Matthew 18:8-11 - Setting right examples for the weaker believers

In verse 6 Jesus warned of the dire consequence of stumbling the little ones. The little ones here could refer to two categories of people. They are the little children, people whom the Lord had just borrowed to emphasize His points on Kingdom greatness. Jesus could also be referring to those who have not yet matured in the faith. Many of these are more susceptible to pick up wrong examples in life. Therefore, it is important that the mature believers of Christ live their life in such a way that they rightly set the pace for them. If we think we are mature, we should leave behind godly examples and values for them to emulate.

What’s Jesus point here? As a disciple of Christ, each one of us must structure our life in such a way that we don’t become a stumbling block to other believers. Especially so for those who are less mature and discerning. They are usually the people who are more vulnerable and susceptible to the influence of other’s inconsiderate lifestyle. So the Lord sternly call for a radical severance with the sources of sin in one’s life. Of course verses 8-9 are hyperbole. They are exaggerations deployed to prove a point. These exhortations are not to be taken literally. What Jesus is calling for is a radical severance with a lifestyle of sin. It’s better to live a life with less but right in the eyes of God, than to end up totally in the fiery hell of eternal damnation.

To live inconsiderately is to despise the weaker. We must know that everyone is important to God, especially the weaker ones. Here, Matthew tells us that God even assign special angels, those who behold His face, to also look after the weaker and less fortunate ones. If heaven won’t even marginalize the weak and little ones, so we mustn’t also. Hence, we must be careful not to do anything inconsiderately. For it has the potential to harm weaker believers and lead them astray. We must remember that we are finally accountable to our Lord for anyone whose life we have stumbled.  Bear in mind that they are among the many that the Lord also came to seek and save. In the light of these warnings, let’s live and act right.