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!
• 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!
• New Living Translation (NLT)“What sorrow awaits the world, because it tempts people to sin. Temptations are inevitable, but what sorrow awaits the person who does the tempting.

Context of Matthew 18:7

5"Whoever receives one such child in my name receives me, 6but whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him to have a great millstone fastened around his neck and to be drowned in the depth of the sea. "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! 8And 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 crippled or lame than with two hands or two feet to be thrown into the eternal fire. 9And if your eye causes you to sin, tear it out and throw it away. It is better for you to enter life with one eye than with two eyes to be thrown into the hell of fire.

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 between the herdsmen of Abram's livestock and the herdsmen of Lot's livestock. At that time the Canaanites and the Perizzites were dwelling in the land.
• 1 Samuel 2:17Thus the sin of the young men was very great in the sight of the Lord, for the men treated the offering of the Lord with contempt.
• 2 Samuel 12:14Nevertheless, because by this deed you have utterly scorned the Lord, the child who is born to you shall die."
• Luke 17:1And he said to his disciples, "Temptations to sin are sure to come, but woe to the one through whom they come!
• Romans 2:23You who boast in the law dishonor God by breaking the law.
• 1 Timothy 5:14So I would have younger widows marry, bear children, manage their households, and give the adversary no occasion for slander.
• 1 Timothy 6:1Let all who are under a yoke as bondservants regard their own masters as worthy of all honor, so that the name of God and the teaching may not be reviled.
• 2 Peter 2:2And many will follow their sensuality, and because of them the way of truth will be blasphemed.
• Mark 13:7And when you hear of wars and rumors of wars, do not be alarmed. This must take place, but the end is not yet.
• Acts 1:16"Brothers, the Scripture had to be fulfilled, which the Holy Spirit spoke beforehand by the mouth of David concerning Judas, who became a guide to those who arrested Jesus.
• 1 Corinthians 11:19for there must be factions among you in order that those who are genuine among you may be recognized.
• 2 Thessalonians 2:3Let no one deceive you in any way. For that day will not come, unless the rebellion comes first, and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the son of destruction,
• 1 Timothy 4:1Now the Spirit expressly says that in later times some will depart from the faith by devoting themselves to deceitful spirits and teachings of demons,
• 2 Timothy 3:1But understand this, that in the last days there will come times of difficulty.
• 2 Timothy 4:3For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions,
• Jude 1:4For certain people have crept in unnoticed who long ago were designated for this condemnation, ungodly people, who pervert the grace of our God into sensuality and deny 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