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Matthew 18:6-9 (Sin and judgment)

INTRODUCTION: Today is the second message in our series on Jesus the Master Teacher. Today’s message has a markedly different tone from last week’s message, and that’s because Jesus’ teaching has a markedly different tone from his teaching last week. Last week we talked about Jesus loves the little children. This week it’s chop off your arm if it causes you to sin. Then, next week it’s all about the good shepherd going after the lost lamb.

Jesus was like that. He talked about both the tender and the tough parts of life and often in the same setting. This is one of the reasons why he is the Master Teacher. No subject was off limits. He wasn’t concerned about pleasing his audience or watering things down. He didn’t pull any punches. He told it like it is, which means we sometimes get a soft and tender passage like last week, and we sometimes get a more difficult passage like this week. (Read Matthew 18:6-9 and pray.)

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Today’s message is all about causing sin. Jesus is concerned about those who cause his followers to sin. He pronounces a woe upon this world and upon the person who causes others to sin. And he is concerned about the things in our own lives that cause us to sin.

We summed up last week’s message as “Jesus loves the little children, and so should we.” You can sum up today’s message as “God takes sin seriously, and so should we.” Woe to those who cause sin in this world.

I. God’s fierce protection of his children (6)

We begin with God’s fierce protection of his children. And right away we see why there is no contradiction between “Jesus loves the little children” last week, and Jesus’ tough words on sin this week. The reason Jesus speaks so harshly about sin is because of God’s great love for us. Sin is harmful to us, so of course he speaks harshly about sin. Look at verse 6 with me now:

“But if anyone 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 depths of the sea.” (Matthew 18:6)

   A. “Little ones who believe” (transition from children to believers)
      – Matthew 10:42

With this verse Jesus transitions from speaking specifically about little children to speaking about believers in general. Now this verse is transitional and so it still includes little children. We can assume the little child Jesus had stand among them is still standing there. And so, the warnings attached to this verse would also apply to such things as child abuse or neglect or abortion as we mentioned last week.

But I also want you to notice the change in this verse from just “little ones” to “little ones who believe in me.” Jesus is speaking about all believers here, whether they are little children who believe in Jesus or simply believers who have become like little children by putting their faith and trust in Jesus as Savior.

This makes us go back and broaden the application of verse 5 as well, where Jesus said whoever welcomes a little child in his name welcomes him as well. Now in the larger context it becomes clear that in verse 5 Jesus is also saying that those who welcome believers welcome Jesus as well. Jesus not only identifies with little children. He identifies with all believers, with all who put their faith in him.

Why does Jesus call us “little ones?” For several reasons. One, because we are little and insignificant in the eyes of the world. Also, because we have made ourselves little, we have humbled ourselves like a little child to enter the kingdom of heaven. And then, because we are his children. We are his little ones. We have been adopted into his family as the children of God. And so, we also are the little ones here in verse 6, these “little ones who believe” in Jesus.

Notice the word “one” in verse 6. Jesus says, “But if anyone causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin.” We looked at Matthew 10:42 last week where Jesus also emphasized the word “one”: “And if anyone gives even a cup of cold water to one of these little ones because he is my disciple, I tell you the truth, he will certainly not lose his reward.” (Matthew 10:42) Just as there is great reward in helping even one of Jesus’ disciples, so also there is severe punishment for harming even one.

   B. “Large millstone around his neck” (severe consequences)
      – 2 Thessalonians 1:9-10

Which leads us to the second part of verse 6 where Jesus talks about the large millstone. “But if anyone 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 depths of the sea.” (Matthew 18:6) Just as a parent will fiercely protect their children, so God protects his children.

Protecting children is instinctual to a parent. When I walk our dog, Coco, around the neighborhood, we will often pass a mother duck with her ducklings. The ducklings will all run and hide behind their mother, and she will spread out her wings and start hissing at Coco. Even though he’s on a leash, the message is clear: don’t mess with my children.

