matthew-18:1-9,-proverbs-22:3,-proverbs-22:1

The Pulpit Commentary - Matthew 18:6

There is an opposite side to this picture. Shall offend; cause to stumble— give occasion for a fall, i . e . either in faith or morals. This is done by evil example, by teaching to sin, by sneers at piety, by giving soft names to gross offences. One of these little ones. Whether child or adult, a pure, simple soul, which has a certain faith it be not strong enough to resist all attack. Even the heathen recognized the respect due to the young: "Maxima debetur puero reverentia"... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Matthew 18:6-9

Occasions of stumbling. To stumble is so to trip as to be hindered in faith or to be turned out of the way (cf. Matthew 5:29 , Matthew 5:30 ; Matthew 11:6 ; Matthew 13:21 ; Matthew 15:12 ; Matthew 24:10 ; Matthew 26:31 , Matthew 26:33 ; John 6:61 , John 6:62 , John 6:66 ; John 16:1 ). Occasions of stumbling are evil influences—allurements, persuasions, temptations, bad example, calumnies, insults, persecutions. The text teaches— I. THAT CHRIST HOLDS THE ... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Matthew 18:7

This and the preceding verse occur in St. Luke ( Luke 17:1 , Luke 17:2 ) in an inverted order. Woe unto the world! The Lord thinks of the deadly evil brought into the world by offences given, such as bad example, unholy lives of Christians, persecutions, scoffs, thoughtlessness—things which lead so many astray. For it must needs be. While men are what they are, such consequences must be expected. This is not an absolute, but a relative, necessity. Man's heart is evil, his tendencies... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Matthew 18:8

Wherefore . The Lord teaches how to avoid this sin of giving offence, repeating the solemn words already delivered in the sermon on the mount, though with some variation and a different context ( Matthew 5:29 , Matthew 5:30 ). The reference on the former occasion was especially to breaches of the seventh commandment; here the Lord speaks of offences in general, of that external corruption among mankind which is the fruitful source of temptation and sin. The only remedy for this is the... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Matthew 18:8

The severity of spiritual discipline. Cutting off a right hand and plucking out a right eye are extreme measures, types of the severest dealing with one's self. They bring into thought those cases of disease in which signs of mortification are shown, and the limb must be promptly surrendered or the life will be lost. Our Lord's counsel rests upon the recognized fact that bodily organs are the agents of sin. The palate is the agency of drunkenness and gluttony, the eye of sensuality, and the... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Matthew 18:8-9

The offending member. A moment's reflection will convince us that these stern sentences of Christ's are unanswerable. If the alternative lay between losing a limb and losing his life, who would hesitate with his decision? "All that a man hath will he give for his life." I. IT IS POSSIBLE FOR WHAT IS VERY NEAR TO US TO BE FATALLY HURTFUL TO US . It would be a mistake to suppose that our Lord meant that under any circumstances self-mutilation would be a... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Matthew 18:9

Hell fire. A synonym for the "everlasting fire" of the previous verse, and the "unquenchable fire" of the Baptist's warning ( Matthew 3:12 ), and to be understood in the same sense. It is good to be saved even with the loss of all that makes earthly life happy and precious. read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Matthew 18:1-6

See also Mark 9:33-41; Luke 9:46-50.Who is the greatest in the kingdom, of heaven? - By the kingdom of heaven they meant the kingdom which they supposed he was about to set up - his kingdom as the Messiah. They asked the question because they supposed, in accordance with the common expectation of the Jews, that he was about to set up a temporal kingdom of great splendor, and they wished to know who should have the principal offices, and posts of honor and profit. This was among them a frequent... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Matthew 18:7

Woe unto the world because of offences - That is, offences will be the cause of woe or of suffering. Offences, here, mean things that will produce sin: that will cause us to sin, or temptations to induce others to sin. See the notes at Matthew 5:29.It must needs be ... - 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, and rejoicing when they have succeeded in causing them... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Matthew 18:8-9

If thy hand ... - See the notes at Matthew 5:29-30. The sense in all these instances is the same. Worldly attachments, friendships, and employments of any kind, that cannot be pursued without leading us into sin, be they ever so dear to us, must be abandoned, or the soul will be lost.It is better for thee to enter into life halt or maimed ... - It is not meant, by this, that when the body shall be raised it will be maimed and disfigured in this manner. It will be perfect. See 1 Corinthians... read more

The Pulpit Commentary - Matthew 18:6

The Pulpit Commentary - Matthew 18:6-9

The Pulpit Commentary - Matthew 18:7

The Pulpit Commentary - Matthew 18:8

The Pulpit Commentary - Matthew 18:8

The Pulpit Commentary - Matthew 18:8-9

The Pulpit Commentary - Matthew 18:9

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Matthew 18:1-6

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Matthew 18:7

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Matthew 18:8-9

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