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Monday, August 25th, 2025
the Week of Proper 16 / Ordinary 21
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Read the Bible

New Century Version

Matthew 18:7

How terrible for the people of the world because of the things that cause them to sin. Such things will happen, but how terrible for the one who causes them to happen!

Bible Study Resources

Concordances:

- Nave's Topical Bible - Jesus, the Christ;   Temptation;   Wicked (People);   Scofield Reference Index - Parables;   Thompson Chain Reference - Helps-Hindrances;   Offences;   Woes;   The Topic Concordance - Despisement;   Hell;   Offense;   World;   Torrey's Topical Textbook - Offence;  

Dictionaries:

- American Tract Society Bible Dictionary - Offence;   Bridgeway Bible Dictionary - Child;   Stumbling block;   Charles Buck Theological Dictionary - Hutchinsonians;   Necessity;   Easton Bible Dictionary - Offence;   Fausset Bible Dictionary - Hart;   Holman Bible Dictionary - Matthew, the Gospel of;   Offense;   Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible - Offence;   Text of the New Testament;   Hastings' Dictionary of the New Testament - Adultery ;   Brotherhood (2);   Character;   Childhood;   Children of God;   Discourse;   Elect, Election ;   Heathen;   Hindrance;   Ideas (Leading);   Little Ones;   Matthew, Gospel According to;   Meals;   Necessity;   Neighbour (2);   Offence (2);   Quotations (2);   Sermon on the Mount;   Trinity (2);   Woe;   World ;   Morrish Bible Dictionary - Stumbling Block,;   Watson's Biblical & Theological Dictionary - Divorce;  

Encyclopedias:

- International Standard Bible Encyclopedia - Jesus Christ (Part 2 of 2);   The Jewish Encyclopedia - Didascalia;  

Devotionals:

- Every Day Light - Devotion for February 18;  