Now a mother duck is no match for a dog but imagine if that was a bear with her cubs. I’m sure you’ve all heard the saying don’t provoke a mama bear with her children. Well, don’t provoke God with his children. God is the fierce protector of his children, and Jesus says it would be better for someone to drown with a millstone around their neck than cause one of his little ones to sin.

The millstone here represents the severe consequences for those who cause believers to sin. The word Jesus uses here doesn’t refer to a small millstone that you might use to grind grain by hand. No, this is one of those giant millstones, the kind that you pull around in a circle using an ox or a donkey. These millstones weighed hundreds of pounds. They had a large hole in the middle, and in this image that large hole is used to hang the millstone around the offending person’s neck.

Now, I don’t know about you, but that doesn’t sound like a real good death to me – hang a large millstone around my neck and throw me into the deepest part of the ocean. I can’t imagine there are too many people who would say, “That’s the way I want to go!” And yet, Jesus says that type of death is preferable to the consequences of leading other people into sin, especially God’s own children.

We read about what will happen to those who persecute God’s people in the book of 2 Thessalonians. Paul writes in chapter one: “They will be punished with everlasting destruction and shut out from the presence of the Lord and from the majesty of his power 10 on the day he comes to be glorified in his holy people.” (2 Thessalonians 1:9-10) Yes, the millstone imagery is frightening, but it points to an even deeper truth. It is better to drown in the waters of the ocean than to burn in the fires of hell.

Part of what Jesus is saying with all this imagery is that there is no escape for those who cause his children to stumble or sin. The weight of the millstone in the illustration and the depth of the sea guarantee that there is no escape from this judgment to come. In fact, the only escape would be if someone else were to take the weight of the millstone for you.

Which is exactly what Jesus did for us at the cross. He took the weight of all your sins and mine, the sins of the whole world, and he plunged himself under the ocean depths of God’s anger and wrath for sin as he took God’s just judgment for sin on himself. He took the millstone from your neck, and he hung it around his own neck. He is not only the Master Teacher. He is our Wonderful Savior!

II. Woe to those who cause sin (7)

So, that’s the first verse in our passage today. Jesus tells us that God is the fierce protector of his children. Next, Jesus pronounces a woe upon those persons and things that cause people to sin. Look at verse 7 with me now:

“Woe to the world because of the things that cause people to sin! Such things must come, but woe to the man through whom they come!” (Matthew 18:7)

   A. Woe to the world because of things that cause people to sin
      – 1 John 2:15-16

Jesus actually pronounces two woes here. First, he pronounces a woe upon the world: “Woe to the world because of the things that cause people to sin.” A “woe” here is an expression of sorrow as well as a pronouncement of judgment. Jesus takes it for granted that there will always be things in this sinful world that cause people to sin. And yet he still pronounces a woe on the world because of those things that cause people to sin.

When Jesus speaks about “those things that cause people to sin,” he uses a word that is also translated as a “stumbling block.” A stumbling block is anything you come across on your path that trips you up, that causes you to stumble. The same word can also refer to a trap or a snare.
This reminds us that there is always something deceptive about sin. The lure in the trap, the bait on the hook – it always looks good up front, but if you knew the consequences you would run fast and far away.

So, what are some examples of things in the world that can trip us up, that can cause us to stumble or sin? There are so many of them!

• The movies we watch, the books we read, the music we listen to can all contain stumbling blocks or snares if we’re not careful.
• Minimizing or denying sin can be a stumbling block to people.
• Inviting others to join you in your sin or setting a bad example can be a stumbling block to others.
• Living together before marriage is a huge stumbling block in our society that causes many people to sin every day.
• Social media can be a stumbling block. If you use Facebook or Instagram, you need to examine your motives before posting. Why are you posting? Be careful not to post things that might cause someone else to sin through jealousy, envy or resentment.
• False teaching is another major stumbling block in the world. Those who teach other people contrary to God’s word lead many people away from God and into sin.

