[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
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.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.'”
- At first glance, Peter’s statement toward Jesus sounds reasonable: Peter, concerned for Jesus’ safety, does not want Jesus to die.
- However, this statement is scandalous and evil. This statement seeks to DEFLECT and UNDERMINE Jesus’ mission from the Father.
- Peter was briefly “inspired” from Satan. Peter has just made a satanic and evil statement.
- Satan seeks to UNDERMINE Jesus’ mission to die on the cross to seek redemption for humanity.
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.”
- 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.
- A millstone, a heavy grinding stone to crush grain into flour, was too heaven for one person to turn. This was a heavy burden.
- Jesus seeks to illustrate the great spiritual harm cause by harming these little ones.
- 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.