, or do those things which are hurtful this is not a debatable argument. Young Christians, or those weak in their faith (the subject of this passage from proper context), will through lack of knowledge, or self will, or painfulness will be offended. BUT!
“woe to that man by whom the offence cometh!” From the previous verse we can see in Christ’s eye it is better to drown to death, with an anvil tied around your neck suffocating in your own mucus, and water and blood then to be the person that cause that offense against His little ones.

Lets get a clearer understanding of what is being said, in the next passage the Apostle Paul is comparing this action of offending little one, with offending Christ Himself! Now this becomes a very weighty subject.

^[12]But when ye sin so against the brethren, and wound their weak conscience, ye sin against Christ. ^[13] Wherefore, if meat make my brother to offend, I will eat no flesh while the world standeth, lest I make my brother to offend 1 Corinthians 8:12-13

In Romans chapter 14,  Church members were becoming "bent out of shape" over things that irritated them but had little or nothing to do with salvation. They blew these irritants out of proportion, which created disruption, and offense within the Congregation.

The root of these offenses is not actual issues of salvation but prideful things that many leaders of the church wanted to install into those that they felt were not living up to the standard of their expectation (see blog on Unwilling Sacrifice) let us make no mistake offenses wheather between one Christian to another, or from an unbeliever to a believer almost always ( almost) find their origin in the pride of the offender. In Proverb 13:10, King Solomon writes "By pride comes only contention, but with the well-advised is wisdom." Contention divides by causing and offense. Much of the strife and disunity in the church today is promoted by those who seem bent on "majoring in the minors things” causing an offense in the heart of brothers.

Now let’s revisit 1 Corinthians 8:12-13; In the above passage Paul, provides the correct example concerning how to deal with Christians that may not have a strong a faith. Draw your attention to the fact that he calls this behavior of offending a Christian a sin! Making the offense on par with sin against Jesus Christ himself “Such a sin against a brother in Christ is a sin against Christ Himself!”  Amazingly when addressing this offensive demeanor many Christian act as though the offense is no big deal, they even go as far as to say thing like “ You know I love you Get over it” It is that serious!  Though the passage ( 1 Corinthian 8:12-13) address offending a brother by telling him what he should or should not eat ( doctrine of the devil)  it is clear that the act of offending a brother is the sin not the food which is eaten. In the same way when we cause a Christ to be offended by our inconsiderate way of handling a problem we sin not just against that person but against Jesus Christ Himself.  Paul's conclusion, then, is that he would never even give the appearance of sin if it would harm a brother in the faith, or harm a brother growth in his faith.

T.Charves FireSpeaks

         

Suggested reading on offenses 

1.)Dealing with Betrayal
2.)Unwilling Sacrifice
3.) Meekness of Wisdom
4.)Fixing the Broken Wheel of Flawed Teaching  
5.) Doctrine of Devils
6.) Contend for the Faith