[Greek] σκάνδαλον (skandalon), [Latin] scandalum, [Latin] offensio, [Latin] offendiculum, [Latin] offendere, [French] heurter

[Greek] σκάνδαλον (skandalon), [Latin] scandalum, [Latin] offensio, [Latin] offendiculum, [Latin] offendere, [French] heurter: stumbling stone, obstacle, cause for stumbling, sin, offense, trap, impediment; Mt.13:41, Mt. 16:23, Lk.17:1, Rom.9:33, Rom.11:9, Rom.16:17, 1Cor.1:23, Gal.5:11, 1Pet.2:8, 1Jn.2:10, Rev.2:14

Questionable and scandalous clergy and laity can quite often become stumbling blocks (scandalons) ===> scandals for others.

Background information:

Greek Hellenism: This term means offense, scandal, vulnerability, obstacle, trap, and moral fault.

Aristophanes’ Archarnians 687: “The accuser, desirous of conciliating the younger man, overwhelms with his rhetoric, drags us before the judge, presses us with questions, and lays verbal traps for us.”

Sophocles’ Oedipus Tyrannus 1189-1196: “Imitation is scandalous, creating obstacles for us. We see that person who has what we also want. That person becomes and an obstacle for what we desire.”

Epictetus: “If someone succeeds in provoking you, realize that your mind is complicit in this provocation.”

Old Testament: This term means stumbling block, blindness, deafness, slander, idolatry, stupidity, folly, and obstacle. This term can be used in a literal, figurative, moral, metaphorical and spiritual context.”

Mt.13:41: “The Son of Man will send His angels, and they will collect out of His kingdom all who cause others to sin and all evildoers.” (Jesus will exercise the authority given to Him as divine King and Judge. The present world contains both those who belong to Christ and those who oppose His rule. Everything that corrupts, deceives, and leads other into sin will be removed.)

Mt.18:6-7: “Whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for Him to have a great millstone around his neck to be drowned in the depths of the sea.”

1. Little ones include children and those who are humble, dependent, or immature in their faith. Harm done to these little is a serious offense against God.
2. A millstone, a heavy grinding stone to crush grain into flour, was too heavy for one person to turn. This was a heavy burden.
3. Jesus seeks to illustrate the great spiritual harm cause by harming these little ones.
4. Drowning with a millstone around one’s neck would have been more preferable than facing the judgement one would face by harming these little ones. (If you think drowning with a millstone around neck was bad, committing this sin against the little ones is WORSE!)

Rom.9:33: “I am laying a stone in Zion that will make people stumble and a rock that will make them fall, and whoever believes in Him shall not be put to shame.” (Zion refers to Jerusalem. The stone represents Jesus Christ. He becomes a stumbling block to those who reject Him, causing them to fall due to unbelief. He is the cornerstone of faith for believers and a point of contention for those who do not accept Him.)

Rom.16:7: “I urge you, brothers, to watch out for those who create dissension and obstacles, in opposition to the teaching you learned, avoid them.”

1. Paul warns the Roman believers against those individuals who disrupt the unity of the Church.
2. Divisions and obstacles can refer to false teachings, IDEOLOGIES, or behaviors that lead believers away from the core message of the gospel.
3. The teaching refers to the apostolic doctrine that Paul and others had delivered to the Church.

1 Cor.1:23: “But we proclaim Christ crucified, a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles.”

1. (Crucifixion was a shameful and brutal form of  execution, reserved for the lowest criminals.
2. The concept of a crucified Messiah was scandalous to the Jews, who expected a triumphant political Messiah.
3. The idea that salvation could come through a crucified man was absurd and irrational to the philosophical mind.
4. Paul contrasts the wisdom of the world with the wisdom of God.

Mt.16:22-23: “Peter rebuked Jesus, ‘God forbid, Lord! No such thing shall ever happen to you.’ Jesus turned to Peter, ‘Get behind Me, Satan! You are an obstacle [scandal] to Me. You are thinking not as God does, but as human beings do.'”

1. At first glance, Peter’s statement toward Jesus sounds reasonable: Peter, concerned for Jesus’ safety, does not want Jesus to die. One could even say that Peter was being pastoral.
2. However, this statement is scandalous and evil. This statement seeks to DEFLECT and UNDERMINE Jesus’ mission from the Father.
3. Peter was briefly “inspired” from Satan. Peter has just made a satanic and evil statement.
4. Satan seeks to UNDERMINE Jesus’ mission to die on the cross to seek redemption for humanity.
5. Paul: corruption of minds is Satanic activity (2 Cor. 11:3)

Scandal in Germany: The German Synodal Church continues to “reform” and “renew” itself into decline and heresy:

1. Creating a permanent legislative body of laity to govern the German Church.
2. Allowing the laity to choose the bishops instead of the Vatican.
3. Allowing the laity to preach at Mass.
4. Ending clerical celibacy
5. Re-examining Pope John Paul II’ restrictions on the priesthood. Allowing for women deacons and women priests
6. Revising the Catechism to allow for homosexuality.
7. Blurring the lines between clergy/laity functions and duties
8. Teaching pro-LGBTQ sex education in Catholic schools in opposition to parents’ wishes
9. The Vatican producing Fiducia Supplicans as a means to placate the German bishops’ desire for promoting homosexuality.

Conclusion:

Scandal, scandalous, offence, offensive, offend, hurt

Interestingly, Epictetus makes reference to the notion of having someone “living rent-free in one’s mind” in upsetting a person. (Still many continue to experience Trump Derangement Syndrome.)

Was Jesus a stone cutter?

1. The Greek noun can mean artisan, craftsman, builder.
2. Such building materials can include wood, stone, and metal.
3. Timber was scarce. Most houses and public buildings were made of stone.
4. Nazareth was only a few miles to Sepphoris, which had a nearby quarry
5. A tekton would have spent more time cutting stone, shaping, and laying stone.
6. Jesus talked constantly about stones, foundations, rejected stones, and laying stones, rather than boards.

Update: Scandalous woke ideology exposed: the WNBA continues to refuse to define what a woman is and ultimately refuses to uphold women’s rights to privacy and protection.