4aTherefore whoever humbles himself as this little child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.
5aWhoever receives one little child like this in My name receives Me.
Jesus Warns of Offenses
6a“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.
7Woe to the world because of offenses! For aoffenses must come, but bwoe to that man by whom the offense comes!
8a“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 into1hell fire.
The Parable of the Lost Sheep
10“Take heed that you do not despise one of these little ones, for I say to you that in heaven atheir angels always bsee the face of My Father who is in heaven.
Anyone who causes a Christian who manifests this childlike attitude to sin, or who places anything in his way to impede his faithfulness, would be better off being weighted down and thrown to his death into the sea. It would be better for him to die before committing such a sin. Christ regards injuring or causing a weak Christian to sin as a very serious offence (Romans 14:19-23; I Corinthians 8:9-13). We are all human, so offences will happen, but our Savior pronounces woe on the person who offends and causes others to sin. Anyone who leads others into sin bears great guilt. Only a deep-seated wickedness attempts to confuse and destroy another's potential.
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