Daily Devotional For Friday, December 19, 2025
Note: In each devotional where you see only the reference to a Bible passage without the verse (ex. John 3:16), that is a direct link to that passage online. All you have to do is click on that reference and you will be taken to the verse itself. Thank you. We are making our way through Matthew’s Gospel and today we come to Matthew 18:7-9:
“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! (8) If your hand or your foot causes you to stumble, cut it off and throw it from you; it is better for you to enter life crippled or lame, than to have two hands or two feet and be cast into the eternal fire. (9) If your eye causes you to stumble, pluck it out and throw it from you. It is better for you to enter life with one eye, than to have two eyes and be cast into the fiery hell” (NASB).
Today’s text is a continuation from yesterday’s teaching by Jesus. Verses 6-9 are linked together by the Greek New Testament word [σκανδαλίζω; skandalizo]. This is where we get our English word “scandal and scandalize.” This word has been translated as the word “sin” in verses 6, 7, 8, & 9. A better translation would be “the temptation to sin.” All of us must be concerned that we are not a “stumbling block” to someone else, especially a new or young believer. Stumbling blocks come from three primary areas: the body of fellowship of the church (see Matt. 18:6), our culture and world (see Matt. 18:7) and our own sinful nature (see Matt. 18:8-9).
Jesus has already taught His disciples that sin and evil will continue to exist in the world until He ends it one day with a new heaven and a new earth (see Rev. 21:1). Until then, we all will be tempted to sin, and vulnerable to being a “stumbling block” to others and them to us. Jesus expressed two woes that come to those who are the stumbling block. Jesus often used metaphors and analogies to teach biblical truth. Jesus is not literally advocating self-mutilation here. His point is that we must be willing to do what is spiritually surgically necessary to cut out of our lives just like a surgeon does to cut cancer out of a body.
Whatever that attitude is, that bad habit is, that sin is, that practice is, or that relationship is, we must be willing to cut it from our lives in order to grow spiritually. If we literally applied self-multilation – cutting off a hand that sinned or removing an eye that sinned – would not stop us from sinning since sin is an issue of the heart. The heart of the believer has to do this. This is why church discipline is necessary when you have a believer or believer sowing discord, disunity or false theology in the church. The church has to cut them off from the body.
The word translated as “hell” in verse 9 is the Greek New Testament word [γέεννα; Ghenna, Hinna or Hinnon]. This was an actual place around Jerusalem. It was the city land field where they burned the garbage, debris and trash. The application of this term comes from the Old Testament where Jewish parents sacrificed their children to the Baal god named Molech outside of Jerusalem in pagan worship services (see 2 Kgs 23:10; 2 Chron. 28:3; Jer. 7:31; and Matt. 32:35). During the reign of King Josiah, it was used to burn garbage continuously and destroy the worms that had infected this garbage dump. So, this continual burning fire was a great picture Jesus uses to illustrate this truth of judgment to come to those who do this. There would be an eternal burning fire for such people (see Matt 5:22; Matt. 10:28; Luke 12:5; Jam. 3:6; and Rev. 20:9-10). There is a final state for the wicked after the last Judgment.
Jesus’ warning is direct and to the point. Why? Sin is never personal and private. It will always impact others and the body of faith and the fellowship of the church. There is always a domino effect – never a duo effect – just you and your sin. Every sin impacts others, even if no one sees or knows you committed that sin. That is why sin is so scandalous. Jesus used hyperbole and exaggeration to stress this danger and the means to stop it. From chapter 17 to our current text, Jesus has been building to a great climax of setting up a contrast between the self-centered life and the other-centered life. New Testament scholar Craig Blomberg writes this:
“A stark contrast thus remains between those who recognize their complete dependence on God, and who therefore welcome other believers in humility and service, and those, including professing believers, who lead themselves and others to sin” (Source: Craig Blomberg, New American Commentary, Vol. 1B, “Matthew,” Vol. 22, p. 275).
As pastor and author Chuck Swindoll writes: “Two paths stood before the disciples — one of selfishness, pride, and a spiraling into sin that would destroy self and others; the other of selflessness, humility, and leading even the weakest believers into righteousness” (Source: Charles R. Swindoll, Swindoll’ Living Insight New Testament Bible Commentary, “Matthew 16-28, Vol. 1B, pp. 73-74).
If we give our attention only to the powerful, those in positions of the church, those with prestige and money, then we neglect those “weaker or younger” in the faith believers especially if they exhibit more of the character of Christ, Jesus is not pleased.. There can be nothing of that in the church. As we have already seen in our journey through Matthew’s Gospel, Jesus scolded His disciples for arguing about who would be the greatest in His kingdom (see Matt. 18:1-4).
Assignment: In the church, do you tend to be drawn to those who hold the positions, or power or money or status or do you focus on the weaker or younger believer? Why? How serious would Jesus say you are about cutting specific sins from your heart and life? Are there any ways you scandalize the Gospel and the work of Christ? What do you plan to do about that?
Scripture To Meditate On: Romans 5:12, “Therefore, just as through one man sin entered into the world, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men, because all sinned” (NASB).
Prayer To Pray: “Dear Lord, I do not want to cause anyone to stumble. I do not want to scandalize the Gospel. Help me to get to my sin issue which is a matter of my heart. Purge me, Cleanse me and make my heart as white as snow. To those I have caused to stumble, please remind me who they are so I can go and apologize to them and ask for their forgiveness. I love you Lord. In Jesus’ name, Amen!”
I love you Southside! – Pastor Kelly