Charles Spurgeon Commentary Luke 17
Charles Spurgeon Commentary
Luke 17
Charles Spurgeon Commentary
Luke 17
Commentary Groups
This author has written multiple commentaries over their lifetime on this chapter. We have grouped their commentaries for easier reading."And he said unto his disciples, It is impossible but that occasions of stumbling should come; but woe unto him, through whom they come!" — Luke 17:1 (ASV)
Then said he unto the disciples, It is impossible but that offences will come:
We are so strangely made that even good men do not always agree, and there are so many bad men around that they will cast a stumbling-block in our way if they can.
"And he said unto his disciples, It is impossible but that occasions of stumbling should come; but woe unto him, through whom they come! It were well for him if a millstone were hanged about his neck, and he were thrown into the sea, rather than that he should cause one of these little ones to stumble." — Luke 17:1-2 (ASV)
But woe unto him, through whom they come! It were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and he cast into the sea, than that he should offend one of these little ones. (Luke 17:1–2)
To do grievous damage to the soul of the very least of Christ's people is a great and ruinous sin; nothing can be worse. God grant that we may not do this even inadvertently! Let not the strong indulge in what would be unsafe for the weak, lest the weak be led into sin through what the strong brother might find lawful, but which certainly would not be expedient. May none of us ever willfully grieve any child of God!
"And he said unto his disciples, It is impossible but that occasions of stumbling should come; but woe unto him, through whom they come!" — Luke 17:1 (ASV)
Then said he to the disciples, It is impossible but that offences will come: but woe to him, through whom they come!
Since the fall, we are so constituted that there are sure to be differences and disputes. It is a great mercy when people dwell together in unity. Behold, how good and how pleasant it is.
It is a work of grace; but nature has its sinful desires, and sinful desires lead to strivings; and so, as long as the world is as it now is, it is impossible but that offences will come: but woe to him, through whom they come.
Let us not, therefore, be either offence givers or offence takers. When anyone offends us, let us say, It is impossible but that offences will come, and let us make light of it; and let us be very careful that we do not cause others to offend.
As for him through whom the offence comes—
"It were well for him if a millstone were hanged about his neck, and he were thrown into the sea, rather than that he should cause one of these little ones to stumble." — Luke 17:2 (ASV)
It were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and he cast into the sea, than that he should offend—
Or cause to offend—
"It were well for him if a millstone were hanged about his neck, and he were thrown into the sea, rather than that he should cause one of these little ones to stumble. Take heed to yourselves: if thy brother sin, rebuke him; and if he repent, forgive him. And if he sin against thee seven times in the day, and seven times turn again to thee, saying, I repent; thou shalt forgive him." — Luke 17:2-4 (ASV)
One of these little ones. Take heed to yourselves: If your brother trespasses against you, rebuke him; and if he repents, forgive him. And if he trespasses against you seven times in a day, and seven times in a day turns again to you, saying, I repent: you shall forgive him.
Perhaps someone remarks, "It looks as if he would do nothing else but keep on sinning and repenting." Well, suppose he does so; that is precisely what you are doing, except that you do not often repent when you sin. So, possibly, the offender is rather better than you are, after all, and if God is gentle in His dealings with you, you may well be gentle in your dealings with your neighbor.
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