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•42“凡使这信我的一个小子跌倒的，倒不如把大磨石拴在这人的颈项上，扔在海里。
耶稣描绘了一幅多么生动的图画啊!在耶稣的时代，磨盘的石头通常很大，驴子可以绕着它转圈，磨盘和磨盘下面的石头相互摩擦，碾磨谷物。耶稣的意思是，宁可以一种可怕的方式死去（大磨盘拴在脖子上丢在海里），也不要使这些“小子”中的一个跌倒。
在前面的经文中，耶稣谈到了小孩子，他们不仅容易受到良善的影响，也容易受邪恶的影响。他们从我们这里学习怎么说话，无论是好的还是坏的他们都会学。他们从我们身上学习行为方式，无论是好的还是坏的他们都会学。他们从我们身上学习，要相信什么，不管是好是坏他们都会学。耶稣用的“跌倒”这个词是使人绊倒的意思，描绘的画面是猎人让猎物陷入死亡的陷阱。但愿我的言行不会使人跌倒，失去信心!
无论我作为家长还是作为一个牧师，这节经文总是让我感到害怕。一句漫不经心的话多么容易成为一个人信心的绊脚石啊!我的粗心，罪恶的行为很可能会使我的孩子迷失!让我感到安慰的是，我知道我有一位救主，他是我教会的羊和我的孩子们的真正的牧者。我可能会失败，但他永远不会失败。
然而奇妙的地方在于，他会使用我们，我们这些有罪的人，去牧养他的羊群，去照顾他的孩子。但这就是恩典为什么如此重要。恩典总会在我们失败的地方取得成功。
祷告:主耶稣啊，求你赦免我每一个粗心大意的言行，导致别人的信心处于危险之中。我的盼望永远在你身上，你永远不会停止看顾那些相信你的孩子。阿们。
Mark 9:42: “If anyone causes one of these little ones—those who believe in me—to stumble, it would be better for them if a large millstone were hung around their neck and they were thrown into the sea. (NIV)
What a vivid picture Jesus draws! A millstone in Jesus’ day was often large, something a donkey would walk around and turn while it ground the grain as it pressed against the stone beneath it. Jesus is saying that it would be better to die a horrible death than cause one of these “little ones” to stumble.
In the previous verses, Jesus had spoken about children, who are impressionable not only for good but also for evil. They learn language from us, good or bad. They learn behavior from us, good or bad. They are taught what to believe from us, whether good or bad. The word that Jesus uses for “cause to stumble” really means to make them fall into a death trap. God forbid that my words or actions would ever cause someone to stumble and lose their faith!
This verse has always frightened me, both as a parent and as a pastor. How easily a careless word spoken could be a stumbling block to someone’s faith! Or how might my careless, sinful behavior lead one of my children astray! My comfort in this is knowing that I have a Savior who is the real Shepherd of my flock and my children. I may fail, but he will never fail.
It’s a wonder that he would ever use us, sinful human beings as we are, to shepherd his flock or take care of his children. But that’s what grace is all about. Grace will always succeed where we have failed.
Prayer: Lord Jesus, forgive me for every careless word or act that has ever put someone’s faith at risk. My hope is always in you, who never ceases to watch over those little ones who believe in you. Amen.