Boy, You’re Gonna’ Carry That Weight
It would be better for him if a millstone were hung around his neck and he were thrown into the sea, than that he would cause one of these little ones to stumble. Luke 17:2 NASB
Would be better – This is one of the scariest verses in the apostolic writings. Typically exegetes use it to preach the necessity of pure and correct doctrine. In a Greek world, if you don’t think the right things, then you might teach the wrong things and therefore be subject to this terrible punishment. In a Greek world, getting your doctrine straight is paramount.
But not so in a Hebrew world. The subject here is “stumbling blocks” (verse 1). The Greek is skandala. The LXX clarifies what Yeshua most likely had in mind. “The LXX uses the group [of Greek words] for two sets of Hebrew terms with the different senses of striking or catching in a snare, and slipping or stumbling (with the transferred meaning ‘occasion of sin’).”[1] “In translation of the Hebrew próskomma, skṓlon, and skándalon are used, and by assimilation skándalon can mean both ‘trap’ and ‘stumbling block’ or, ‘cause of ruin’ either with idols in view or offenses against the law. As a ground of divine punishment skándalon can then denote an occasion of sinning or a temptation to sin.”[2] Thus, the ESV is probably better when it translates this verse as “Temptations to sin are sure to come . . .” Correct doctrine is not the issue here. Encouraging, allowing or creating the opportunity to violate Torah is the point. That’s what it means to sin. This is a Hebrew world where what I do is far more important than what I think. In fact, I can have my doctrine (thinking) all wrong as long as I still keep the Torah commandments. But once I fail to keep them and encourage others not to keep them, I’m “gonna’ carry that weight”—the millstone around my neck—as I plunge into outer darkness.
Oh, my! Did we get this one wrong! We thought that Yeshua was threatening punishment for doctrinal error. What he was really teaching was the absolute necessity of Torah observance. Anyone, let’s say it again—anyone who teaches that violating Torah is acceptable falls under this pronouncement. It is inevitable that occasions (temptations) for sin will arise. That’s what it means to be alive in this broken world. The focus here is on the one through whom these occasions arise. Committing a sinful act is bad, but the person who is the vehicle of the temptation is far worse. What is the verdict here? Have your actions or your words created an opportunity for another to violate God’s instructions? Have you taught something that sets aside God’s desires? Have you acted in a way that swept up another in sinful behavior? Then you are a millstone candidate. Good luck trying to stay afloat.
Topical Index: millstone, skandala, stumbling block, Torah, sin, Luke 17:2
[1] Kittel, G., Friedrich, G., & Bromiley, G. W. (1985). Theological Dictionary of the New Testament (1036). Grand Rapids, MI: W.B. Eerdmans.
[2] Ibid.
Oh, no! We HAVE had it backwards! We have had doctrinal error taught to little children (those newbies that haven’t learned how to be Berean yet and feed themselves “strong meat”) that encouraged us not to keep Torah; nay, threatened us with a loss of saving grace if we did! Better for those that caused practically the entire Christian world to stumble if they had had a millstone tied around their necks…
How could those leaders have excused their encouragement for others to sin to themselves? They really must have been drinking their own Kool Aid.
It might also be added that if we walk around thinking we no most of the paradigm shift and that Torah is for everyone and talk in our groups to ourselves or on Internet posts mmm. Are we ourselves the ones with the millstones. Suicide. Yeshua said behold look closely I give you a new commandment and the second one is like it love your neighbor as yourself on these all the Commandments are. hinged !! I remember a song by Don Francisco there was important line…….
Love is not a feeling it is an act of our will!!!!!!!
May I be the first to call you a graphic artist. Vision begets vision.
“Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites!”
Seven times Yeshua uttered these words of warning and rebuke.
“But he who is greatest among you will be your servant.”
Not as I say. As I DO.
I have used this verse when working with adults who had been abused as women as well.
I wonder how it applies to all the doctrine out there that teaches women as 2nd class citizens.
Hi Skip and others,
OK, I did not expect the cycle to occur so soon, back from the story to theology. I am not so certain that anyone teaches literally that violating Torah is acceptable. It comes in “fifty shades of gray”, yes. Watered down, yes. I hear an Augustinian/Lutheran yelling “works righteousness” from the stands with this reflection. Another shouts that keep means to regard, hold closely, not so much “do.” Yet, it’s this Augustinian/Lutheran stance that also tells me I am forever a victim, there is no victory in Yeshua unless He declares it so, and I must have a wafer and sip of wine regularly in order to be somehow atoned but the maelstrom starts again at point of ingestion. So, nobody wins only a priest or pastor who needs that job and wage..
Yes, the”holy, apostolic catholic church” created pastoral employment!
David Russell
Hi David
It was God that introduced a reward system for the High Priests and their helpers,Tithe principle. It was also God who rewarded the prophets by caring for them… .
Even Paul supported the option of those who wanted to be rewarded for their works.
As with all doctrines some forms of the word have been “adapted” to benefit certain roles above others… A discussion for another day.
I think the hint here is that they that fail to teach Torah create offences as well.
OK, point taken. But hold on. When I said “move toward spiritual” I did not mean “write devotionals without thought-provoking content.”
I am pretty sure that, if confronted, none would claim it’s OK to violate Torah. But in practice, this is the result. Shabbat, diet, communal relationships, clothing, contracts, etc. Torah is a way of life. So is the general perspective of Christianity. They are not the same, and for good reason. Christianity established itself as religion WITHOUT Torah. Most believers are simply unaware of these differences having been taught all their lives that Christianity is the NATUAL OUTGROWTH of Jewish thinking. But that isn’t even historically true. Christians believe it because it has been repeated over and over for centuries, but who actually goes to the history and sees what happened?
… with your help, may we all keep doing so (going to history)