The Cause of Scandals (Matthew 18:1-9)
Chris Rose, August 12, 2012Part of the Sunday Messages series, preached at a Sunday Morning service
The words 'skandalizo' & 'skandalon' is where we get the theological word 'to stumble' and its modern equivalent 'scandal'. These words appear too often in Jesus' mouth for us to ignore. Jesus prepares His hearers by exposing four areas that continue to be the cause of man's falling away. These are the 'Scandal of Life', 'Scandal of the Body', 'Scandal of Mankind', and lastly the 'Scandal of Satan'.
The persistent influence of scandals is what prevents us from perceiving that we are wrong about sin, righteousness, and judgment. Those who are unable to accept Christ's teachings are those who are being scandalized.
Matthew 18:1–9 (Listen)
18:1 At that time the disciples came to Jesus, saying, “Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?” 2 And calling to him a child, he put him in the midst of them 3 and said, “Truly, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. 4 Whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.
5 “Whoever receives one such child in my name receives me, 6 but whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him to have a great millstone fastened around his neck and to be drowned in the depth of the sea.
7 “Woe to the world for temptations to sin! For it is necessary that temptations come, but woe to the one by whom the temptation comes! 8 And if your hand or your foot causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away. It is better for you to enter life crippled or lame than with two hands or two feet to be thrown into the eternal fire. 9 And if your eye causes you to sin, tear it out and throw it away. It is better for you to enter life with one eye than with two eyes to be thrown into the hell of fire.
(ESV)
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