"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!
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. 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.
"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. 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.
"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."
Let's look at verse 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!"
This is a very important truth. He assures us that there will be occasions for stumbling, we must learn to expect them. Further, Jesus is clearly defining that what we think, what we touch and watch matters to God. That requires incredible spiritual self-discipline. The reality that we are Temple of the Holy Spirit, should be our motivation to do that which is pleasing to God. By carelessly flaunting one’s liberty in Christ by participating in an activity that is not itself a sin, may cause weaker brothers and sisters to stumble. If our behavior hurts a weaker brother or sister, we must never attempt to justify our actions. "Woe to that man through whom the stumbling block comes," is a proclamation of judgment, not an expression of sympathy. When it comes to the life of the church, let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, this is the heart of what the Lord is saying, "woe, damnation and cursing to you if you cause a believer to stumble. How many people have we sent in the wrong direction by what we've done?
The Apostle Paul addresses this issue in Romans 14, "Now accept the one who is weak in faith, but not for the purpose of passing judgment on his opinions. One person has faith that he may eat all things, but he who is weak eats vegetables only. The one who eats is not to regard with contempt the one who does not eat, and the one who does not eat is not to judge the one who eats, for God has accepted him. Who are you to judge the servant of another? To his own master he stands or falls; and he will stand, for the Lord is able to make him stand." These words, "the Lord is able to make him stand," assure us that in the end justice will triumph.
Then, in verses 8 and 9, He says "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. 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 emphasizes the hand, foot and the eye, though other body parts can certainly lead us into sin as well. Even where we set our feet matters to God. The eye is the most vulnerable part of the exposed anatomy. Obviously, our Lord is not talking about literal surgery here, that would not solve the root of the problem, which is in the heart. He's talking about spiritual surgery, which is far more important. To put it another way, you are what you do in the privacy of your own home, we need to learn to admit that. The point He's making here, is that we must take drastic action in dealing with sin, otherwise you're not going to ensure that you will escape from hell. You better rid yourself of whatever in your life causes you to sin. If your hands are on the keyboard or mouse of your computer and your eyes are looking at a pornographic website, then get rid of the internet or the computer! If your hand is on the remote and your eyes are watching an inappropriate movie or television show, change the channel or get rid of the TV. We can expect that kind of behavior from those who are condemned, damned to eternal hell, we should not expect it from believers. If God is that deeply concerned with every single child who belongs to Him, then we had better not mistreat or mislead, even the least of these.
I recently had someone say to me, "Listen, I'm not going to live my whole life worrying about what my behavior may or may not cause another person to do! If they sin, that’s their tough luck." If you're willing to destroy the kingdom of God so that you can engage in a particular behavior, it's going to be more than your tough luck! Because there’s a sense in which you are despising that person, considering their life as unworthy of your concern. Believe me, there are going to be consequences for living like that, as though everybody around you is a pain.
In 1 Corinthians 11, Paul writes a strong indictment to the Corinthian believers. "But in giving this instruction, I do not praise you, because you come together not for the better but for the worse. For, in the first place, when you come together as a church, I hear that divisions exist among you; and in part I believe it. For there must also be factions among you, so that those who are approved may become evident among you. Therefore when you meet together, it is not to eat the Lord’s Supper, for in your eating each one takes his own supper first; and one is hungry and another is drunk. What! Do you not have houses in which to eat and drink? Or do you despise the church of God and shame those who have nothing? What shall I say to you? Shall I praise you? In this I will not praise you." Some of you may think you’re eating the Lord’s Supper, but by withholding food from someone in need, you're not!
Look at verses 27 through 29, "Therefore whoever eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner, shall be guilty of the body and the blood of the Lord. But a man must examine himself, and in so doing he is to eat of the bread and drink of the cup. For he who eats and drinks, eats and drinks judgment to himself if he does not judge the body rightly." By consuming something without even giving a thought to others, especially those who do not have, is a very serious offense.
That brings us to verse 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."
That’s a tremendous statement, did you catch that? There’s a lot to unpack in this one verse. We are not look down on another Christian, because of their relation angels in heaven. God’s people have some angels in heaven who continually see the face of God. They are sent to serve God’s people as ministering spirits. By the way, this does not mean that every Christian has his own personal angel, you'll find that nowhere in the Scriptures. But as their special assignment, angels collectively are dispatched for the care of God’s people.
