Woe to the world and others

Matthew 18:7 Woe to the world because of the things that cause people to stumble! Such things must come, but woe to the person through whom they come!

These are the words of Jesus. It is in the conversation where Jesus tells the disciples that they must be like children to enter the kingdom of heaven, that they must accept the children and never lead them astray.

I was surprised by "such things must come", such "things that cause people to stumble". I haven't thought of temptations and trials as being necessary. Perhaps I'm wrong but what other reason could there be that "such things must come"? Why do things that cause people to stumble have to come?

God calls us and woos us. He gives us loads of chances to meet and commit to Him. Perhaps that is why "such things must come". They say that people won't get help for their addictions until they have hit rock bottom. Perhaps they won't come to Jesus until they reach rock bottom too. That won't happen if they don't stumble. Stumbling is what makes us fall and realize that we need help to get up.

Then comes the next part. "woe to the person through whom they come!" This is the person who tempts us, who is responsible for the temptation that precedes our stumbling into sin. Jesus is concerned for the world and is also concerned for the tempter. You can hear his concern. "Woe to the world.....woe to the person through whom they come!" I'm thinking of people like Judas. Woe to him. We still talk about the betrayal. He felt awful - threw the silver coins back to those who gave them to him, then committed suicide. Yes, woe to him and to others who lead us astray. That doesn't absolve us of the sin because we are the ones ultimately responsible for choosing to succumb but it is even worse for those who show us the way to the sin.

Now may the God of peace, who through the blood of the eternal covenant brought back from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great Shepherd of the sheep, equip you with everything good for doing his will, and may he work in us what is pleasing to him, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen (Hebrews 13:20-21)

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