There are so many stumbling blocks around us in the world. That’s why God tells us in 1 John 2: “Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For everything in the world – the cravings of sinful man, the lust of his eyes and the boasting of what he has and does – comes not from the Father but from the world.” (1 John 2:15-16)

So, that’s the first woe Jesus pronounces here. “Woe to the world because of the things that cause people to sin!”

   B. Woe to the person through whom they come
      – 1 Kings 14:16; Matthew 26:24

And then he pronounces an additional woe to the person through whom they come. Jesus recognizes that in a sinful world there will always be things that cause people to sin, but he pronounces a specific woe on those persons through whom those things come. In other words, we are responsible before God not only for our own sins, but for our part in causing others to sin as well.

We find a number of examples of this in Scripture. For example, Jeroboam was one of the wicked kings of Israel. Ahijah was the prophet at that time. We read Ahijah’s prophecy in 1 Kings 14:16: “And [God] will give Israel up because of the sins Jeroboam has committed and has caused Israel to commit.” (1 Kings 14:16) The rabbis considered Jeroboam to be the worst sinner of all because he not only sinned himself but also caused Israel to sin.

Of course, the biggest example of all is Satan. Satan tempted Adam and Eve and brought sin and ruin on the whole world. It’s no wonder the Bible tells us that the lake of fire was prepared for the devil and his angels. (Matthew 25:41)

Just because there will always be things in the world that cause people to sin does not relieve us of our responsibilities in this matter. There are no excuses. We can’t say, “Well, if it hadn’t been me, then it would have been someone else.”

Think about Judas who betrayed Jesus. Jesus said this about Judas in Matthew 26:24: “The Son of Man will go just as it is written about him. But woe to that man who betrays the Son of Man! It would be better for him if he had not been born.” (Matthew 26:24) Jesus was going to go to the cross anyways. That was God’s plan from the beginning. But Judas was still responsible for his actions.

Yes, there will always be things in the world that cause people to stumble or sin, but Jesus says woe to the person through whom they come. We are responsible not only for our own sins, but for our part in causing others to sin as well. We are responsible not only for our own spiritual growth but also for the spiritual growth and well-being of others. I like what Warren Wiersbe says about these verses: “The truly humble person helps to build up others, not to tear them down. He is a stepping-stone, not a stumbling block.” (Warren Wiersbe. The Bible Exposition Commentary, Vol. 1, p. 65.)

Jesus says woe to the world because of the things that cause people to sin. And woe to the person through whom they come.

III. Our urgent need to avoid sin (8-9)

So, Jesus begins this passage by talking about God as the fierce protector of his children. Next, he pronounces a woe to those who cause sin. And then, finally, Jesus speaks about our urgent need to avoid sin in our own lives. Look at verses 8-9 where Jesus says:

“If your hand or your foot causes you to sin cut it off and throw it away. It is better for you to enter life maimed or crippled than to have two hands or two feet and be thrown into eternal fire. 9 And if your eye causes you to sin, gouge it out and throw it away. It is better for you to enter life with one eye than to have two eyes and be thrown into the fire of hell.” (Matthew 18:8-9)

   A. Get rid of anything in your life that causes you to sin
      – Hebrews 12:1 (see also Matthew 5:29-30)

Jesus has just pronounced a woe on those who cause others to sin. But if you want to avoid leading other people into sin, you must first take care of the sin in your own life. And so, Jesus tells you to get rid of anything in your life that causes you to sin.

And he does so using very graphic imagery – cutting off your hand or foot, gouging out your eye. Jesus gave similar instructions back in Matthew 5 in the Sermon on the Mount. There he was talking about the sin of adultery and how we should avoid even looking lustfully at another person with our eyes.

