Psalms 8:1, 16:2, and 20:1-4

My Shepherd met me in His green pastures browsing about, picking up a bit of fodder here and there, and laid me down in Matthew 18. However, the Mind of the Spirit (Romans 8:27) engaged the spirit of my mind (Ephesians 4:23) at Matthew 17:27:

Matthew 17:27 Notwithstanding, lest we should offend them, go thou to the sea, and cast an hook, and take up the fish that first cometh up; and when thou hast opened his mouth, thou shalt find a piece of money: that take, and give unto them for me and thee.

The phrase, “Lest we should offend them,” struck me. The word is σκανδαλίσωμεν (skandalizomen—scandalize) and means to entrap, put a stumbling block in their path.

Jesus would tolerate at least some of the abuses of this present world system to avoid offending “them” (Matthew 17:27; see 2 Timothy 4:7; Titus 2:12).

Christ understood the world to be divided between “them” and “we.” “Them” referred to those who are “of this world” and “we” referred to Himself and all the Father had given Him “out of this world” (Luke 16:8; John 8:23; John 17:6, 14, 24; See John 15:19). He would not have “us” accommodate “them” in their rebellion against Christ (Acts 5:29; 13:8-11, see Acts 12), but He would have “us” accommodate “them” in such matters as tribute and other ordinances that do not compell us to disobey God (1 Peter 2:13).

Along the still waters, He took me into Matthew 18, which follows up on the issue of offenses and focuses on offending the “little” children (Matthew 18:1-2. It’s the same word He used in Matthew 17:27, with a nuanced difference. The word “offend” in Matthew 17:27 speaks of tripping up someone, enticing “them” to stumble, or to sin against someone, to scandalize them. It’s rooted in a word that means to bend.

Essentially, the message of Christ, beginning in Matthew 17:27, is that “we” must not provoke “them” by asserting our kingdom privileges over their laws—paying tribute is an example. In Matthew 18, on the other hand, we are concerned about those among “them,” or among “us,” whose influence or actions cause “us” to be bent and so stumble out of God’s ways by disobeying His word.

I think there is a special application of Jesus’ warning to anyone offending the little children; He began His lesson by calling a “little child” to Him, and setting Him “in the midst of them” (Matthew 18:1-2). However, Jesus called each of “us” to “humble himself as that little child,” and said “whoso shall receive one such little child in my name receiveth me” (Matthew 18:4-5). The danger of triggering His wrath certainly applies to offending little children, but it extends to all who offend any “such” that “believe” in Him (Matthew 18:6). (The word such indicates one that fits the criteria He stipulated, namely, one who humbles himself as that little child.)

I was engrossed in my communion with the Spirit today (2 Corinthians 13:14), as I pondered Jesus’ teaching on the danger of offences committed against those who believe in Him. The woe pronounced against those who “offend one of these little ones which believe” (He was talking about “little” children, and those who humble themselves like the little child—18:2-5), is severe: “But whoso shall offend one of these little ones which believe in me, it ere better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and that he were drowned in the depth of the sea. 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 18:6-7).

And then the Spirit enhances the seriousness of Christ’s warning! He said, “wherefore,” which is to say reasoning from what He said, it’s better to cut off the offending hand or foot and to pluck out the offending eye than to keep them and be cast into “everlasting” “Hell fire” (Matthew 18:8-9). Jesus warns “them” and “us” not to disrespect one of His: “Take heed that ye despise not one of these little ones” (Matthew 18:10a). He warns that “their angels do always behold the face of my Father which is in heaven” (Matthew 18:10b; Hebrews 1:13-14).

I also noticed that from verse 15 through the end of Matthew 18, Jesus gives instructions for addressing offenses that come from within the body of Christ (Matthew 18:15-20; compare 18:17 with Colossians 1:18). I pondered the instruction to cut off the offending hand, foot, and eye in the context of cutting off, or separating from us, the offender, the scandalous, especially those that offend the children (1 Corinthians 12:15-21). (I know from personal experience the pain of having to separate “members” from the body because of offenses. Refusal to do so will “bend” the body out of the way of God.)

It’s not surprising, but it is nonetheless remarkable how tight and perfectly woven together Jesus’ argument is. For example, the word translated offend is from the Greek word, scandalon, from which we get our word scandal. Notice that Jesus provides protection against scandals arising in His church by His instructions about handling trespasses (offenses caused by sinning against another). He does not allow offended persons to spread “scandals” throughout the fellowship (Matthew 18:15-17).

In the valley, kneeling in the shadow of His Cross, the Spirit pressed on me the hard reality that all of these offenses arise from the flesh where “dwelleth no good thing” (Romans 7:18). He reminded me that “only by pride cometh contention” (Proverbs 13:10). The source of every offense is a person that is “puffed up” (inflated ego, vanity—1 Corinthians 13:4; see 5:2; 4:6, 18; see Colossians 2:18).

His Comforter came alongside and testified to my heart by His Word: “If any man come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me” (Luke 9:23). And yet again, as I denied myelf, and lifted my cross, I realized how central, how fundamental, how primary, vital, and crucial, how elemental, essential, critical, and comprehensive is this one core principle of discipleship: deny self, take up your cross, follow Jesus!

At the table, we commiserated — He showed me His wounds, I showed Him mine. It was not a contest, it was fellowship—the fellowship of the Cross (Philippians 3:9-14). Let us bear the reproach (see Romans 15:3; 2 Corinthians 12:10; 1 Timothy 4:10), like Moses, let us esteem the “reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt” (Hebrews 11:26), let us bear “the offence of the cross” (Galatians 5:11). Remember, “they” hated Him before they hated you” (John 15:18).

Praying for revival! 🙏

Going live as soon as I can set up the livestream.