Don’t Be the Reason Someone Falls
Why protecting each other from sin is serious in the eyes of Jesus.
In Matthew 18:6, Jesus moves from welcoming one another to warning us about harming one another. The shift is sharp:
“But whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in me to fall away—it would be better for him if a heavy millstone were hung around his neck and he were drowned in the depths of the sea.” (Matthew 18:6)
These are not soft words. Jesus uses one of the most graphic images available in His time. A millstone, a massive grinding stone, would be tied around a person’s neck, and they would be dropped into deep water. The message is clear: causing a believer to fall away is deadly serious.
Leading Others into Sin
Scripture is full of warnings about leading others astray:
“It is impossible for offenses not to come, but woe to the one through whom they come.” (Luke 17:1)
“If anyone destroys God’s temple, God will destroy him; for God’s temple is holy, and that is what you are.” (1 Corinthians 3:17)
We can lead others into sin by what we teach, how we live, or even by the attitudes we display. Evil talk, dishonest behavior, sexual sin, these can all push others toward spiritual ruin (Ephesians 5:3–4).
Indirect Temptation
Sometimes we inadvertently tempt others. We might provoke anger (Ephesians 6:4), stir up bitterness (Hebrews 12:15), or flaunt our freedom in ways that wound someone else’s conscience (1 Corinthians 8:9–13).
Paul’s principle in Romans 14:13 applies here: “Decide never to put a stumbling block or pitfall in the way of your brother or sister.”
The Example We Set
Our example matters. Paul told Timothy, “Set an example for the believers in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith, and in purity.” (1 Timothy 4:12)
Our families, our friends, and our church family watch us more closely than we realize. Sometimes the damage of a careless word or action can’t be undone. That’s why Jesus says in Matthew 18:7, “Woe to the world because of offenses. For offenses will inevitably come, but woe to that person by whom the offense comes.”
Personal Holiness Matters
Jesus doesn’t just tell us to avoid harming others, He tells us to deal drastically with our own sin:
“If your hand or your foot causes you to fall away, cut it off and throw it away… If your eye causes you to fall away, gouge it out and throw it away.” (Matthew 18:8–9)
This is not a call to self-harm; it’s a call to radical removal of whatever leads us to sin. Colossians 3:5 says it this way: “Put to death what belongs to your earthly nature.”
Sin is never small. Left unchecked, it will hurt you and those around you. John Owen1 famously wrote, “Be killing sin or it will be killing you”—a truth that echoes Romans 8:13: “If by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live.”
Why This Matters
Every believer matters to God. Every careless action that leads someone away from Him grieves His heart (Ephesians 4:30). Protecting one another spiritually is not optional—it’s the natural overflow of loving God and loving our neighbor (Matthew 22:37-39).
The church is called to be a place of spiritual safety, not spiritual harm. That means we are careful with our words, intentional with our influence, and ruthless with our sin.
For Wednesday:
We’ll see why valuing each other is non-negotiable in the church, and how God’s view of His people should shape our view of one another (Matthew 18:10).
“Do you mortify; do you make it your daily work; be always at it whilst you live; cease not a day from this work; be killing sin or it will be killing you.” — The Mortification of Sin, Chapter 2 (p. 27 in many editions) reftoons.com+1thegospelcoalition.org+11bcnewton.co+11goodreads.com+11
This quote comes from early in The Mortification of Sin in Believers (1656). Owen is urging us to treat killing sin not as an occasional discipline, but as a daily, lifelong commitment.