Now Jesus is not saying that you should actually start lopping off limbs to avoid sin. He is not advocating self-harm. Your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, and God does not want you to harm yourself. So, Jesus is not recommending self-amputation, although there are circumstances when a person does need to have a limb amputated in order to save their physical life. How much more must we practice spiritual amputation in order to save our spiritual lives.

Jesus is not talking about physically removing eyes and limbs but rather performing spiritual surgery on our lives. The hand and the foot represent those actions that lead you into sin. The eye represents those things you view or even think about that lead you into sin.

Hebrews 12:1 puts it this way: “Let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us.” (Hebrews 12:1) In other words, you need to get rid of everything in your life that pulls you and other people away from Jesus. Just as it’s better to lose a leg than to lose your life, it’s better to lose your sin than to lose your eternal life.

So, let’s get personal for a moment. What are some of the specific things that cause you to stumble or sin in your life? What are some of the traps or snares that you fall for over and over again? We all have them. Jesus tells you to identify them in your life, and then be brutal with them. Cut them off. Amputate them from your life.

If you’re not a Christian, there may be certain sins in your life that are keeping you from coming to Jesus. Which will you choose, Jesus or your sin? If you are a Christian, there may be certain sins in your life that are keeping you from growing in Christ. Which will you choose, Jesus or your sin?

Extreme circumstances call for extreme measures, and nothing is more urgent or extreme than our need to avoid sin. Don’t be like St. Augustine who as a young man prayed, “Lord, make me pure, but not yet!” Take decisive action. Jesus says get rid of anything in your life that causes you to sin, no matter what the cost.

   B. It is better to go without than to suffer the eternal fire of hell
      – Matthew 10:28; Jude 24-25; Revelation 20:15

Why? Very simply, because it is better to go without than to suffer the eternal fire of hell. Charles Spurgeon commented on these verses: “Two hands, two feet, and two eyes will be of small advantage if cast into everlasting fire.” (Charles Spurgeon. The Gospel of the Kingdom: An Exposition of the Gospel of Matthew.) Or as someone else put it: “It is better to go limping into heaven than leaping into hell.” (Frederick Bruner, Matthew Volume 2, p. 640) No sacrifice is too great. No matter what you must do to get rid of sin in this life, it is worth it.

Jesus said in Matthew 10:28: “Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather, be afraid of the One who can destroy both soul and body in hell.” (Matthew 10:28) Your physical life is important, but your spiritual life and your eternal life are more important.

We must all stand before God one day and give an account for our lives. The Bible says in that day books will be opened. Another book will be opened which is the book of life. The dead will be judged according to what they had done as recorded in the books. And then Revelation 20:15 tells us: “If anyone’s name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire.” (Revelation 20:15) When I read that verse, I’ve only got one question on my mind. How do I get my name written into the book of life?

And it’s so simple. Jesus already did everything for you. All you need to do is come to God confessing your sin and putting your faith in Jesus who died for your sins at the cross. When you put your faith in Jesus, God forgives you of all your sin. He washes you clean and makes you a new creation in Christ. He gives you his Holy Spirit and adopts you into his family. And he writes your name in the book of life for all of eternity.

Jesus says get rid of anything in your life that causes you to sin. It is better to go without than to suffer the eternal fire of hell.

CONCLUSION: God is holy. We are sinful. Life is short. Eternity is long. We are responsible to God not only for our own sins but for all the ways in which we contribute to the sins of others. We should especially be careful of the ways that we may harm believers because God is fiercely protective of his children. But we should beware of all sin, knowing its consequences, and we should put our faith in Jesus so that we may be saved from sin and death and hell.

Jesus took the millstone from your neck and put it on his own. Let us give him all the glory and honor. “To him who is able to keep you from falling and to present you before his glorious presence without fault and with great joy – to the only God our Savior be glory, majesty, power and authority, through Jesus Christ our Lord, before all ages, now and forevermore! Amen.” (Jude 24-25)

© Ray Fowler

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