New Living Translation
Matthew 18:6
6But if you cause one of these little ones who trusts in me to fall into sin, it would be better for you to have a large millstone tied around your neck and be drowned in the depths of the sea.
Matthew 18:6 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)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.
- New International Version (NIV)“If anyone causes one of these little ones—those who believe in me—to stumble, it would be better for them to have a large millstone hung around their neck and to be drowned in the depths of the sea.
- English Standard Version (ESV)but 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.
- New King James Version (NKJV)“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.
Context of Matthew 18:6
4So anyone who becomes as humble as this little child is the greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven. 5“And anyone who welcomes a little child like this on my behalf is welcoming me. But if you cause one of these little ones who trusts in me to fall into sin, it would be better for you to have a large millstone tied around your neck and be drowned in the depths of the sea. 7“What sorrow awaits the world, because it tempts people to sin. Temptations are inevitable, but what sorrow awaits the person who does the tempting. 8So if your hand or foot causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away. It’s better to enter eternal life with only one hand or one foot than to be thrown into eternal fire with both of your hands and feet.
Read all of Matthew 18Matthew 18:6 word by word
ὃς δ᾽ ἂν σκανδαλίσῃ ἕνα τῶν μικρῶν τούτων τῶν πιστευόντων εἰς ἐμέ, συμφέρει αὐτῷ ἵνα κρεμασθῇ μύλος ὀνικὸς περὶ τὸν τράχηλον αὐτοῦ, καὶ καταποντισθῇ ἐν τῷ πελάγει τῆς θαλάσσης.¶Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- Butδέde · thenG1161
- whosoὅςhos hē ho · whichG3739
- whosoἄνan · ifG302
- shall offendσκανδαλίζωskandalizō · to cause to stumbleG4624
- oneεἷςheis · oneG1520
- ofὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
- ofμικρόςmikros mikroteros · smallG3398
- theseοὗτοςhoutos houtoi hautē hautai · this/he/she/itG3778
- which believeπιστεύωpisteuō · to trust (in)G4100
- inεἰςeis · towardG1519
- meἐγώegō · I/weG1473
- it were betterσυμφέρωsumpherō · be profitableG4851
- for himαὐτόςautos · it/s/heG846
- thatἵναhina · in order that/toG2443
- a millstoneμύλοςmulos · millstoneG3458
- a millstoneὀνικόςonikos · huge millstoneG3684
- were hangedκρεμάωkremannumi · to hangG2910
- aboutἐπίepi · upon/to/againstG1909
- neckτράχηλοςtrachēlos · neckG5137
- andκαίkai · andG2532
- he were drownedκαταποντίζωkatapontizō · to sinkG2670
- inἐνen · in/on/amongG1722
- the depthπέλαγοςpelagos · seaG3989
- of the seaθάλασσαthalassa · seaG2281
Cross-references for Matthew 18:6
- Psalms 105:15“Do not touch my chosen people, and do not hurt my prophets.”
- Zechariah 2:8After a period of glory, the Lord of Heaven’s Armies sent me against the nations who plundered you. For he said, “Anyone who harms you harms my most precious possession.
- Mark 9:42“But if you cause one of these little ones who trusts in me to fall into sin, it would be better for you to be thrown into the sea with a large millstone hung around your neck.
- Luke 17:1One day Jesus said to his disciples, “There will always be temptations to sin, but what sorrow awaits the person who does the tempting!
- Acts 9:5“Who are you, lord?” Saul asked. And the voice replied, “I am Jesus, the one you are persecuting!
- Romans 14:13So let’s stop condemning each other. Decide instead to live in such a way that you will not cause another believer to stumble and fall.
- Romans 15:1We who are strong must be considerate of those who are sensitive about things like this. We must not just please ourselves.
- 1 Corinthians 8:9But you must be careful so that your freedom does not cause others with a weaker conscience to stumble.
- 1 Corinthians 10:32Don’t give offense to Jews or Gentiles or the church of God.
- 2 Thessalonians 1:6In his justice he will pay back those who persecute you.
- Matthew 18:10“Beware that you don’t look down on any of these little ones. For I tell you that in heaven their angels are always in the presence of my heavenly Father.
- Zechariah 13:7“Awake, O sword, against my shepherd, the man who is my partner,” says the Lord of Heaven’s Armies. “Strike down the shepherd, and the sheep will be scattered, and I will turn against the lambs.
- Luke 17:2It would be better to be thrown into the sea with a millstone hung around your neck than to cause one of these little ones to fall into sin.
Commentaries on Matthew 18:6
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 6But whoso shall offend one of these little ones - But, on the contrary, whosoever shall cause one of the least of those who believe in me to be stumbled - to go into the spirit of the world, or give way to sin - such a one shall meet with the most exemplary punishment. Let those who act the part of the devil, in tempting others to sin, hear this declaration of our Lord, and tremble. A millstone - , an ass's millstone, because in ancient times, before the…Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 1-6Verses 1-6 See also Mark 9:33-41; Luke 9:46-50. Who is the greatest in the kingdom, of heaven? - By the kingdom of heaven they meant the kingdom which they supposed he was about to set up - his kingdom as the Messiah. They asked the question because they supposed, in accordance with the common expectation of the Jews, that he was about to set up a temporal kingdom of great splendor, and they wished to know who should have the principal offices, and posts…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 6Cause one … to stumble: This means to lead believers to turn away from Christ, whether children or adults who have become “like children” in faith (see Matthew 18:3). The title little ones emphasizes their humility (see 5:3–12; 18:4; 19:13–15). The thought of being drowned with a large millstone around the neck is terrifying. But Jesus warned that causing someone to lose faith will bring even greater suffering (18:7; 26:24; Revelation 18:21; Matthew…Read the comment
Topics related to Matthew 18:6
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
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