A.All of us stumble from time to time in regards to righteousness (Jas. 3:2; 1John 1:8-10).
B.This gives us enough trouble, but how much more trouble we find when we cause others to stumble also.
II.CAUSING SIN
A.Many times in the Bible, the figure of stumbling is used to represent sin.
1.In the physical sense, to stumble is to trip and perhaps to fall.Stumbling results from an impediment in one’s path, an inability to see the impediment, and/or an error in judgment.
2.Stumbling is a fitting figure for sin, for sin results from spiritual impediments (temptations, trials, etc.) that trip us on the path of righteousness, our inability or unwillingness to see those impediments for what they really are, and/or errors in judgment that cause us to trip and fall short of God’s will.
B.Seeking to cause stumbling is purely evil.
1.Consider a commandment from the Law of Moses and how it pertains to those who cause sin.
a.In Leviticus 19:14, God commanded Israel, "You shall not curse a deaf man, nor place a stumbling block before the blind, but you shall revere your God; I am the LORD.”
b.Such a commandment was necessary only because of evil men who sought to take advantage of disabled people.The deaf were cursed only because they could not hear the words and answer them, and the blind were made to stumble only because they could not see stumbling blocks and avoid them.
c.Likewise, evil men also seek to take advantage of spiritually weak and vulnerable people.They mislead those who do not perceive of their evil words, and they tempt those who are likely to become entangled in sin.
d.Notice that such activity by evil men is a matter not only of disdain for others but also of irreverence toward God.Those who cause sin stand in opposition to God.
2.All those who lay stumbling blocks that lead to sin engage in the work of Satan.
a.It is Satan’s ambition to cause us to sin.This has been true from the beginning and is still true today (Gen. 3:1-7; John 8:41-44; 2Cor. 2:11; 11:3; 1Pet. 5:8).
b.Many men have become agents of Satan by laying stumbling blocks before others (2Cor. 11:13-15).Some do so willingly and deceitfully, and others do so in ignorance, but the results are the same.
c.Even Peter engaged in this work of Satan, for Jesus rebuked him in Matthew 16:23, saying, "Get behind Me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to Me; for you are not setting your mind on God's interests, but man’s.”
III.DON’T LAY STUMBLING BLOCKS
A.Don’t cause others to stumble.
1.It would be better to die than to cause others to sin.
a.Consider Christ’s words from Matthew 18:5-7 – "And whoever receives one such child in My name receives Me; but whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in Me to stumble, it would be better for him to have a heavy millstone hung around his neck, and to be drowned in the depth of the sea.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!”See also Mark 9:42; Luke 17:1.
b.Any person who causes others to sin will be fully responsible for his evil deed.
i.Even though God permits stumbling blocks to be laid in the world, He holds those responsible who lay the stumbling blocks.
ii.Even though a person may not stumble and commit a particular sin himself, he will be found guilty and punished if he causes others to commit the sin.
iii.His punishment will be worse than death.There is no doubt that this describes the eternal punishment of hell (Matt. 25:46; Mark 9:48; 2Thess. 1:9; Rev. 21:8).
2.Your words or your example can cause others to stumble.
a.If we are guilty of false teachings and sinful examples, then we can lead others to share in our sin.
i.Consider the example of "Jezebel,” who not only taught some members of the church at Thyatira to sin, but she also led them in sin so that they committed immorality with her (Rev. 2:20-23).
ii.For this reason, the Bible says, "Let not many of you become teachers, my brethren, knowing that as such we will incur a stricter judgment.For we all stumble in many ways. If anyone does not stumble in what he says, he is a perfect man, able to bridle the whole body as well” (Jas. 3:1-2).
b.Giving approval to sinners will cause them to sink farther into their sin.
i.Notice how the Gentiles incurred extra guilt because of their approval of sin – "…although they know the ordinance of God, that those who practice such things are worthy of death, they not only do the same, but also give hearty approval to those who practice them” (Rom. 1:32).
ii.Greeting false teachers encourages them to continue their sin and causes us to share their sin with them."If anyone comes to you and does not bring this teaching, do not receive him into your house, and do not give him a greeting; for the one who gives him a greeting participates in his evil deeds.” (2John 1:10-11)
c.Even a careless example can cause others to violate their consciences and sin.
i.The early Christians had to be careful that they did not unintentionally influence their brethren to sin.The issues involved were eating certain foods, observing days, or giving any appearance of regard for idols (see Rom. 14; 1Cor. 8).
ii.The governing principles for us are that we should not "put an obstacle or a stumbling block in a brother's way” (Rom. 14:13), we should not allow our liberty to "become a stumbling block to the weak” (1Cor. 8:9), and we should resolve not to "cause my brother to stumble” (1Cor. 8:13).
B.Don’t cause yourself to stumble.
1.The Lord advises us to remove all possible causes of stumbling from ourselves.
a.Consider the strong advice Christ gave in Matthew 5:29-30 – "If your right eye makes you stumble, tear it out and throw it from you; for it is better for you to lose one of the parts of your body, than for your whole body to be thrown into hell.If your right hand makes you stumble, cut it off and throw it from you; for it is better for you to lose one of the parts of your body, than for your whole body to go into hell.”
b.Notice that the stumbling blocks (represented by the right eye and the right hand) should not only be removed from immediate contact with us, but also they should be thrown from us, i.e., separated far away from us.
c.The Lord’s examples of the right eye and the right hand show that we are better off without even the things we count as the most vital if they cause us to sin.How much more then should we be willing to separate ourselves from worthless things that cause us to stumble, such as bad relationships and influences, alcohol, tobacco, filthy television programs and movies, pornography, etc.?
2.Don’t set up idols that will cause you to stumble.
a.An idol is anything that becomes an object of worship and diverts our affection from God.We can make idols of money (Col. 3:5; 1Tim. 6:10), pleasure (Phil. 3:19), approval from others (John 12:43), and even ourselves (2Tim. 3:2).
b.Israel suffered much because they "set up their idols in their hearts and have put right before their faces the stumbling block of their iniquity” (Ezek. 14:3-7).
c.Do we set up stumbling blocks right before our faces?If so, let’s get rid of them now!
IV.CONCLUSION
A.Even Christ has become a cause of stumbling to many, but He also keeps many from stumbling.
1.He does not seek to cause anyone to sin or tempt them (Jas. 1:13-15), but many sin because they are unwilling to obey Him (Rom. 9:32-33; 11:9; 1Cor. 1:23; Gal. 5:11; 1Pet. 2:8).
2.Christ is the one "who is able to keep you from stumbling” (Jude 1:24).This is accomplished through His word (Prov. 3:23; John 16:1), Christ-like behavior (2Pet. 1:10), and love (1John 2:10).
B.In the end, stumbling blocks will be gathered out of the kingdom and burned.
1.Jesus said, "The Son of Man will send forth His angels, and they will gather out of His kingdom all stumbling blocks, and those who commit lawlessness, and will throw them into the furnace of fire; in that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth” (Matt. 13:41-42).
2.If we would not be among those gathered out of the kingdom and burned, then let us be careful not to be stumbling blocks to ourselves or our brethren.
