Luke 17:2

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.

Cross-reference

Matthew 18:3-5 calls for becoming like children and receiving them — the positive counterpart to this warning not to cause them to stumble.

Matthew 18:6 contains nearly identical millstone statement—parallel version of the same warning.

Matthew 18:10 warns against despising little ones, reinforcing the same message that harming them brings serious consequences.

Matthew 18:14 declares God's will that none of these little ones perish — making the offense of causing their downfall even more grievous.

Mark 9:42 Parallel

Mark 9:42 repeats the identical millstone warning, reinforcing the gravity of causing little ones to sin.

1 Corinthians 8:11 warns that causing a weak brother to stumble destroys him for whom Christ died — directly parallel to the millstone warning.

In 1 Corinthians 8:12, Paul warns that sinning against weak brothers is sinning against Christ—echoing the gravity of causing little ones to stumble.

In Matthew 10:42, Jesus promises reward for serving little ones—the positive counterpart to the severe warning against causing them to sin.

In Matthew 18:5, receiving a child in Christ's name is receiving Christ—contrasting with the millstone warning for causing them to sin.

In Romans 14:13, Paul explicitly commands not to put a stumbling block before a brother—the same ethical principle as the millstone warning.

In Romans 14:21, Paul expands the principle to any action that causes a brother to stumble—applying the same warning from Luke 17:2.

In 1 Corinthians 8:9, Paul warns against using freedom as a stumbling block—echoing the millstone warning against causing little ones to sin.

2 Peter 2:1-3 warns of false teachers who lead believers astray — a specific form of causing 'little ones' to sin, with severe judgment.

John 21:15 Allusion

John 21:15 commissions Peter to feed Jesus' lambs — the same little ones here, showing the positive duty of care versus causing harm.

1 John 2:10 Contrast

In 1 John 2:10, love for brother removes stumbling—the positive fruit of the warning against causing little ones to fall.

In 1 Corinthians 9:22, Paul's self-denial to win the weak exemplifies the opposite of causing them to stumble—a positive application of the same concern.

Romans 14:1 Related theme

In Romans 14:1, Paul instructs to welcome the weak in faith—a positive command that complements the warning against causing them to stumble.

Isaiah 40:11 depicts God tenderly shepherding lambs — the same vulnerable ones Jesus warns against harming, highlighting their value.

In Matthew 5:30, Jesus uses a similar 'better to lose a part than the whole' warning for personal sin—mirroring the extreme language about causing others to sin.