Matthew 18:7-14

Mat 18:7 "Woe to the world because of its stumbling blocks! For it is inevitable that stumbling blocks come; but woe to that man through whom the stumbling block comes!

There are two distinct warnings. The first is to the person that stumbles because of a temptation that causes you to sin. There are a lot of temptations. This world breeds issues. Our commercials on television show women mostly naked, alcohol to the excess etc. There is a lot of peer pressure to do things that cause a person to sin. That brings up the second warning. The person that causes you to sin, the tempter so to speak. They will not be spared the harshness of Hell unless the repent and accept Jesus.

Mat 18:8  If your hand or your foot causes you to stumble, cut it off and throw it from you; it is better for you to enter life crippled or lame, than to have two hands or two feet and be cast into the eternal fire. Mat 18:9 If your eye causes you to stumble, pluck it out and throw it from you. It is better for you to enter life with one eye, than to have two eyes and be cast into the fiery hell.

Jesus is talking metaphorically here but it is clear that if you have an issue that causes you to sin you should do everything you can to avoid it. A blocker on the computer, AA meetings, share your issues if you can with a mentor.

Mat 18:10 "See that you do not despise one of these little ones, for I say to you that their angels in heaven continually see the face of My Father who is in heaven. Mat 18:11 ["For the Son of Man has come to save that which was lost.]This verse was not in the Greek translation does not contain this verse.

Jesus definitely has a soft spot for children because they can be lead astray to easily. Do remember we are all children of God. I know it is different than the being the youngest but it is good to remember that we belong to him. We do have free will so we are more than capable to sin. We do have a way to repent, thank God for that.

Mat 18:12 "What do you think? If any man has a hundred sheep, and one of them has gone astray, does he not leave the ninety-nine on the mountains and go and search for the one that is straying? Mat 18:13 "If it turns out that he finds it, truly I say to you, he rejoices over it more than over the ninety-nine which have not gone astray. Mat 18:14 "So it is not the will of your Father who is in heaven that one of these little ones perish.

If you become lost in sin Jesus will seek you out. It is important to listen to the warnings and repent. The Holy Spirit will convict you and you can ignore it or you can turn back.

Agape

Dave