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Stumble Over Jesus - Matt. 11:6
Stumble Over Jesus - Matt. 11:6
"And blessed is he who does not take offense at Me." (Matthew 11:6) What does ‘take offense at me’ mean? A short word study:
“Take offense” comes from the Greek word ‘Skandalizo meaning “ to take offense, stumble, or cause to sin, to ‘be scandalized” This word is used some 45 times in the NT (30 as a verb and 15 as a noun). Strong’s Lexicon states that it is used As a VERB: 30 occurrences; AV translates as “offend” 28 times, and “make to offend” twice; and As a NOUN: 15 occurrences; AV translates as “offence” nine times, “stumbling block” three times, “occasion of stumbling” once, “occasion to fall” once, and “thing that offends” once.
It is found 13 times in Matthew. Jesus warned about such things that would cause or bring about sin – (5:29, 30). Later, Jesus repeats the warning about removing what ever would cause one to ‘sin’ / stumble – (18:8-9). Following Jesus is to take sin seriously and to take the needful steps in keeping ourselves from sinning.
Jesus also warned that causing new believers to ‘stumble’ had serious consequences for the one causing such – (18:8) We are then not only to take precautions that WE do not stumble, but that, as much as possible, we do not become the occasion for others to stumble.
Jesus tried to avoid unneeded offensive situations – (17:27). Yet His teaching was of such nature that it caused division. Many simply could not accept it as truth, and hence stumbled / took offense at it. His hometown of Nazareth ‘took offense at Him’ – (13:57). The Pharisees were offended at His teaching - (15:12).
Following Jesus and His teaching would often bring about affliction and persecution. Jesus warned that some would ‘Fall Away’ because of persecution or affliction – (13:21). In particular, He warned that during the troubled times of the destruction of Jerusalem, many would ‘fall away’ and will betray one another – (24:10).
Such stumbling was not necessarily ‘permanent’, for the last night before His arrest, he warned that all of the apostles would ‘fall away’ - (26:31). Peter then strongly denied that HE would fall away – 26:33 – but of course he did. All but Judas were able to ‘pick themselves up’ and continue faithfully following Him.
Following Jesus is not easy, but it is rewarding. Have you removed such ‘scandals’ from your life? Have you been a stumbling block and a cause of sin to others? Have you fallen? There is forgiveness in Jesus. Pick yourself up and return to a life of faithful discipleship.
Hugh DeLong
