New King James Version
Matthew 18:7
7Woe to the world because of offenses! For offenses must come, but woe to that man by whom the offense comes!
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 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
5Whoever receives one little child like this in My name receives Me. 6“Whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in Me to sin, it would be better for him if a millstone were hung around his neck, and he were drowned in the depth of the sea. Woe to the world because of offenses! For offenses must come, but woe to that man by whom the offense comes! 8“If your hand or foot causes you to sin, cut it off and cast it from you. It is better for you to enter into life lame or maimed, rather than having two hands or two feet, to be cast into the everlasting fire. 9And if your eye causes you to sin, pluck it out and cast it from you. It is better for you to enter into life with one eye, rather than having two eyes, to be cast into hell fire.
Read all of Matthew 18Matthew 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. The Canaanites and the Perizzites then dwelt in the land.
- 1 Samuel 2:17Therefore the sin of the young men was very great before the Lord, for men abhorred the offering of the Lord.
- 2 Samuel 12:14However, because by this deed you have given great occasion to the enemies of the Lord to blaspheme, the child also who is born to you shall surely die.”
- Luke 17:1Then He said to the disciples, “It is impossible that no offenses should come, but woe to him through whom they do come!
- Romans 2:23You who make your boast in the law, do you dishonor God through breaking the law?
- 1 Timothy 5:14Therefore I desire that the younger widows marry, bear children, manage the house, give no opportunity to the adversary to speak reproachfully.
- 1 Timothy 6:1Let as many bondservants as are under the yoke count their own masters worthy of all honor, so that the name of God and His doctrine may not be blasphemed.
- 2 Peter 2:2And many will follow their destructive ways, because of whom the way of truth will be blasphemed.
- Mark 13:7But when you hear of wars and rumors of wars, do not be troubled; for such things must happen, but the end is not yet.
- Acts 1:16“Men and brethren, this Scripture had to be fulfilled, which the Holy Spirit spoke before by the mouth of David concerning Judas, who became a guide to those who arrested Jesus;
- 1 Corinthians 11:19For there must also be factions among you, that those who are approved may be recognized among you.
- 2 Thessalonians 2:3Let no one deceive you by any means; for that Day will not come unless the falling away comes first, and the man of sin is revealed, the son of perdition,
- 1 Timothy 4:1Now the Spirit expressly says that in latter times some will depart from the faith, giving heed to deceiving spirits and doctrines of demons,
- 2 Timothy 3:1But know this, that in the last days perilous times will come:
- 2 Timothy 4:3For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, because they have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers;
- Jude 1:4For certain men have crept in unnoticed, who long ago were marked out for this condemnation, ungodly men, who turn the grace of our God into lewdness and deny the only Lord God and our 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
In the dictionaries
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
New King James Version — © 1982 Thomas Nelson, Inc
Commentaries