It Is Impossible

Of tempting others. Forgiveness, Faith, Service.

(The Gospel History, Section 113)

And he said unto his disciples, It is impossible but that occasions of stumbling should come: but woe unto him, through whom they come! It were well for him if a millstone were hanged about his neck, and he were thrown into the sea, rather than that he should cause one of these little ones to stumble. Take heed to yourselves: if thy brother sin, rebuke him; and if he repent, forgive him. And if he sin against thee seven times in the day, and seven times turn again to thee, saying, I repent; thou shalt forgive him.

Commentary by J. R. Dummelow

Lk 17:1 It is impossible] > Mt 18:7. A broad statement of the results of human experience, not a definition of the doctrine of fatalism or determinism. God does not compel men to sin, any more than He compels them to be virtuous. Perhaps Jesus had in His mind the case of His own death. The death of Jesus was (the religious state of the nation being what it was) practically certain, yet the human agent, Judas, through whom the offence came, acted freely, and was held responsible for his act.

Lk 17:2. one of these little ones] An affectionate designation of the disciples, especially such as were beginners and easily led astray. Perhaps the converted publicans and sinners of 15:1, 2 are specially meant.

to stumble] > Mt 18:6. i.e. whosoever shall bring about the ruin of the soul of a true believer, by depriving him of the childlike characteristics of humility and love.

It were well for him] > Mt 18:6. Why better? Because the penalty for ruining the soul of another is eternal death, and it is better to suffer the worst earthly penalty, than to do anything which will incur that awful doom.

were hanged . . were thrown] > Mt 18:6. more exactly, ‘had been hanged . . had been drowned,’ viz. before he did the deed. Drowning was a Roman and Greek punishment, reserved for crimes of peculiar enormity. It is not known to have been practised by the Jews.

3, 4. The duty of forgiveness. We are to forgive an unlimited number of times, yet we may rebuke in love: cp. Lv 19:17.

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(The Saviour of the World, Vol VII Book I Poem V)

“It is impossible”—ah, Lord that we
Should use this word is fitting, but with Thee
All things are possible, and all shall be.

“E’en as Thou bidd’st!” Lo cried the man perplex’t,
Already ruffled by new teaching, vexed
That Christ should scorn the great ones; “Nay, what next?”

“We thought He could do all things at a word!
And now, behold, our very ears have heard
‘Impossible’ from the lips of Christ our Lord!”

“‘Offences’ which be they to cause men’s fall?
Of riches speaks so still, desired of all,
Sure hindrances to hear Mammon’s luckless call.

A poor man stumbles sore disgrace;—
If such an one his tale of misery trace
To a rich neighbour, shame on that man’s face!

“Better a millstone around his neck and he
Sudden engulfed in the overwhelming sea
That he should offend My poor and Me!”

“Aye, shall He not defend the simple folk,
Release the poor man from oppression’s yoke
The simple from his hunger that malice would provoke?

“Nay, sure, this is the King, Messias, come
To raise the poor, set down the rich, for some
Indignity in his luxurious home,

“Done to our humble soul! We take our part
With Him who knows the poor, the rich, man’s heart,—
And when to raise, to humble, knows the art!”

St. Luke xvii. 1–4

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