Matthew 18:7 “Woe to the world for temptations to sin! For it is necessary that temptations come, but woe to the one by whom the temptation comes!

Is Jesus telling us that it is necessary that temptations come, but then the responsibility for the temptation, and associated judgement (woe), is assigned to the one who brought the temptation? Is Jesus telling us that there are some who will be required to provide temptations and then will be responsible for the damage the temptation causes?

It just didn’t make sense for me, and, as a paradox is wont to do, it took me outside of my usual way of thinking.

You know that this type of paradox had tripped me up for years, and though I can not claim to have resolved it entirely, I do approach this type of statement with a different perspective than some of my Calvinist brothers. 

As we read this verse, Jesus doesn’t seem to designate any particular person with the temptations being provided. He is simply stating an obvious fact, something everyone has experienced while walking amongst our own kind. We are those who, at best, unintentionally bring temptations to sin into others lives, and dare I say, in our worst moments, actually lay traps of temptation for those we know, and even care about. 

As believers we know this is sin. We are to walk in the Spirit, depending on His guiding love to keep us from exercising that which shames us, and hurts others. 

Yet, if we provide temptations, will woe be pronounced upon us, even as we confess Christ as our Savior? We need to keep short accounts with the Lord, and confess our sin before Him to keep our relationship healthy with Him. There are those who may bring temptation simply because they have yet to know the Lord, or do not understand the importance of avoiding the act of bringing temptations to others. They, like us, are in a period of maturity and with that, confession before Him will cover the sin, and avoid some, if not all of the repercussions of this act of sin.

Those who know not the Lord, they only pile woe upon woe in their lives, as they offend and reject the Savior, the only One who can deliver them from the sin they live in and the consequences of their acts. 

I don’t see Jesus telling His disciples that specific people are required by God to cause temptations to others, and suffer for that. In other words, that specific people are destined to bring temptations into the world and for that they will incur (without exception) the wrath of God for those actions they are destined to perform. 

We are all guilty of this act of offense and it is our calling to mature into adult believers, to understand the importance of relationship with others, to avoid providing even the appearance of temptation for others and to gently guide those who may not understand the Lord’s desire for His people in this regard.

Let us not be those who trip others up, but that we would help each other walk properly.

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