Compare Mark 9:42-50 and Luke 17:1-2. Causing one to sin, or literally to "stumble," meant causing the person to fall from the way of Christ and be damned (as in Jn 6:61; 1 Cor 8:9). Matthew often uses the Greek term in the same manner as here (Mt 17:27; 26:31; compare 5:29-30; 11:6; 13:41; 16:23; Mk 9:42-47).