If anyone causes one of these little ones - those who believe in me - to stumble, it would be better for them to have a large millstone hung around their neck and to be drowned in the depths of the sea.
A T Robertson
These little ones (tōn mikrōn toutōn). In the same sense as “one such little one” above. The child is the type of believers.
A great millstone (mulos onikos), literally, “a millstone turned by an ass.” The upper millstone was turned by an ass (onos). There were no examples of the adjective onikos (turned by an ass) outside the NT until the papyri revealed several for loads requiring an ass to carry them, stones requiring an ass to move them, etc. Deissmann (Light from the Ancient East, p 81) notes it also in papyri examples about the sale of an ass and tax for an ass’s burden of goods.
The depth of the sea (tōi pelagei tēs thalassēs). “The sea of the sea.” Pelagos probably from plēsso, to beat, and so the beating, splashing waves of the sea. “Far out into the open sea, a vivid substitute for eis tēn thalassan” (McNeile).
Matthew Henry
Observe, First, The crime supposed; offending one of these little ones that believe in Christ. Their believing in Christ, though they be little ones, unites them to him, and interests him in their cause, so that, as they partake of the benefit of his sufferings, he also partakes in the wrong of theirs. Even the little ones that believe have the same privileges with the great ones, for they have all obtained like precious faith. There are those that offend these little ones, by drawing them to sin (1Co 8:10, 11), grieving and vexing their righteous souls, discouraging them, taking occasion from their mildness to make a prey of them in their persons, families, goods, or good name. Thus the best men have often met with the worst treatment in this world.
Secondly, The punishment of this crime; intimated in that word, Better for him that he were drowned in the depth of the sea. The sin is so heinous, and the ruin proportionably so great, that he had better undergo the sorest punishments inflicted on the worst of malefactors, which can only kill the body.
Note, 1. Hell is worse than the depth of the sea; for it is a bottomless pit, and it is a burning lake. The depth of the sea is only killing, but hell is tormenting. We meet with one that had comfort in the depth of the sea, it was Jonah (Jon 2:2, 4, 9); but never any had the least grain or glimpse of comfort in hell, nor will have to eternity.
2. The irresistible irrevocable doom of the great Judge will sink sooner and surer, and bind faster, than a mill-stone hanged about the neck. It fixes a great gulf, which can never be broken through, Lk 16:26. Offending Christ's little ones, though by omission, is assigned as the reason of that dreadful sentence, Go ye cursed, which will at last be the doom of proud persecutors.
These little ones (tōn mikrōn toutōn). In the same sense as “one such little one” above. The child is the type of believers.
A great millstone (mulos onikos), literally, “a millstone turned by an ass.” The upper millstone was turned by an ass (onos). There were no examples of the adjective onikos (turned by an ass) outside the NT until the papyri revealed several for loads requiring an ass to carry them, stones requiring an ass to move them, etc. Deissmann (Light from the Ancient East, p 81) notes it also in papyri examples about the sale of an ass and tax for an ass’s burden of goods.
The depth of the sea (tōi pelagei tēs thalassēs). “The sea of the sea.” Pelagos probably from plēsso, to beat, and so the beating, splashing waves of the sea. “Far out into the open sea, a vivid substitute for eis tēn thalassan” (McNeile).
Matthew Henry
Those that thus humble themselves will be afraid,
[1] That nobody will receive them; ... verse 5
[2] They will be afraid that everybody will abuse them; the basest men delight to trample upon the humble; Vexat censura columbas - Censure pounces on doves. This objection he obviates (6), where he warns all people, as they will answer it at their utmost peril, not to offer any injury to one of Christ's little ones. This word makes a wall of fire about them; he that touches them, touches the apple of God's eye.[1] That nobody will receive them; ... verse 5
Observe, First, The crime supposed; offending one of these little ones that believe in Christ. Their believing in Christ, though they be little ones, unites them to him, and interests him in their cause, so that, as they partake of the benefit of his sufferings, he also partakes in the wrong of theirs. Even the little ones that believe have the same privileges with the great ones, for they have all obtained like precious faith. There are those that offend these little ones, by drawing them to sin (1Co 8:10, 11), grieving and vexing their righteous souls, discouraging them, taking occasion from their mildness to make a prey of them in their persons, families, goods, or good name. Thus the best men have often met with the worst treatment in this world.
Secondly, The punishment of this crime; intimated in that word, Better for him that he were drowned in the depth of the sea. The sin is so heinous, and the ruin proportionably so great, that he had better undergo the sorest punishments inflicted on the worst of malefactors, which can only kill the body.
Note, 1. Hell is worse than the depth of the sea; for it is a bottomless pit, and it is a burning lake. The depth of the sea is only killing, but hell is tormenting. We meet with one that had comfort in the depth of the sea, it was Jonah (Jon 2:2, 4, 9); but never any had the least grain or glimpse of comfort in hell, nor will have to eternity.
2. The irresistible irrevocable doom of the great Judge will sink sooner and surer, and bind faster, than a mill-stone hanged about the neck. It fixes a great gulf, which can never be broken through, Lk 16:26. Offending Christ's little ones, though by omission, is assigned as the reason of that dreadful sentence, Go ye cursed, which will at last be the doom of proud persecutors.
