Matthew 18 · Verse 7

Matthew 18:7

Woe unto the world because of offences! for it must needs be that offences come; but woe to that man by whom the offence cometh!
Matthew 18:7, King James Version

Matthew 18:7 in other translations

BSBWoe to the world for the causes of sin. These stumbling blocks must come, but woe to the man through whom they come!
WEB“Woe to the world because of occasions of stumbling! For it must be that the occasions come, but woe to that person through whom the occasion comes!
ASVWoe 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!
YLT‘Woe to the world from the stumbling-blocks! for there is a necessity for the stumbling-blocks to come, but woe to that man through whom the stumbling-block doth come!
DARBYWoe to the world because of offences! For it must needs be that offences come; yet woe to that man by whom the offence comes!
BBEA curse is on the earth because of trouble! for it is necessary for trouble to come; but unhappy is that man through whom the trouble comes.
WebsterWoe to the world because of offenses! for it must needs be that offenses come; but woe to that man by whom the offense cometh!

What does Matthew 18:7 mean?

Barnes' Notes
Verse 7. Woe unto the world because of offences. That is, offences will be the cause of woe, or of suffering. Offences, here, mean things that will produce sin; that will cause us to sin, or temptations to induce others to sin. Mt 5:29.

It must needs be, etc. That is, such is the depravity of man, that there will be always some attempting to make others sin; some men of wickedness endeavouring to lead Christians astray, and rejoicing when they have succeeded in causing them to fall. Such, also, is the strength of our native corruption, and the force of passion, that our besetting sins will lead us astray.

Woe to that man by whom the offence cometh. He who draws others into sin is awfully guilty. No man can be more guilty, life wickedness can be more deeply seated in the heart, than that which attempts to mar the peace, defile the purity, and destroy the souls of others. And yet, in all ages, there have been multitudes, who, by persecution, threats, arts, allurements, and persuasion, have endeavoured to seduce Christians from the faith, and to lead them into sin.

(a) "for it must" 1Cor 11:19, Jude 1:4 (b) "but woe" Jude 1:11

Albert Barnes, 1834 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 7 Wo! - Or, alas! ουαι. It is the opinion of some eminent critics, that this word is ever used by our Lord to express sympathy and concern. Because of offenses - Scandals, stumbling-blocks, persecutions, etc. For it must needs be that offenses come - Αναγκε γαρ εϚιν ελθειν τα σκανδαλα, for the coming of offenses is unavoidable. Such is the wickedness of men, such their obstinacy, that they will not come unto Christ that they may have life, but desperately continue deceiving and being deceived. In such a state of things, offenses, stumbling-blocks, persecutions, etc., are unavoidable. Wo to that man - He who gives the offense, and he who receives it, are both exposed to ruin.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Matthew 18:7-14
Considering the cunning and malice of Satan, and the weakness and depravity of men's hearts, it is not possible but that there should be offences. God permits them for wise and holy ends, that those who are sincere, and those who are not, may be made known. Being told before, that there will be seducers, tempters, persecutors, and bad examples, let us stand on our guard. We must, as far as lawfully we may, part with what we cannot keep without being entangled by it in sin. The outward occasions of sin must be avoided. If we live after the flesh, we must die. If we, through the Spirit, mortify the deeds of the body, we shall live. Christ came into the world to save souls, and he will reckon severely with those who hinder the progress of others who are setting their faces heavenward. And shall any of us refuse attention to those whom the Son of God came to seek and to save? A father takes care of all his children, but is particularly tender of the little ones.

Matthew Henry, 1706 · public domain

Matthew 18:7 in the original Greek

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

ΟὐαὶOuaiWoeG3759
τῷtōto theG3588
κόσμῳkosmōworldG2889
ἀπὸapobecause ofG575
τῶνtōntheG3588
σκανδάλων·skandalōncauses of sin;G4625
ἀνάγκηanagkēNecessary [are]G318
γὰρgarforG1063
ἐλθεῖνeltheinto comeG2064
τὰtatheG3588
σκάνδαλα,skandalastumbling blocks,G4625
πλὴνplēnbutG4133
οὐαὶouaiwoeG3759
τῷtōto theG3588
ἀνθρώπῳanthrōpōmanG444
δι᾽di᾽throughG1223
οὗhouwhomG3739
τὸtotheG3588
σκάνδαλονskandalonoffenseG4625
ἔρχεται.erchetaicomes!G2064

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for Matthew 18:7

  • Luke 17:1

    Then said he unto the disciples, It is impossible but that offences will come: but woe unto him, through whom they come!