Parallel Translations

Christian Standard Bible®
Woe to the world because of offenses. For offenses will inevitably come, but woe to that person by whom the offense comes.
King James Version (1611)
Woe vnto the world because of offences: for it must needs be that offences come: but wo to that man by whom the offence commeth.
King James Version
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!
English Standard Version
"Woe to the world for temptations to sin! For it is necessary that temptations come, but woe to the one by whom the temptation comes!
New American Standard Bible
"Woe to the world because of its stumbling blocks! For it is inevitable that stumbling blocks come; but woe to the person through whom the stumbling block comes!
Amplified Bible
"Woe (judgment is coming) to the world because of stumbling blocks and temptations to sin! It is inevitable that stumbling blocks come; but woe to the person on whose account or through whom the stumbling block comes!
Geneva Bible (1587)
Wo be vnto the world because of offences: for it must needes be that offences shall come, but wo be to that man by whome the offence commeth.
New American Standard Bible (1995)
"Woe to the world because of its stumbling blocks! For it is inevitable that stumbling blocks come; but woe to that man through whom the stumbling block comes!
Legacy Standard Bible
"Woe to the world because of its stumbling blocks! For it is inevitable that stumbling blocks come; nevertheless, woe to that man through whom the stumbling block comes!
Berean Standard Bible
Woe to the world for the causes of sin. These stumbling blocks must come, but woe to the man through whom they come!
Contemporary English Version
The world is in for trouble because of the way it causes people to sin. There will always be something to cause people to sin, but anyone who does this will be in for trouble.
Complete Jewish Bible
Woe to the world because of snares! For there must be snares, but woe to the person who sets the snare!
Darby Translation
Woe to the world because of offences! For it must needs be that offences come; yet woe to that man by whom the offence comes!
Easy-to-Read Version
I feel sorry for the people in the world because of the things that make people sin. These things must happen, but it will be very bad for anyone who causes them to happen.
George Lamsa Translation
Woe to the world because of offences! Offences are bound to come; but woe to the man by whose hand the offences come!
Good News Translation
How terrible for the world that there are things that make people lose their faith! Such things will always happen—but how terrible for the one who causes them!
Lexham English Bible
Woe to the world because of causes for stumbling, for it is a necessity that causes for stumbling come; nevertheless, woe to the person through whom the cause for stumbling comes.
Literal Translation
Woe to the world from its offenses! It is a necessity for the offenses to come, yet woe to that man through whom the offense comes!
American Standard Version
Woe 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!
Bible in Basic English
A 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.
Hebrew Names Version
"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!
International Standard Version
How terrible it will be for the world because it causes people to sin! Temptations to sin are bound to happen, but how terrible it will be for that person who causes someone to sin!Matthew 26:24; Luke 17:1; 1 Corinthians 11:19;">[xr]
Etheridge Translation
Woe to the world from causes of offence ! for it is unavoidable that causes of offence will come;
Murdock Translation
Woe to the world because of stumbling blocks ! For it must be, that stumbling blocks come. But, woe to the person by whose means the stumbling blocks come.
Bishop's Bible (1568)
Wo vnto the worlde, because of offences. It must nedes be, that offences come: But wo to that man, by whom the offence commeth.
English Revised Version
Woe 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!
World English Bible
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!
Wesley's New Testament (1755)
Wo to the world because of offences: for it must needs be that offences come; but wo to that man by whom the offence cometh.
Weymouth's New Testament
"Alas for the world because of causes of falling! They cannot but come, but alas for each man through whom they come!
Wycliffe Bible (1395)
Woo to the world, for sclaundris; for it is nede that sclaundris come; netheles wo to thilke man bi whom a sclaundre cometh.
Update Bible Version
Woe to the world because of occasions of stumbling! for it must surely be that the occasions come; but woe to the man through whom the occasion comes!
Webster's Bible Translation
Woe to the world because of offenses! for it must needs be that offenses come; but woe to that man by whom the offense cometh!
New English Translation
Woe to the world because of stumbling blocks! It is necessary that stumbling blocks come, but woe to the person through whom they come.
New King James Version
Woe to the world because of offenses! For offenses must come, but woe to that man by whom the offense comes!
New Living Translation
"What sorrow awaits the world, because it tempts people to sin. Temptations are inevitable, but what sorrow awaits the person who does the tempting.
New Life Bible
"It is bad for the world because of that which makes people sin. Men will be tempted to sin. But it is bad for the one who is the reason for someone to sin.
New Revised Standard
Woe to the world because of stumbling blocks! Occasions for stumbling are bound to come, but woe to the one by whom the stumbling block comes!
J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
Alas for the world! by reason of the causes of stumbling; for it is, necessary, that the causes of stumbling come, - nevertheless, alas for the man through whom the cause of stumbling cometh!
Douay-Rheims Bible
Woe to the world because of scandals. For it must needs be that scandals come: but nevertheless woe to that man by whom the scandal cometh.
Revised Standard Version
"Woe to the world for temptations to sin! For it is necessary that temptations come, but woe to the man by whom the temptation comes!
Tyndale New Testament (1525)
Wo be vnto the world because of offences. How be it it cannot be avoided but yt offences shalbe geven. Neverthelesse woo be to ye man by who the offence cometh.
Young's Literal Translation
`Wo to the world from the stumbling-blocks! for there is a necessity for the stumbling-blocks to come, but wo to that man through whom the stumbling-block doth come!
Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
Wo vnto the worlde because of slauders. Yee there must slaunders come: but wo vnto that man, by whom slaunder commeth.
Mace New Testament (1729)
wo unto the world, because of such scandals: tho' it cannot be, but that such occasions of relapsing should happen: yet wo to that man by whom the scandal cometh.
Simplified Cowboy Version
"This whole world is headin' straight for a cliff because of their sins. It's sure enough gonna happen, but I feel sorry for the man who causes one of my little cowboys to sin.

Contextual Overview

7 How terrible for the people of the world because of the things that cause them to sin. Such things will happen, but how terrible for the one who causes them to happen! 8 If your hand or your foot causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away. It is better for you to lose part of your body and live forever than to have two hands and two feet and be thrown into the fire that burns forever. 9 If your eye causes you to sin, take it out and throw it away. It is better for you to have only one eye and live forever than to have two eyes and be thrown into the fire of hell. 10 "Be careful. Don't think these little children are worth nothing. I tell you that they have angels in heaven who are always with my Father in heaven. [ 11 The Son of Man came to save lost people.] 12 "If a man has a hundred sheep but one of the sheep gets lost, he will leave the other ninety-nine on the hill and go to look for the lost sheep. 13 I tell you the truth, if he finds it he is happier about that one sheep than about the ninety-nine that were never lost. 14 In the same way, your Father in heaven does not want any of these little children to be lost.

