Charles Spurgeon Commentary Matthew 18:7

"Woe unto the world because of occasions of stumbling! for it must needs be that the occasions come; but woe to that man through whom the occasion cometh!" — Matthew 18:7 (ASV)

It is a sad world because of stumbling-blocks. This is the great misery of every age. Occasions for falling into sin are terribly many, and from the formation of society, it seems as if it must be so. It must needs be that offenses come. While people are people, their surroundings will be trying, and their fellow human beings will too often become occasions of evil to them.

This brings woe to the world, but the center of that woe will be with the guilty cause of the stumbling, whatever that stumbling may be. Those who try to be the greatest are great causers of offenses. The humble are the least likely to make others stumble. Woe, therefore, is the sure heritage of the proud, for he is that man by whom the offense cometh.