Matthew 18:7 NIV - “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!”
Matthew 18:7 KJV - “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!”
I’m wondering about the “must” part. Other Bible versions cite “inevitability” as the factor. How would we divide the formal, efficient, and final causalities for the stumblings? Is “must” an accurate translation?
Mat 18:7 Woe Οὐαὶ to the τῷ world κόσμῳ because of ἀπὸ the τῶν causes of sin. σκανδάλων· For γὰρ the τὰ stumbling blocks σκάνδαλα, [are] necessary ἀνάγκη to come, ἐλθεῖν but πλὴν woe οὐαὶ to the τῷ man ἀνθρώπῳ by δι’ whom οὗ the τὸ offense σκάνδαλον comes! ἔρχεται.
Transliteration: anankē
Morphology: N-NFS
Noun - Nominative Feminine Singular
Strong’s no.: G318 (ἀνάγκη)
Meaning: Necessity, constraint, compulsion; there is need to; force, violence.
Moffat.
Mat 18:7 Woe to the world for hindrances! Hindrances have to come, but — woe to the man by whom the hindrance does come!
LXX
Mat 18:7 Woe to the world because of the obstacles; [a necessity for it is to come for the obstacles]. Except woe to that man through whom the obstacle comes.
**Matthew 6 NIV - 34 **Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.
Matthew 6 KJV - **34 **Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof.
Would it be wrong to say that this world has evil in it because the evil that is in it is necessary for God to achieve the purposes for which He created the world? So Jesus tells us that it must needs be that things in the world that cause stumbling be allowed by God to happen, but then He tells us to not worry about tomorrow because each day has its own “sufficient” amount of stumblings. Just enough, to achieve His purposes.
I see nothing wrong with it. A better understanding might be this: When Jesus says offenses or stumblings “must come” (Greek: ἀνάγκη, anankē), He is using terminology that signifies necessity, constraint, or unavoidable certainty.
Jesus gives these warnings so believers are not blindsided or disillusioned when scandals, false teachers, and wickedness erupt around them. By knowing beforehand that the world will operate this way, Christians are called to: Vigilance: Taking care not to be the cause of someone else’s stumbling. Confidence: Remembering that Christ has already overcome the world (John 16:33).
The presence of unavoidable evil in the world does not signal that God has lost control; rather, the very fact that Jesus foretold it proves He remains sovereign over it all.
I confess brother, I have always read this word “must” as “Inevitable”, or “unavoidable” as if to say, “In a world sold under sin, trampling on children is inevitable’; ‘in this world’s current state of hopelessness the strong abusing the weak is unavoidable, the powerful exploiting the impotent is inescapable.” However, I knew where you ‘must’ be going with your question, so I am trying to understand it as you may, i.e. “Must” may not mean inevitable, but imperative; i.e., ordained (God does it on purpose).
You may be on to something here, I’m still mulling it over, but you also may be wringing out the dishrag’s dye with the dishwater. The context “MUST” be considered to arrive at an accurate understanding of our Savir’s words. Also, we need plenty of help from our Savior’s Holy Spirit if we hope to arrive at an accurate understanding of His words. The context is God’s stated initiative to cause us to become “childlike” (i.e. helpless, weak, trusting, needy, submissive, unimportant, etc.)
The context (as you know) is Jesus’s answer to the question: “Who then is greatest in the kingdom of heaven?” So understanding the answer requires us to understand the question. What did “greatest” mean to these disciples? What does “greatest” mean to you and I? His shocking answer to their question begins:
“Assuredly, I say to you, unless you are converted and become as little children, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven. Therefore whoever humbles himself as this little child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. Whoever receives one little child like this in My name receives Me. (Matthew 18:3-5)
(This is the beginning of the answer to your own question too, (IMHO)).
Receiving a “little one”, i.e. a child; a weak, naive, innocent, follower of Jesus is the same as recieving Jesus.
EXTRA CREDIT : The Gospel of Mark (The testimony of the fisherman Peter bar Jonah) elaborates on this scene a little more, (9:33-49) and includes a second statement (rhetorical question) posed by John bar Zebedee. “Teacher, we saw someone who does not follow us casting out demons in Your name, and we forbade him because he does not follow us.” (Mark 9:38) Mark’s recollection of this event does not mention the sentence you are questioning.
Explanatory Statement:
“But whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in Me to sin, it would be better for him if a millstone were hung around his neck, and he were drowned in the depth of the sea. Woe to the world because of offenses! For offenses must come, but woe to that man by whom the offense comes!”
Elaboration:
If your hand or foot causes you to sin, cut it off and cast it from you. It is better for you to enter into life lame or maimed, rather than having two hands or two feet, to be cast into the everlasting fire. And if your eye causes you to sin, pluck it out and cast it from you. It is better for you to enter into life with one eye, rather than having two eyes, to be cast into hell fire. (Matthew 18:6-9)
The weight of the message is on the “woe”, and not on the “must” (IMHO) The “offences” Jesus is considering, in this passage, are causing one of His little ones (childlike, naive disciples) to sin. It seems the weight of Jesus’s message is (loose paraphrase) “I (Jesus) am causing my disciples to become sheeplike, childlike; to let down their guard, expose their weakness, and trust in my protection. ‘I-pitty-da-fool’ who takes advantage of that exposure. The inclinations of an evil heart ‘must’ exploit a weakness, but having a millstone strapped around your neck and being cast into the sea would be more comfortable than what I will do to the offender of my flock.”
I guess I see the word “must” in this light, personally, but I’m still considering your POV too.
I appreciate the morning’s mental calisthenics.
KP
I appreciate your scholarship as always. It seems like Jesus is communicating a metaphysical interlude in the midst of practical instruction. Like “you can’t prevent the stumbling block from happening, But God holds the person of the stumbling block accountable.”
DON’T BE A STUMBLING BLOCK!
We are here for a purpose, the purpose is eternal, we live forever as free persons, we must have the knowledge of good and evil to live forever as free persons without sinning - always believe God.
In the mean time - woe to the world wherein we learn the truth.
These days I typically take the eternal perspective (maybe because I’m so old lol) rather than how this life on earth affects our lives on the earth. This life is over in a blink. The next life is eternal.
Since God is building an eternal family we could suppose that the events and decisions of our lives have greater than earthly impact. Seems so obvious when we say it, but not so obvious when we’re living it.
A believer who is confident in the blood of Christ for their salvation, may see this life as a troublesome interlude. We have this cursed belly to contend with, and an inborn (very good) set of natural drives that can get haywire at the drop of a hat. All the wholesome wants that easily divert to devilish desires.
If a believer supposes that their only purpose on the earth is to get saved, and then maybe be an occasional “soul-winner” if/when the mood strikes them, can easily get all caught up in their own personal rat race. They might think that their stumblings don’t really matter. And worse, their causing others to stumble doesn’t really matter either. Covered in the blood, right?
I think that God wants us to trust Him with our beliefs. Stumblings validate and verify what we actually choose to believe. Above all confusions, we trust and believe Him. Stumblings must come if that is to tested, proven, secure. Fit for eternity.
For all that to happen, we MUST be guided and empowered by His Spirit. Belief, trust, faith.