Matthew 18:6
But whoso shall offend one of these little ones which believe in me, it were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and that he were drowned in the depth of the sea.
Cross-references
Matthew 18:10 continues the same warning: do not despise these little ones — reinforcing the seriousness of causing them to stumble.
Matthew 18:10 further underscores the value of little ones, linking directly to the warning against causing them to sin.
Matthew 25:40 honors serving the least—reinforcing the high value of little ones, whose harm is so severely condemned.
Matthew 5:30 advocates cutting off a hand that causes sin—echoing the same drastic seriousness about sin's consequences.
2 Thessalonians 1:6-9 describes God's just vengeance on those who afflict believers — parallel to the millstone judgment here.
1 Corinthians 10:32 expands the command: give no offense to anyone — consistent with Jesus' warning against causing believers to stumble.
1 Corinthians 8:9-13 directly addresses causing a weak brother to stumble, using the same 'stumbling block' language — a clear echo of Jesus' warning.
Romans 14:21 applies the same principle: avoid anything that causes a brother to stumble, echoing Jesus' warning here.
Romans 14:13-15 explicitly warns against putting a stumbling block before a brother — the same sin Jesus condemns here with the millstone.
Acts 9:5 reveals that harming believers is attacking Jesus Himself — deepening the gravity of causing believers to stumble.
Luke 17:2 gives the same millstone imagery for causing little ones to stumble — a parallel account of Jesus' warning.
Luke 17:1 warns that stumbling blocks are inevitable and pronounces woe on their cause — expands the theme of causing others to sin.
Mark 9:42 records the identical warning about millstones and little ones — a parallel account of the same teaching.
Romans 14:20 warns against destroying God's work by causing a brother to stumble—directly parallel to harming a little one's faith.
Luke 9:48 shows Jesus welcoming a child—the positive counterpart to the warning against causing little ones to stumble.
Mark 14:21 uses the same 'better for him' formula for the betrayer—linking the severity of causing sin to the woe of betrayal.
Romans 15:1-3 calls the strong to bear with the weak — the positive counterpart to avoiding causing them to stumble.
In 2 Corinthians 6:3, Paul avoids putting obstacles in anyone's way — the positive counterpart to the warning against causing little ones to stumble.
Philippians 2:4 calls believers to consider others' interests — a practical application of not causing them to stumble.
1 Corinthians 10:33 models the opposite of causing stumbling — seeking others' good for their salvation.