² It would be better for them to be thrown into the sea with a millstone tied around their neck than to cause one of these little ones^(A) to stumble.^(B)

Causing to Stumble

⁴² “If anyone causes one of these little ones—those who believe in me—to stumble,^(A) it would be better for them if a large millstone were hung around their neck and they were thrown into the sea.^(B)

¹⁴ In the same way your Father in heaven is not willing that any of these little ones should perish.

³ And he said: “Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like little children,^(A) you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.^{(B) 4} Therefore, whoever takes the lowly position of this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.^{(C) 5} And whoever welcomes one such child in my name welcomes me.^(D)

Causing to Stumble

⁶ “If anyone causes one of these little ones—those who believe in me—to stumble, it would be better for them to have a large millstone hung around their neck and to be drowned in the depths of the sea.^(E)

The Parable of the Wandering Sheep^(A)

¹⁰ “See that you do not despise one of these little ones. For I tell you that their angels^(B) in heaven always see the face of my Father in heaven.

¹¹ So this weak brother or sister, for whom Christ died, is destroyed^(A) by your knowledge. ¹² When you sin against them^(B) in this way and wound their weak conscience, you sin against Christ.^(C)

False Teachers and Their Destruction

2 But there were also false prophets^(A) among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you.^(B) They will secretly introduce destructive heresies, even denying the sovereign Lord^(C) who bought them^(D)—bringing swift destruction on themselves. ² Many will follow their depraved conduct^(E) and will bring the way of truth into disrepute. ³ In their greed^(F) these teachers will exploit you^(G) with fabricated stories. Their condemnation has long been hanging over them, and their destruction has not been sleeping.

²⁴ The Son of Man will go just as it is written about him.^(A) But woe to that man who betrays the Son of Man! It would be better for him if he had not been born.”

²² To the weak I became weak, to win the weak.^(A) I have become all things to all people^(B) so that by all possible means I might save some.^(C)