Luke 17 - 4.25.24
S - Luke 17:1-3 Jesus said to his disciples: “Things that cause people to stumble are bound to come, but woe to anyone through whom they come. 2 It would be better for them to be thrown into the sea with a millstone tied around their neck than to cause one of these little ones to stumble. 3 So watch yourselves. “If your brother or sister [a] sins against you, rebuke them; and if they repent, forgive them (NIV)
O – Jesus is warning the disciples of God’s wrath should they offend, abuse, or lead people astray. We really see in the message translation that this is serious business! “Better to wear a concrete vest and take a swim with the fishes than give even one of these dear little ones a hard time! Wow! That is a pretty clear command. Indifference to the training and treatment of new Christians can leave them theologically vulnerable as well.
A – We may think, “Well I’m good. I’m not offending anyone or causing anyone to stumble and sin.” However, it is important to understand what Jesus meant when He spoke of offenses and stumbling blocks. The ancient Greek word used here for offenses is skandalon, and it comes from the word for a bent-stick — the stick that springs the trap or sets the bait. It also was used for a stumbling block, something that people trip over.
Sometimes skandalon is good — such as the way that people “trip” over Jesus, and are offended at the gospel.
But among brothers and sisters in Christ, a skandalon is bad. It can be false counsel - Matthew 16:23 Jesus turned and said to Peter, “Get behind me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to me; you do not have in mind the concerns of God, but merely human concerns.” It can be leading a brother into sin by your “liberty”- Romans 14:13 Therefore let us stop passing judgment on one another. Instead, make up your mind not to put any stumbling block or obstacle in the way of a brother or sister. Division and false teaching bring a skandalon among God’s people - Romans 16:17-18 (msg) One final word of counsel, friends. Keep a sharp eye out for those who take bits and pieces of the teaching that you learned and then use them to make trouble. Give these people a wide berth. They have no intention of living for our Master Christ. They’re only in this for what they can get out of it and aren’t above using pious sweet talk to dupe unsuspecting innocents.
Essentially Jesus said: “People are going to take the bait — but woe to you if you offer the hook. People are going to trip up — but woe to you if you set the stumbling block in their way.”
The solution to being a stumbling block to others is love: He who loves his brother abides in the light, and there is no cause for stumbling in him. If we love our brother, we will not bring an offense into their life.
And if/when someone sins against you, address the issue directly (rebuke them). When they repent, extend forgiveness—even if it happens repeatedly. If someone seems ripe for the judgment or discipline of God, let God do it. God doesn’t need you as an instrument of His judgment, only as an instrument of His love. (Bluelettterbible.org)
Are we making follow-through care of recent Christ-followers a high priority in our DSC family? Jesus says that our actions matter both in this life and for eternity. We need to be purposeful in loving on and training up new believer’s within our family…..as a family. It’s not up to the pastor or the leaders alone to make sure they don’t stumble. We are commissioned to walk alongside new believers and gently correct them when necessary, without judging.
P – Lord I pray we would all look at this command to keep others from stumbling in a fresh light. Help us not to be passive or indifferent. May we strive to live in a way that reflects Jesus’ love and grace toward others. Whether that be toward the lost and unchurched, our own Christian brothers and sisters, or the new believers who walk through our doors. In Jesus’ name I pray…Amen!
- Crystal Flory
