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He said to the disciples, “It is impossible that no occasions of stumbling should come, but woe to him through whom they come!
Verse 1. The world being corrupted as it is, and the spread of evil so wide, it is impossible that scandals should not come. V.—It is impossible, morally speaking, with regard to the malice of men. Witham.
It would be better for him if a millstone were hung around his neck, and he were thrown into the sea, rather than that he should cause one of these little ones to stumble.
Verse 2. It were better. Christ here speaks after the manner of the Jews, who were accustomed to inflict this punishment only on the greatest malefactors. So that we must be ready to undergo the most excruciating torments, rather than cause any scandal to our neighbour; though we must here observe, that if our neighbour take scandal at our good works, we ought not on that account to desist from doing good, or desert the truth. Ven. Bede.—Saint Luke, in this chapter, inserts four instructions, which have no connection with each other, and which by the writers of evangelical harmony, are given in different places; as in Matthew 18 after verse 14, and so forth
Be careful. If your brother sins against you, rebuke him. If he repents, forgive him.
If he sins against you seven times in the day, and seven times returns, saying, ‘I repent,’ you shall forgive him.”