Matthew 18:7

Matthew 18:7 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)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!
• New International Version (NIV)Woe to the world because of the things that cause people to stumble! Such things must come, but woe to the person through whom they come!
• English Standard Version (ESV)"Woe to the world for temptations to sin! For it is necessary that temptations come, but woe to the one by whom the temptation comes!
• New King James Version (NKJV)Woe to the world because of offenses! For offenses must come, but woe to that man by whom the offense comes!

Context of Matthew 18:7

5Whoever receives and welcomes one child like this in My name receives Me; 6but whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in Me to stumble and sin [by leading him away from My teaching], it would be better for him to have a heavy millstone [as large as one turned by a donkey] hung around his neck and to be drowned in the depth of the sea. “Woe (judgment is coming) to the world because of stumbling blocks and temptations to sin! It is inevitable that stumbling blocks come; but woe to the person on whose account or through whom the stumbling block comes! 8“If your hand or your foot causes you to stumble and sin, cut it off and throw it away from you [that is, remove yourself from the source of temptation]; it is better for you to enter life crippled or lame, than to have two hands or two feet and be thrown into everlasting fire. 9If your eye causes you to stumble and sin, pluck it out and throw it away from you [that is, remove yourself from the source of temptation]; it is better for you to enter life with only one eye, than to have two eyes and be thrown into the fiery hell.

Matthew 18:7 word by word

Οὐαὶ τῷ κόσμῳ ἀπὸ τῶν σκανδάλων· ἀνάγκη γὰρ ἐλθεῖν τὰ σκάνδαλα, πλὴν οὐαὶ τῷ ἀνθρώπῳ δι᾽ οὗ τὸ σκάνδαλον ἔρχεται.Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• Woeοὐαίouai · woe!G3759
• unto the worldὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
• unto the worldκόσμοςkosmos · worldG2889
• becauseἀπόapo · away fromG575
• of offencesσκάνδαλονskandalon · stumbling blockG4625
• forγάρgar · forG1063
• itεἰμίeimi · to beG1510
• must needsἀνάγκηanagkē · necessityG318
• thatἔρχομαιerchomai · to come/goG2064
• butπλήνplēn · but/howeverG4133
• toἄνθρωποςanthrōpos · a humanG444
• thatἐκεῖνοςekeinos · thatG1565
• byδιάdia · through/because ofG1223
• whomὅςhos hē ho · whichG3739

Cross-references for Matthew 18:7

• Genesis 13:7And there was strife and quarreling between the herdsmen of Abram’s cattle and the herdsmen of Lot’s cattle. Now the Canaanite and the Perizzite were living in the land at that same time [making grazing of the livestock difficult].
• 1 Samuel 2:17So the sin of the [two] young men [Hophni and Phinehas] was very great before the Lord, for the men treated the offering of the Lord disrespectfully.
• 2 Samuel 12:14Nevertheless, because by this deed you have given [a great] opportunity to the enemies of the Lord to blaspheme [Him], the son that is born to you shall certainly die.”
• Luke 17:1Jesus said to His disciples, “Stumbling blocks [temptations and traps set to lure one to sin] are sure to come, but woe (judgment is coming) to him through whom they come!
• Romans 2:23You who boast in the Law, do you [repeatedly] dishonor God by breaking the Law?
• 1 Timothy 5:14So I want younger widows to get married, have children, manage their households, and not give opponents of the faith any occasion for slander.
• 1 Timothy 6:1All who are under the yoke as bond-servants (slaves) are to regard their own masters as worthy of honor and respect so that the name of God and the teaching [about Him] will not be spoken against.
• 2 Peter 2:2Many will follow their shameful ways, and because of them the way of truth will be maligned.
• Mark 13:7When you hear of wars and rumors of wars, do not be alarmed (frightened, troubled); these things must take place, but the end is not yet.
• Acts 1:16“Brothers and sisters, it was necessary that the Scripture be fulfilled, which the Holy Spirit foretold by the lips of David [king of Israel] about Judas [Iscariot], who acted as guide to those who arrested Jesus.
• 1 Corinthians 11:19for [doubtless] there have to be factions among you, so that those who are of approved character may be clearly recognized among you.
• 2 Thessalonians 2:3Let no one in any way deceive or entrap you, for that day will not come unless the apostasy comes first [that is, the great rebellion, the abandonment of the faith by professed Christians], and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the son of destruction [the Antichrist, the one who is destined to be destroyed],
• 1 Timothy 4:1But the [Holy] Spirit explicitly and unmistakably declares that in later times some will turn away from the faith, paying attention instead to deceitful and seductive spirits and doctrines of demons,
• 2 Timothy 3:1But understand this, that in the last days dangerous times [of great stress and trouble] will come [difficult days that will be hard to bear].
• 2 Timothy 4:3For the time will come when people will not tolerate sound doctrine and accurate instruction [that challenges them with God’s truth]; but wanting to have their ears tickled [with something pleasing], they will accumulate for themselves [many] teachers [one after another, chosen] to satisfy their own desires and to support the errors they hold,
• Jude 1:4For certain people have crept in unnoticed [just as if they were sneaking in by a side door]. They are ungodly persons whose condemnation was predicted long ago, for they distort the grace of our God into decadence and immoral freedom [viewing it as an opportunity to do whatever they want], and deny and disown our only Master and Lord, Jesus Christ.

Commentaries on Matthew 18:7

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 7Wo! - Or, alas! . It is the opinion of some eminent critics, that this word is ever used by our Lord to express sympathy and concern. Because of offenses - Scandals, stumbling-blocks, persecutions, etc. For it must needs be that offenses come - Ϛ , for the coming of offenses is unavoidable. Such is the wickedness of men, such their obstinacy, that they will not come unto Christ that they may have life, but desperately continue deceiving and being…Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 7Woe 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…Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 7-14Verses 7-14 Considering the cunning and malice of Satan, and the weakness and depravity of men's hearts, it is not possible but that there should be offences. God permits them for wise and holy ends, that those who are sincere, and those who are not, may be made known. Being told before, that there will be seducers, tempters, persecutors, and bad examples, let us stand on our guard. We must, as far as lawfully we may, part with what we cannot keep without…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 1-35This fourth major teaching in Matthew (see study note on Matthew 5:1–7:29) focuses on how people responded to the Messiah. The disciples accepted him, while the Jewish leaders and most people did not. As this division increased, Jesus taught his disciples about community life. To follow the standards of Jesus, a community should live with: humility (18:1–5), sensitivity (18:6–9), compassion (18:10–14), discipline (18:15–18), and forgiveness (18:21–35)…Read the comment

Topics related to Matthew 18:7

• Jesus, the Christ
• Temptation
• Wicked (People)

In the dictionaries

• Gain
• Offence
• Owe
• Patience
• Jesus Christ
• Matthew, the Gospel of
• Papyrus
• bind, bond, bound

Commentaries on Matthew 18

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
• Tyndale Open Study Notes
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
• Calvin’s Commentaries
• John Wesley’s Notes
• Catena Aurea
• Illustrated New Testament
• Burkitt’s Expository Notes
• Darby Translation Notes
• Family Bible Notes
• Geneva Bible Translation Notes
• Kingcomments
• John Lightfoot Commentary
• Luther’s Commentary on Selected Bible Passages
• Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
• Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
• The People’s New Testament
• Robertson’s Word Pictures
• Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
• The Fourfold Gospel and Commentary on Acts
• Original Douay–Rheims Annotations
• Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
• EGW Writings