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

unto: Genesis 13:7, 1 Samuel 2:17, 1 Samuel 2:22-25, 2 Samuel 12:14, Luke 17:1, Romans 2:23, Romans 2:24, 1 Timothy 5:14, 1 Timothy 5:15, 1 Timothy 6:1, Titus 2:5, Titus 2:8, 2 Peter 2:2

for: Mark 13:7, Acts 1:16, 1 Corinthians 11:19, 2 Thessalonians 2:3-12, 1 Timothy 4:1-3, 2 Timothy 3:1-5, 2 Timothy 4:3, 2 Timothy 4:4, Jude 1:4

but: Matthew 13:41, Matthew 13:42, Matthew 23:13-28, Matthew 26:24, John 17:12, Acts 1:18-20, 2 Peter 2:3, 2 Peter 2:15-17, Jude 1:11 -13; Revelation 2:14, Revelation 2:15, Revelation 2:20-23, Revelation 19:20, Revelation 19:21

Reciprocal: Numbers 32:15 - ye shall Deuteronomy 22:8 - thou bring 1 Samuel 2:24 - ye make 1 Kings 14:16 - who did sin Psalms 73:15 - offend Matthew 5:30 - offend Matthew 11:6 - whosoever Matthew 11:21 - Woe Matthew 16:23 - thou art Mark 14:21 - but Romans 14:13 - put Romans 14:21 - whereby Romans 16:17 - offences 1 Corinthians 8:9 - take Philippians 1:10 - without 1 John 2:10 - occasion of stumbling

Cross-References

Genesis 18:15
Sarah was afraid, so she lied and said, "I didn't laugh." But the Lord said, "No. You did laugh."
Genesis 18:16
Then the men got up to leave and started out toward Sodom. Abraham walked along with them a short time to send them on their way.
Genesis 19:3
But Lot begged them to come, so they agreed and went to his house. Then Lot prepared a meal for them. He baked bread without yeast, and they ate it.
Amos 6:4
You lie on beds decorated with ivory and stretch out on your couches. You eat tender lambs and fattened calves.
Malachi 1:14
"The person who cheats will be cursed. He has a male animal in his flock and promises to offer it, but then he offers to the Lord an animal that has something wrong with it. I am a great king," says the Lord All-Powerful, "and I am feared by all the nations.
Matthew 22:4
"Then the king sent other servants, saying, ‘Tell those who have been invited that my feast is ready. I have killed my best bulls and calves for the dinner, and everything is ready. Come to the wedding feast.'
Luke 15:23
And get our fat calf and kill it so we can have a feast and celebrate.
Luke 15:27
The servant said, ‘Your brother has come back, and your father killed the fat calf, because your brother came home safely.'
Luke 15:30
But your other son, who wasted all your money on prostitutes, comes home, and you kill the fat calf for him!'

Gill's Notes on the Bible

Woe unto the world because of offences!.... By which are meant, not sins, as sometimes, but rather temptations to sin; and so the Ethiopic version renders this word by "temptation" in every clause, as the Arabic does in the next; and may design all the contempt and reproach cast upon the doctrines, ordinances, and people of Christ, and all those afflictions, distresses, and persecutions exercised on them, on purpose to cause them to stumble and fall; to tempt them to deny the truth, drop their profession of religion, and relinquish the service of Christ; things which are displeasing to God, discouraging to his people, and often attended with bad consequences to formal professors; and bring down the judgments of God upon the men of the world; who sooner or later will vindicate his own cause, avenge his own elect, and render tribulation to them that trouble them.

For it must needs be that offences come; considering the implacable malice of Satan, his unwearied and indefatigable pains, the malignity of the men of the world, their aversion and enmity to the Gospel of Christ, and all good men; it cannot be thought, God suffering such things for the trial of such as are truly gracious, and for the discovery of hypocrites, and for the manifestation of his grace, power, and faithfulness in the preservation of his dear children, that it should be otherwise, but that such offences should be:

but woe to that man by whom the offence cometh; for though God, for wise ends and reasons, as above, voluntarily permits such things to be in the world; and though they do not succeed, as to cause the true followers of Christ so to stumble and fall, as to perish, yet this does not excuse their sin and wickedness, in doing all that in them lay to effect it. For though God will, and does overrule all their base designs against his ministers, church, and people, for his glory, and their good, this is no thanks to them; and as it does not in the least extenuate their crime, it will not abate the severity of their punishment.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

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. See the notes at Matthew 5:29.

It must needs be ... - That is, such is the depravity of man that there will be always some who are attempting to make others sin; some people of wickedness endeavoring 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 leads others into sin is awfully guilty - no man can be more guilty. No 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 endeavored to seduce Christians from the faith and to lead them into sin.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse Matthew 18:7. 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 offences — Scandals, stumbling-blocks, persecutions, &c.

For it must needs be that offences come — Αναγκε γαρ εϚιν ελθειν τα σκανδαλα, for the coming of offences 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, offences, stumbling-blocks, persecutions, &c., are unavoidable.

Wo to that man — He who gives the offence, and he who receives it, are both exposed to ruin.


 
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