New Living Translation
Matthew 18:7
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.
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
5“And anyone who welcomes a little child like this on my behalf is welcoming me. 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. “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. 9And if your eye causes you to sin, gouge it out and throw it away. It’s better to enter eternal life with only one eye than to have two eyes and be thrown into the fire of hell.
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 13:7So disputes broke out between the herdsmen of Abram and Lot. (At that time Canaanites and Perizzites were also living in the land.)
- 1 Samuel 2:17So the sin of these young men was very serious in the Lord’s sight, for they treated the Lord’s offerings with contempt.
- 2 Samuel 12:14Nevertheless, because you have shown utter contempt for the word of the Lord by doing this, your child will die.”
- 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!
- Romans 2:23You are so proud of knowing the law, but you dishonor God by breaking it.
- 1 Timothy 5:14So I advise these younger widows to marry again, have children, and take care of their own homes. Then the enemy will not be able to say anything against them.
- 1 Timothy 6:1All slaves should show full respect for their masters so they will not bring shame on the name of God and his teaching.
- 2 Peter 2:2Many will follow their evil teaching and shameful immorality. And because of these teachers, the way of truth will be slandered.
- Mark 13:7And you will hear of wars and threats of wars, but don’t panic. Yes, these things must take place, but the end won’t follow immediately.
- Acts 1:16“Brothers,” he said, “the Scriptures had to be fulfilled concerning Judas, who guided those who arrested Jesus. This was predicted long ago by the Holy Spirit, speaking through King David.
- 1 Corinthians 11:19But, of course, there must be divisions among you so that you who have God’s approval will be recognized!
- 2 Thessalonians 2:3Don’t be fooled by what they say. For that day will not come until there is a great rebellion against God and the man of lawlessness is revealed—the one who brings destruction.
- 1 Timothy 4:1Now the Holy Spirit tells us clearly that in the last times some will turn away from the true faith; they will follow deceptive spirits and teachings that come from demons.
- 2 Timothy 3:1You should know this, Timothy, that in the last days there will be very difficult times.
- 2 Timothy 4:3For a time is coming when people will no longer listen to sound and wholesome teaching. They will follow their own desires and will look for teachers who will tell them whatever their itching ears want to hear.
- Jude 1:4I say this because some ungodly people have wormed their way into your churches, saying that God’s marvelous grace allows us to live immoral lives. The condemnation of such people was recorded long ago, for they have denied 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
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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