Why such severe punishment for those who offend ?

Question

Luke 17:1 ''Then said he unto the disciples, It is impossible but that offences will come: but woe unto him, through whom they come!

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.

Answer 1

This is in reference to those who mislead others on the subject of the truth.
As in Jesus' day, today many are suffering as if the 'great millstone' is around their neck. How so? Because they live in extreme anger and anguish, gnashing their teeth and wailing greatly knowing full well what future awaits them. And yet, even then these ones refuse to repent so as to get seasons of refreshing.
Astonishing how accurate the prophecy is!

Answer 2

God LOVES YOU but He also hates our sins

God is serious about eliminating evil from heaven. You can't have eternal life with our Father if you persist in disobeying Him.

It would not be heaven if sin was there!

This is the same GOD who struck a man dead on the spot just for touching the "arc of the covenant", which God said not to touch, apparently "innocently" trying to keep it from falling while in transit (touched only by a wood carrying stretcher).

When He says "NO!"; He is not saying "maybe". When will the world see???

They were not the "10 suggestions" that Moses brought down off the mountain!

In the garden of Eden, just for eating a forbidden fruit, God said "You will surely DIE" and we still do!

Thank God for salvation, through Jesus, and a second life that is eternal. Whatever your sins, big or small, if you will repent and be saved, you will find His heart has room for you too...if your heart has room for HIM!

When will the world see that God is serious!!

Answer 3

Some would some say, "why are you spanking your misbehaving child?" I suppose the answer would be...To help them to learn that there are consequences for their actions!! When the Scriptures are referring the "little ones" they may NOT be referring to only "little children", but also those that have "little knowledge" of the Scriptures/Word of God. These both can be so easily led astray, in their trusting innocence.
God takes that VERY seriously, as it would mean the eternal loss of one or more of His precious Children!
We mean SO much to God, that He sent Jesus Christ, His One & Only Son, to become OUR sin, and pay the death penalty for that sin..just to PROVE beyond ANY doubt, how MUCH He loves ALL of us. Even the ones we humans may consider "un-lovable". When we stand before this Holy God that has demonstated such awsome love for us, will we be able to hear those precious words of "well done good & faithful servant"? because we "pointed the Way to God" to the BEST of our abilities..or will we find that many souls were LOST because of our own mis-guided efforts at directing them the wrong way! I certainly would NOT want that to be "hanging around my neck"! :)

Answer 4

It just means that we should be very careful about what we teach the little ones, and not lead them astray.

For those who deliberately lead little ones astray, "it would be better for him..." They are really going to be held accountable.

It doesn't mean *we* should tie a millstone around their neck and throw them into the sea, it just means that they will have serious consequences when they come face to face with God.

Answer 5

what would happen on the day that you walk before the throne of God, and are shown all the souls that are not there, because you offended them.
I know for me it would be a horrific experience. and I would rather to have drown in the sea, that have done that.
it doesn't say eternal damnation, what it means is it would have been better to have died early, than to have been able to offend even one little one.

Answer 6

God does not take lightly, to those, who go out of their way, to turn "off" new believers. If you see some pedophile moving in on a child ... do you think its cruel that the "ped" gets severely punished?

Answer 7

It is better to be dead than to abuse (like sexually) a child... The bad deeds a person does >last forever<, the physical body doesn't.

Answer 8

the first verse is for those who like judas betrayed
YESHUA and like adam and eve.
the second one for those who physically and sexually
abuse babies and little children.
YESHUA gives us the salvation of the HIS shed
blood If We Accept it!!!!!!!!!!
for those who abort, sexually torture, murder for fun,
steal from the handicapped, euthanize, and play
ADONAI will suffer on ADONAI'S wrath.
Of that We are promised.

Answer 9

Keeping someone from truth or growth is a severe crime.

Answer 10

Because sin is so horrible, it destroys, ruins and takes many innocent ppl with it. It seperates us from God , till we go back in repentenace. SIn is horrible, no such thing as a little sin. sin is sin and God hates it all, and it will all be done away with. There will be no sin in heaven, or we would have there just what we have now, from liars, to thieves, to adulters, raptists, all of it. So heaven would not be perfect as God promises it to be. God has to end sin, and you know what, He doesnt send anyone to hell. WHen ppl stay rebellious and will not hear God and obey God , and say No to sin and Yes to Jesus, they will have to be dealt with, to protect the rest of us. In all honesty, they chose hell for themelve, but you can bet they will try to blame God. Just like now, athiests will say if there is a God why doent He just make sin to stop. make all wars and crime and stuff just stop. Yet, when we tell them how God says we must stop, and to obey, they get mad and mock us and hate us and say , noone tells me what to do.
Thats it in a nutshell. SIn hasnt ended, because God gave us all each individual choice, and ppl tend to want to do as they please, enjoy whatever their sins are and noone tells them what to do, open rebellion. and they wont believe in God and are angry about it, yet when talkingabout how wicked they word is they say God should stop it.
Well, folks one day He will, But God givees us a little more time to deceide if we will choose for Jesus or for the devil. There are no other options. ANd yes, God will end all sin.
But we have to say No to sin to be saved, and when we wont, God will end sin for the rest of us, by destroying those who will not obey and stop sin. You cant have it both ways guys. You want God to just end all the wickness, but when He tries to end something wicked you do, you get all mad about it. So do all the others. WHen God is dealing lets say with a rapist or a murder, He tries to reach them too, and they act in rebellion too, NOONE TELLS ME I CAN DO AS I PLEASE>

Sin is sin. Rape or murder are not worse than adultry or stealing,whatever. SIn is sin and God in His word is clear about what it is. so when ppl are punished for the refusal to stop sinning, they have noone to blame but themselves. Even the devil didnt make them do it. Its all choice who we hear and who we obey.
If we offend God or even one of his angels we will answer for it . God tells us in numbers that we can offend an angel to the point they can raise up a sword and kill us. Thats not my words, but Gods. So this offending God is pretty serious stuff, and it should be. Sin ruins everything for all of us.
My goodness, most of us women today cant even walk down the street without hearing some guy say something filthy to us. Read the statistics on violence, abortion, murder, all of it, and see where we are heading. Mor say Yes to sin that saying Yes to Jesus and we see the consequences of that all around us.
Who do you say NO to ppl?? Its only something you need ask of yourself. Then allow God to speak to your heart.
The sin of gossip is as bad as murder, do you know that? Cursing another person is sin, cheating them, all of it, just as bad as rape and murder> Go see what God says in HIs word about it. Either you live in sin or you walk in the spirit of God. no other options.. Seek and ye shall find and al will be added unto you.