² It would be better for him if a millstone were hung around his neck, and he were thrown into the sea, than that he should ^[a]offend one of these little ones.

Jesus Warns of Offenses^(A)

^42 (B)“But whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in Me ^[a]to stumble, it would be better for him if a millstone were hung around his neck, and he were thrown into the sea.

¹⁴ Even so it is not the ^(A)will of your Father who is in heaven that one of these little ones should perish.

³ and said, “Assuredly, I say to you, ^(A)unless you are converted and become as little children, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven. ^4 (B)Therefore whoever humbles himself as this little child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. ^5 (C)Whoever receives one little child like this in My name receives Me.

Jesus Warns of Offenses^(D)

^6 (E)“But whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in Me to sin, it would be better for him if a millstone were hung around his neck, and he were drowned in the depth of the sea.

The Parable of the Lost Sheep^(A)

¹⁰ “Take heed that you do not despise one of these little ones, for I say to you that in heaven ^(B)their angels always ^(C)see the face of My Father who is in heaven.

¹¹ And ^(A)because of your knowledge shall the weak brother perish, for whom Christ died? ¹² But ^(B)when you thus sin against the brethren, and wound their weak conscience, you sin against Christ.

Destructive Doctrines

2 But there were also false prophets among the people, even as there will be ^(A)false teachers among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Lord who bought them, and bring on themselves swift destruction. ² And many will follow their destructive ways, because of whom the way of truth will be blasphemed. ³ By covetousness they will exploit you with deceptive words; for a long time their judgment has not been idle, and their destruction ^[a]does not slumber.

²⁴ The Son of Man indeed goes just ^(A)as it is written of Him, but ^(B)woe to that man by whom the Son of Man is betrayed! ^(C)It would have been good for that man if he had not been born.”

^22 (A)to the weak I became ^[a]as weak, that I might win the weak. ^(B)I have become all things to all men, ^(C)that I might by all means save some.