Matius 18:2

18:2 He called a child, had him stand among them,

Matius 18:5-7

18:5 And whoever welcomes ¹  a child like this in my name welcomes me.

18:6 “But if anyone causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, ²  it would be better for him to have a huge millstone ³  hung around his neck and to be drowned in the open sea. ⁴  18:7 Woe to the world because of stumbling blocks! It ⁵  is necessary that stumbling blocks come, but woe to the person through whom they come.

[18:5]  ¹ tn This verb, δέχομαι (decomai), is a term of hospitality (L&N 34.53).

[18:6]  ² tn The Greek term σκανδαλίζω (skandalizw), translated here “causes to sin” can also be translated “offends” or “causes to stumble.”

[18:6]  ³ tn Grk “the millstone of a donkey.” This refers to a large flat stone turned by a donkey in the process of grinding grain (BDAG 661 s.v. μύλος 2; L&N 7.68-69). The same term is used in the parallel account in Mark 9:42.

[18:6]  sn The punishment of drowning with a heavy weight attached is extremely gruesome and reflects Jesus’ views concerning those who cause others who believe in him to sin.

[18:6]  ⁴ tn The term translated “open” here (πελάγει, pelagei) refers to the open sea as opposed to a stretch of water near a coastline (BDAG 794 s.v. πέλαγος). A similar English expression would be “the high seas.”

[18:7]  ⁵ tn Grk “For it.” Here γάρ (gar) has not been translated.