Matthew Poole and continuators on Matthew 18:6

6 But whoso shall offend one of these little ones, which believe in me, it were better for him that a milstone were hang'd about his neck, and that he were drowned in the depth of the Sea.

Mark hath it thus, Chap. 9.37. whosoever shall receive one of such Children in my Name, receiveth me, and whosoever receiveth me, receiveth not me, but him that sent me; then, v. 42. he addeth, And whosoever shall offend one of these little ones that believe in me, it is better for him that a Milstone were hang'd about his Neck▪ and he were cast into the Sea. Our Lord having declared that the little ones before mentioned, shall be greatest in the Kingdom of God, here cometh to shew the care, which he in his Providence will take for them. That their Friends shall be his Friends, and their Enemies his Enemies. Whoso receiveth such a little Child, that is, an humble Christian. In the next v. it is opened by one that believeth in me. By receiving, I conceive is here to be understood the shewing of any favour, or kindness to them, Christ declares that he would take it as don[illegible: 1 letter] to himself. It is much the same with Chap. 10.40, 41, 42. Mark addeth, He that receiveth me, receiveth him that sent me. The Reason is, because he and his Father are one, and the Father takes any kindness done to Christ, as if it were done to himself, and the Son takes any kindness, or unkindness done to any humble, believing Soul, as if it were done to himself, see Chap. 25. from v. 34. to the end. And whoso shall offend any of these little ones, &c, As offending signifi [illegible: 1 letter]ieth the laying of a Stumbling Block before any, so it signifieth any Motion, or Temptation to them to Sin against God, whether it be by Flattering or Frowning Arguments, tho the latter seemeth rather to be understood here; so by offending, it signifies the doing of them any harm upon Christs account, because they own him, and make a profe[illegible: 1 letter]sion of his Gospel, which besides that, it is a Stumbling Block, upon which they fall and suffer as to their Bodies and outward concerns, is also a Stumbling Block to their Souls, such dangers being strong Temptations to Christians, to turn them aside from the right Pathes of Truth, and Holiness. It were better for him that a Milstone, &c. [non-Latin text not transcribed], a stone in such a Mill as Asses were wont to draw, because of the heaviness of it. Some think our Saviour in this Phrase alludeth to some punishment of Notorious Malefactors, in use not amongst the Jews, but some other Nations, by tying a Stone about their Necks, and throwing them into the Sea; but whether it be such an allusion or no, is of no great Moment; the Phrase signifyeth a certain Destruction, both in regard of the Weight of the Stone, and the depth of the Sea. He saith, It is better that a Milstone, &c because of the punishment shall be inflicted on such Persons, beyond this Life.

Marginal references: Mark 9, 42. Luke 17.1, 2.