A Millstone Around the Neck - Matthew 18:6

Matthew the apostle wrote how, “the disciples” came “unto Jesus, saying, Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven? And Jesus called a little child unto him, and set him in the midst of them, and said, Verily I say unto you, Except you be converted, and become as little children, you shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven. Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven. And whoso shall receive one such little child in my name receives me”, and in chapter eighteen and verse six of his book, Matthew shared how Jesus said, “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” where we read:

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.

The verse reads, “But whoso shall offend one of these little ones which believe in me, ...”. Matthew began with the word, “but” or “moreover and” “whoso shall offend” which means “whatever person whether male or female will put a stumbling block or impediment in the way upon which another may trip and fall, entice to sin and cause to begin to distrust and desert one whom he ought to trust and obey” “one of these little ones” or “a certain one of the small children” “which believe” which means “who are persuaded, trust and have confidence” “in me” which refers to Jesus Himself. Matthew shared how Jesus began to declare what would happen to to anyone who causes a “little child” to “distrust” and not believe in Him.

The verse continues, “... it were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and that he were drowned in the depth of the sea.. Matthew added the words, “it were better” or “it would be more profitable and expedient” “for him” which refers to “for the person who offends a little child” “that a millstone” or “that a large grinding stone used in a mill and turned by a mule” “were hanged” which means “suspended and hung” “about his neck” or “around the person's throat and neck of the body”, “and that he were drowned” which means “and that the person who offends the little child were plunged and submerged” “in the depth” or “in the high and deep waters where ships sail” “of the sea” which means “belonging to the large body of water such as the Mediterranean or Red Sea”. Matthew shared how Jesus said it was more profitable for a person who makes little children distrust Him to have a “millstone” hung around the neck of their body and to be plunged into the depths of the sea.

When we think through Matthew's words in this verse, we see how serious an offense it is for a person to persuade a little child to distrust Jesus. Jesus declared it would be better to be to have a huge stone wrapped around the neck of the person who does this and that they be “drowned” in deep waters. God desires for all people to “believe and trust” in Him and His Son Jesus, and whoever attempts to persuade otherwise has a future awaiting them that shall be worse than being submerged beneath deep waters until they stop breathing.

Next time Matthew shares how Jesus declares, “woe to the world because of offenses”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

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