You want to know another way we can look down on people, by looking with indifference on a Christian who has fallen into sin. That’s not the way God calls us to treat people! Galatians 6 says "Brethren, even if anyone is caught in any trespass, you who are spiritual, restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness; each one looking to yourself, so that you too will not be tempted. Bear one another’s burdens, and thereby fulfill the law of Christ. For if anyone thinks he is something when he is nothing, he deceives himself." To be willing to do that requires humility, you have to come down off your high horse. I've known some "Christians" who think they're
too good to get their hands dirty by helping someone in need, like the
homeless, someone they deem beneath them. God tells us to stoop down,
help them up and carry their burden. If you think so highly of yourself, that you’re too good for that, just who do you think you are? You're only deceiving yourself, surely not God! There are no social classes in the kingdom of Heaven.
In Mark chapter 12, Christ commands us, "And
you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your
soul, and with all your mind, and with all your strength.’ The second
is this, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other
commandment greater than these."
We also despise another believer when we reject those who confront our sinfulness. That's right! I've had that happen many times when I confront someone and tell them their behavior is out of line with God's Word. Prideful, self-righteous people hate it, they despise the one who tries to help with correction. Rather than thanking you for trying to get their life back on track, they reject you and they defend themselves.
The Apostle Paul faced the same thing in Galatians chapter 4, "But you know that it was because of a bodily illness that I preached the gospel to you the first time; and that which was a trial to you in my bodily condition you did not despise or loathe, but you received me as an angel of God, as Christ Jesus Himself. Where then is
that sense of blessing you had? For I bear you witness that, if
possible, you would have plucked out your eyes and given them to me. So have I become your enemy by telling you the truth?" Don't despise someone who comes to you in love and confronts your ungodly behavior.
In Titus 2, Paul said "For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all men, instructing us to deny ungodliness and worldly desires and to live sensibly, righteously and godly in the present age, looking for the blessed hope and the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Christ Jesus, who gave Himself for us to redeem us from every lawless deed, and to purify for Himself a people for His own possession, zealous for good deeds. These things speak and exhort and reprove with all authority. Let no one disregard you."
I was really rather surprised just how much Scripture has to say on this subject. Until I was was studying for this message, I guess I didn't realize there were so many of them. I won't belabor the point, but I do encourage you search the Scriptures for yourself. Because God’s children are important to Him, we should also be important to one another and to the life of the church. Should our hearts not also reflect the heart of God?
In Closing..
We all need the grace of God and God’s grace is what brings us back when someone is committing sin. The church is made up of sinners who have been saved by grace. When unbelieving people see the power of Christ at work in our lives, the transformed lives that exist in the body of Christ, that the testimony of the gospel becomes believable.
No matter where I am, as soon as people learn that I'm a pastor, they tend to watch me pretty closely. I don’t ever want to say or do anything to cause one who is weaker to fall into temptation of something the have been saved from in the past. Listen, you and I share that same responsibility, even if you think that person is not particularly important. Don't treat anyone as though they are beneath you, because of their financial or social status. Don't do something for somebody with the expectation of getting back, withholding from those in need want you have because they can't repay you. If the opportunity presents itself, give generously to those in need, without respect of persons.
Are you losing strength, feeling beat-up and overwhelmed? I can well remember a time like that in my own life. Overwhelmed by tragedy, hardship, suffering, loss, grief, sadness, fear and doubt. God provided me with the gift of grace through Jesus Christ! Today, Jesus Christ offers you that same gift of grace, available to those who willingly receive it, no matter who they are or what they've done. Who will you trust, the world or the ONE TRUE LIVING GOD?
Joshua 24:15 says "If it is disagreeable in your sight to serve the Lord, choose for yourselves today whom you will serve: whether the gods which your fathers served which were beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you are living; but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord."
May it be so..
And now may the Lord bless you and keep you;
the Lord make His face shine upon you,
And be gracious to you;
The Lord lift up His countenance upon you,
And give you peace.
Now and forever, in Jesus' name
Amen