Serious words - think of the words in v42 and the effect sin would have on the 'little ones'
He is speaking to His disciples, not to the world
We must take sin extremely seriously
Look at the words that are used - very strong language
If anyone warns others surely they do this in love
There are warnings in life
If we are wise we will listen to the loving warning given by Jesus
Jesus' words are often very radical
Jesus must come first - 'you must love Me before any other person' (even your family)
These words are not to be taken literally, Jesus is speaking metaphorically
Cause of Sin
Sin comes from within
Not so much the act of adultery or murder but the inward desire or hatred
Direct cause from within
Jesus is speaking about indirect sin
'Little ones'
Children who have believed
New believers, those young in the faith
Unintentionally causing others to sin
The disciples had been bickering about who was the best
Their attitude could have caused others to sin
Young believers can see other Christians fighting, being unkind to each other
Young believers can be disillusioned by other Christians bad behaviour
An attitude of superiority
The disciples had forbade another to cast out demons in Jesus name, as he was not part of the 12 or the 70 sent by Jesus
Jesus condemned this
Do we judge others, become intolerant of others, become proud?
The Apostle Paul was often aware of Christians dividing and disputing over secondary issues (e.g. 1 Cor 8:11, Rom 14:13)
Do we cause a weaker Christian to sin by not thinking of their conscience?
Intentionally causing others to sin
It is such a terrible thing to lead people into sin that it would be better to have this awful death
Children led into sin
People led into drugs, drink, vice
As parents have we led our children into sin?
Causing ourselves to sin
Think how much we have used our hands, our feet and our eyes
over the last week
Think of the Roman soldiers how they used their hands to abuse Jesus
Yet the problem was in the heart
Think of how Saul's feet chased David for years and led him to the witch of Endor
Think of how David looked upon a woman and led him to sin
Think of how Achan looked upon the forbidden plunder and took it
Think of how Eve looked at the fruit and desired it
Consequences of Sin
Hell in the Greek is 'Gehenna'
The Valley of Hinnom mentioned in Isaiah
A place where the evil kings sacrificed children
A place of great slaughter (spoke of by Jeremiah)
King Josiah made an end of this evil practice and made the area into a rubbish tip
The garbage was continually burned
Hell is an awful place
People often dismiss hell
They say it is made up by Christians
They haven't understood the awesomeness of God and the awfulness of sin
They often dismiss external sins but what have they thought in their heart?
Imagine being in torment, an eternal fire, your conscience for ever eating away at you
What a terrible and awful end for those who reject God
Do you treat sin lightly or do you see it as the worst possible thing in your life?
The Lord Jesus has made an end of sin and a way of redemption
The Call to overcome Sin
James 2:10 - Do not let one darling little sin affect your whole life
Do not feed sin
If you have a problem in one area, do not reinforce this sin
Cut things out of your life that need to be cut out
Col 3:5-6 - "Therefore put to death your members which are on the earth: fornication, uncleanness, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry. Because of these things the wrath of God is coming upon the sons of disobedience."
Col 3:12 - "Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, put on tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering ..."
Not just to cut out certain things but to fill our life with godly qualities
