Matthew 18:6but whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in me to stumble, it would be better for him that a huge millstone should be hung around his neck, and that he should be sunk in the depths of the sea.
The setting
Capernaum, Israel, ~29 AD. Jesus surrounded by disciples and children in a house...
The emotion here: fierce protective anger mixed with deep love for the vulnerable
The original word
skandalizō (σκανδαλίσῃ) — to set a trap, cause to fall into sin
Why it matters
The millstone Jesus mentions was turned by a donkey — massive, 4-5 feet across
Read with care
What most readers miss in Matthew 18:6
Jesus just held up a child as the greatest in the kingdom — this verse is the flip side
Common misconceptionPeople think this is only about pedophiles, but Jesus is talking about anyone who damages a young believer's faith — including parents, pastors, and teachers through hypocrisy or harsh judgment.
The thread continues
Verses that echo Matthew 18:6
Bible Genome reading
Matthew 18:6 — Bible Genome reading
Emotional genome
Matthew 18:6 comes from the book of Matthew, written during the gospel period. These words are attributed to Jesus. The dominant emotion in this verse is angry, with a comfort power of 20% and a tone that is urgent. It belongs to the narrative genre of biblical literature. Key themes include warning, protection. Notable phrases: causes to stumble; millstone around neck; depths of the sea.
Emotionally similar
Verses that meet the same angry
“Beat your plowshares into swords, and your pruning hooks into spears. Let the weak say, 'I am strong.'”
— Joel 3:10
“You blind guides, who strain out a gnat, and swallow a camel!”
— Matthew 23:24
“Listen to this word, you cows of Bashan, who are on the mountain of Samaria, who oppress the poor, who crush the needy, who tell their husba…”
— Amos 4:1
“I hate, I despise your feasts, and I can't stand your solemn assemblies.”
— Amos 5:21
“Your eyes shall not pity; life shall go for life, eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot.”
— Deuteronomy 19:21
Your reflection
What does Matthew 18:6 mean to you, today?
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