Luke 17 2

Luke 17:2 kjv

It were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and he cast into the sea, than that he should offend one of these little ones.

Luke 17:2 nkjv

It would be better for him if a millstone were hung around his neck, and he were thrown into the sea, than that he should offend one of these little ones.

Luke 17:2 niv

It would be better for them to be thrown into the sea with a millstone tied around their neck than to cause one of these little ones to stumble.

Luke 17:2 esv

It would be better for him if a millstone were hung around his neck and he were cast into the sea than that he should cause one of these little ones to sin.

Luke 17:2 nlt

It would be better to be thrown into the sea with a millstone hung around your neck than to cause one of these little ones to fall into sin.

Luke 17 verses

Luke 17 2 Meaning

Jesus proclaims a profound warning against causing spiritual harm to those who are vulnerable in faith. It declares that it would be far better for a person to suffer a terrible, public death—specifically by being drowned in the deepest part of the sea with a heavy millstone tied around their neck—than for them to be the cause of even one "little one" (a young believer, a new convert, or even a literal child) stumbling, falling away from faith, or being led into sin. This stark imagery underscores the extreme gravity with which God views offenses against His weakest followers, highlighting their immense value in His eyes.

Luke 17 2 Context

Luke 17 begins with Jesus' teachings to His disciples. Verse 1 has just stated, "It is impossible but that offenses will come." This immediately sets the stage for the solemn warning in verse 2, highlighting that while stumbling blocks are inevitable in the fallen world, dire consequences await those who deliberately cause them. The passage quickly transitions in subsequent verses (17:3-4) to instructions on forgiveness, repentance, and the necessity of extending mercy multiple times. This juxtaposition underscores the sanctity of protecting new and vulnerable believers on the one hand, and the call to limitless grace within the community on the other. Historically, the teaching would resonate in a society where hierarchical structures were prevalent, and the less powerful were often marginalized. Jesus elevates the status and protection of the "little ones" far above worldly regard.

Luke 17 2 Word analysis

• "It": Refers to the outcome of suffering a horrific death.
• "were better": Greek sympherei (συμφέρει). Strong comparative, meaning "it is more profitable" or "it is advantageous." Emphasizes extreme preference for the alternative, highlighting the grave severity of the offense.
• "for him": Refers to the individual who causes the spiritual stumbling of a "little one."
• "that a millstone": Greek lithos mylikos (λίθος μυλικός), or sometimes mylos onikos (μύλος ὀνικός) in parallel passages. This specifies a large "donkey-millstone," not a smaller hand-mill stone. These stones were massive, often requiring an animal to turn them for grinding grain, indicating significant weight.
• "were hanged": Greek perikeito (περίκειτο). An imperfect passive form, meaning "it was habitually hung around." Conveys the grim permanence of such a hanging.
• "about his neck": Graphic detail emphasizing inescapable incapacitation and inevitable drowning.
• "and he cast": Greek eblēthē (ἐβλήθη). Aorist passive, emphasizing a completed, decisive act of being thrown.
• "into the sea": The sea, particularly deep water, often symbolized an abyss, chaos, or utter destruction in ancient thought. Being cast into it without retrieval meant a complete, disgraceful, and irrecoverable end. It was a known method of execution for very serious offenses, sometimes used by Romans for criminals or pirates, indicating severe public judgment.
• "than that he should offend": Greek hina skandalizē (ἵνα σκανδαλίζῃ). The verb skandalizō (σκανδαλίζω) originally referred to setting a trap or snare (the skandalon was the bait-stick of a trap, or a stumbling block). Here it means "to cause to stumble spiritually," "to cause to fall away," "to lead into sin," or "to hinder spiritual growth." It signifies leading someone to abandon faith or commit grave sin.
• "one of these": Designates a specific group being referred to by Jesus, making the warning highly personal and immediate.
• "little ones": Greek mikrōn (μικρῶν). Literally "small ones," but in a spiritual sense often referring to:
  • New believers/disciples: Those weak or fragile in faith, vulnerable to temptation, easily misled due to lack of maturity or knowledge.
  • Humble followers of Christ: Those who are lowly in spirit, perhaps insignificant in the eyes of the world but precious to God.
  • Actual children: Whom Jesus often elevated as models of faith. The broad interpretation covers any vulnerable person under the spiritual care or influence of a believer.

Words-group by words-group analysis

• "It were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck": This phrase evokes a horrifying, publicly ignominious execution. It speaks of a chosen, definitive, and physically overwhelming fate. The comparison is absolute; this terrible end is preferable.
• "and he cast into the sea": Reinforces the finality and utter obliteration. Drowning in the open sea meant no body for proper burial, representing complete spiritual and physical disgrace and separation from any community memory or blessing. It is the antithesis of a righteous passing.
• "than that he should offend one of these little ones": This is the "crime" of paramount seriousness. The warning prioritizes the spiritual well-being of the most vulnerable over even the gravest physical demise of the offender. It underscores the preciousness of each soul in the kingdom, particularly those whom society might overlook. Causing spiritual shipwreck for a vulnerable disciple is a sin of monumental proportions to Jesus.

Luke 17 2 Bonus section

The profound judgment threatened in Luke 17:2 underscores the absolute value Jesus places on spiritual integrity and vulnerability. It suggests that anything which obstructs or destroys a nascent faith is viewed as profoundly abhorrent to God. This warning stands in stark contrast to cultural norms where power dynamics often permitted the powerful to disregard the less influential. Jesus reverses this, placing divine protection and judgment on the side of the "little ones." This verse serves as a crucial ethical guideline for the early church and for believers in every age, highlighting the sanctity of the conscience and spiritual journey of even the most seemingly insignificant member of the body of Christ. It implies that true love for Christ translates into an active, protective love for His most fragile sheep, ensuring nothing we say or do becomes a trap.

Luke 17 2 Commentary

Luke 17:2 delivers one of Jesus' most severe warnings, powerfully articulating the immeasurable value God places on His weakest and most vulnerable followers. The "millstone around the neck and cast into the sea" illustrates an ancient form of execution, signaling an inescapable, disgraceful, and complete destruction. By stating that this grim fate is preferable to causing a "little one" to stumble, Jesus emphasizes the gravity of spiritual offenses against these individuals. The term "little ones" embraces both literal children and those who are young, new, humble, or weak in their faith, whom the world might deem insignificant but who are profoundly precious to Christ. Causing them to falter, whether through setting a bad example, misleading doctrine, or tempting them into sin, is not merely an inconvenience but an act of betrayal that incurs divine wrath more terrifying than public drowning. This teaching urges believers to extreme caution and responsibility in their words and actions, constantly considering the spiritual welfare of others, particularly the most impressionable among them, knowing that spiritual harm done to one of God's "little ones" is seen as a direct affront to God Himself.

Examples:

• A leader in the church whose inconsistent actions lead new converts to doubt the sincerity of faith.
• An older believer whose casual dismissal of certain sins causes a younger believer to think those sins are permissible.
• Using a position of authority or spiritual maturity to manipulate or take advantage of a person new to the faith, leading them away from the truth.