Church Fathers Commentary Luke 17:1-2

"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)

Theophylact of Ohrid: Because the Pharisees were covetous and denounced Christ when He preached about poverty, He told them the parable of the rich man and Lazarus. Afterwards, when speaking with His disciples about the Pharisees, He declared them to be men who caused division and placed obstacles in God's way. As it follows: Then said he to his disciples, It is impossible but that offenses will come—that is, hindrances to a good life that is pleasing to God.

St. Cyril of Alexandria: Now, there are two kinds of offenses: one that resists the glory of God, and another that serves only as a stumbling block to the brethren. The inventions of heresies, and every word spoken against the truth, are obstructions to God's glory. However, the offenses mentioned here do not seem to be of that kind, but rather those that occur between friends and brothers, such as strife, slander, and similar things. Therefore, He adds afterwards, If your brother trespass against you, rebuke him.

Theophylact of Ohrid: Alternatively, He says that many obstacles to preaching and to the truth must arise, just as the Pharisees hindered the preaching of Christ. But some ask, if it is necessary that offenses come, why does our Lord rebuke the one who causes them? For it follows, But woe to him through whom they come!

For whatever necessity brings about is pardonable, or at least deserving of pardon. But notice that this necessity is itself born from free will. For our Lord, seeing how people cling to evil and produce no good, spoke about the consequences of what He observed: that offenses must necessarily come.

It is just as if a physician, seeing a man eating an unhealthy diet, should say, "It is inevitable that such a person will become sick." And therefore, He pronounces woe upon the one who causes offenses and threatens punishment, saying, It were better for him that a mill-stone were hanged about his neck, and he cast into the sea, etc.

The Venerable Bede: This refers to a custom in the province of Palestine. Among the ancient Jews, the punishment for those guilty of the greatest crimes was to be sunk in the sea with a stone tied to them. And in truth, it would be better for a guilty man to end his physical life with a punishment that, however barbaric, is still temporary, than for his innocent brother to suffer the eternal death of his soul.

Now, the one who can be offended is rightly called a "little one," for a person who is great does not swerve from the faith, whatever he witnesses or however great his sufferings. Therefore, as much as we can without sinning, we ought to avoid giving offense to our neighbors. But if an offense is taken at the truth, it is better to allow the offense to happen than for the truth to be abandoned.

St. John Chrysostom: From the punishment given to the one who causes offense, learn the reward given to the one who saves. For if the salvation of a single soul were not of such great concern to Christ, He would not have threatened the offender with such a punishment.