New Testament- Lesson 122

Matthew Chapter 18- Part 2

Judgment on those who cause believers to sin, How to deal with sin & Guardian angels- Read (Matthew 18:6-10)(Matthew 5:29, 30)(Mark 9:42-48)

Whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him if a millstone were hung around his neck, and he were drowned in the depth of the sea. Woe to the world because of offenses, for offenses must come, but woe to that man by whom the offense comes. "If your hand or foot causes you to sin, cut it off and cast it from you. It is better for you to enter into life lame or maimed, rather than having two hands or two feet, to be cast into the everlasting fire. And if your eye causes you to sin, pluck it out and cast it from you. It is better for you to enter into life with one eye, rather than having two eyes, to be cast into hell fire. "Take heed that you do not despise one of these little ones, for I say to you that in heaven their angels always see the face of my Father who is in heaven." (Matthew 18:6-10)

Christ affectionately calls his disciples "little ones" and he denounces people who would lead such astray by teaching to sin or belittling living in holiness or minimizing the evilness of sin. Not all believers are strong and some tend to fall easily when they see evil being portrayed in their presence. Jesus condemned such evil doers who lead believers astray and said that, "It would be better for him if a millstone were hung around his neck, and he were drowned in the depth of the sea." Such a capital punishment was not practiced among the Jews but was seen among the Greeks, Syrians & Romans. Millstone here, was that which was pulled by an ass for grinding purposes.
The radical treatment of the eye, hand and foot which sinned was spoken by Jesus, not literally advocating it, but he pointed to his disciples how sin should be dealt with. Sin had/has to be dealt with drastically, with total dependence on the Savior for deliverance and by practicing self-discipline. Believers are not to take sin lightly, for as James says, "It will eventually lead to death when fully grown."

Jesus spoke of guardian angels for believers who have constant access to the Father. This is also mentioned in Psalm 34:7, Psalm 91:11 and Hebrews 1:14.