Matthew 18:6-9: Stumbling Blocks
Wednesday, November 19, 2025
If any of you put a stumbling block before one of these little ones who believe in me, it would be better for you if a great millstone were fastened around your neck and you were drowned in the depth of the sea.
Working with adolescents and teenagers, I take this verse of scripture seriously. It is what calls me to stand before corruption, greed, lust for power, and self-aggrandizement. It is what draws me to defend children within my family. It is what calls me to speak to authority in the work place. It is what calls me to my knees in my daily prayer before God.
If any of you put a stumbling block before one of these little ones who believe in me . . .
When I am asked by others what gives me patience, it is this verse.
If any of you put a stumbling block before one of these little ones who believe in me . . .
When I am asked what makes me fearless in the face of great adversity, it is this verse.
If any of you put a stumbling block before one of these little ones who believe in me . . .
When I am asked how I am able to live around decay and dishonesty, it is this verse.
If any of you put a stumbling block before one of these little ones who believe in me . . .
When I asked why I hold myself and others to high standards, it is this verse.
If any of you put a stumbling block before one of these little ones who believe in me . . .
Jesus is clear; there is no ambiguity in his words. Jesus is concise; Jesus does not feel the need to further explain his thinking – it ought to be obvious. If we cannot and do not and will not defend and protect those who are the most vulnerable, what are we worth?
If any of you put a stumbling block before one of these little ones who believe in me . . .
Commentary tells us that these little ones who believe in me refers to anyone who believes in Christ. “It is not clear if they are missionaries (see 10:42), all disciples, recent converts, those of low social status, or those weak in faith.” (Meeks, 1890) I will keep this in mind as I struggle with adults who cast down stumbling blocks before children. I will remember that as always with Jesus, the Gospel is about inversion. I will remind myself that often the children are the adults and the adults are the children. I will continue to learn at Jesus’ knee how I might remove the millstone from my neck or how it is better to enter eternal life maimed than not at all. I will do without my eyes if I am better able to see Christ in those who do not believe. I will live without a hand or foot if I have a clearer picture of what Jesus’ has in mind as my work. And I will be well aware of the stumbling blocks I might be casting before others in my attempt to save “the children.”
Dear, and good, and wise Jesus, You called your dear ones to yourself. Help us to see the frightened child in the adults who struggle with un-named alarms. Help us to act in kindness and humility with all who suffer from anxiety. And keep us always close to you, even as we wend our way through the stumbling blocks cast down by our own terrors and fears. Amen.
A re-post from October 25, 2011.
Images from: http://dkevinbrown.wordpress.com/2011/07/13/do-i-really-believe-the-bible/ and http://johncalvin09dev.blogspot.com/2009/11/devotional-using-scripture-quote-from.html
Meeks, Wayne A., Gen. Ed. HARPERCOLLINS STUDY BIBLE (NRSV). New York, New York: HarperCollins Publishers, 1989. Print.
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