  • 1 Corinthians 11:19

    For there must be also heresies among you, that they which are approved may be made manifest among you.

  • Matthew 26:24

    The Son of man goeth as it is written of him: but woe unto that man by whom the Son of man is betrayed! it had been good for that man if he had not been born.

  • 1 Timothy 4:1-3

    Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils; Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron; Forbidding to marry, and commanding to abstain from meats, which God hath created to be received with thanksgiving of them which believe and know the truth.

  • Jude 1:4

    For there are certain men crept in unawares, who were before of old ordained to this condemnation, ungodly men, turning the grace of our God into lasciviousness, and denying the only Lord God, and our Lord Jesus Christ.

  • 2 Timothy 3:1-5

    This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; …

  • Jude 1:11-13

    Woe unto them! for they have gone in the way of Cain, and ran greedily after the error of Balaam for reward, and perished in the gainsaying of Core. These are spots in your feasts of charity, when they feast with you, feeding themselves without fear: clouds they are without water, carried about of winds; trees whose fruit withereth, without fruit, twice dead, plucked up by the roots; Raging waves of the sea, foaming out their own shame; wandering stars, to whom is reserved the blackness of darkness for ever.

  • 2 Peter 2:15-17

    Which have forsaken the right way, and are gone astray, following the way of Balaam the son of Bosor, who loved the wages of unrighteousness; But was rebuked for his iniquity: the dumb ass speaking with man’s voice forbad the madness of the prophet. These are wells without water, clouds that are carried with a tempest; to whom the mist of darkness is reserved for ever.

  • Revelation 2:14-15

    But I have a few things against thee, because thou hast there them that hold the doctrine of Balaam, who taught Balac to cast a stumblingblock before the children of Israel, to eat things sacrificed unto idols, and to commit fornication. So hast thou also them that hold the doctrine of the Nicolaitans, which thing I hate.

  • 2 Timothy 4:3-4

    For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.

  • Titus 2:8

    Sound speech, that cannot be condemned; that he that is of the contrary part may be ashamed, having no evil thing to say of you.

  • 2 Thessalonians 2:3-12

    Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition; Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God. Remember ye not, that, when I was yet with you, I told you these things? And now ye know what withholdeth that he might be revealed in his time. …

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
unto.
Ge 13:7; 1Sa 2:17,22-25; 2Sa 12:14; Lu 17:1; Ro 2:23,24
1Ti 5:14,15; 6:1; Tit 2:5,8; 2Pe 2:2
for.
Mr 13:7; Ac 1:16; 1Co 11:19; 2Th 2:3-12; 1Ti 4:1-3; 2Ti 3:1-5
2Ti 4:3,4; Jude 1:4
but.
13:41,42; 23:13-28; 26:24; Joh 17:12; Ac 1:18-20; 2Pe 2:3,15-17
Jude 1:11-13; Re 2:14,15,20-23; 19:20,21

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

  • Matthew 18:6

    But whoso shall offend one of these little ones which believe in me, it were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and that he were drowned in the depth of the sea.

  • Matthew 18:7

    Woe unto the world because of offences! for it must needs be that offences come; but woe to that man by whom the offence cometh!

  • Matthew 18:8

    Wherefore if thy hand or thy foot offend thee, cut them off, and cast them from thee: it is better for thee to enter into life halt or maimed, rather than having two hands or two feet to be cast into everlasting fire.

Read all of Matthew 18

Matthew 18:7 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909
¡Ay del mundo por los escándalos! porque necesario es que vengan escándalos; mas ¡ay de aquel hombre por el cual viene el escándalo!
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885
Malheur au monde à cause des occasions de chute! car il est nécessaire qu’il arrive des occasions de chute; mais malheur à cet homme par qui l’occasion de chute arrive.
German
Elberfelder 1871
Wehe der Welt der Ärgernisse wegen! Denn es ist notwendig, daß Ärgernisse kommen; doch wehe dem Menschen, durch welchen das Ärgernis kommt!
Latin
Clementine Vulgate
Væ mundo a scandalis! Necesse est enim ut veniant scandala: verumtamen væ homini illi, per quem scandalum venit.