The Millstone Principle

There are times when we need to know how deeply God feels about a matter. Like us, some things are more distressing to Him than others. When Jesus drove out the folks from the temple, twice, we saw something of how deeply He felt. Of course, in the garden we saw the depths of Jesus' despair. So in our current story, we see Jesus' heart toward those who would seek Him, and those who would hinder them from doing so. Matthew (18:6) and Mark (9:42) record this principle. First, who are the ones under consideration here? Jesus calls them "little ones" who "believe in Me." and contextually as the one who was casting out the demon in His Name, but was not among the company of the disciples. As to whether this person was not far from the kingdom (Mark 12:34) as was the man who answered Jesus intelligently about which commands were greatest, or whether he was a true disciple (saved) but not yet fully attached to the band of disciples who personally followed Jesus (i.e. the church) is not clear. But, he was one who had faith and was not against Jesus and was commended by Jesus for what he was doing. Jesus was passionate about not hindering such a one from advancing in their faith. He demonstrated His passion by saying it would be better that a large millstone be placed around the neck of the offender and he be cast into the sea, than to cause such a one to stumble, and lose heart. That is pretty dramatic. It is essential in our trying to be like Jesus that we have the same disgust for those who are hinderers of faith as He has. Jesus showed his passion in many ways, e.g. His anger at those disgracing the temple, His indignation in keeping little children from Him, and His distress in the garden as the disciples were sleeping.

In Deuteronomy 13:6-11 God made it clear that no matter who the person was who caused others to be tempted to turn from Him to idols that this person deserved death. Jesus called Peter Satan for trying to hinder His progress to the cross. Jonah was literally thrown in to the sea (thankfully without the millstone) for getting in the way of God's plan to save the Assyrians who did not know their right hand from their left. Baalim became a poster-boy for trying to make Israel fall. Leviticus 19:14 warns the Jews not to curse the deaf nor put a stumbling block before a blind man. God does not think it cute when we place obstacles in the way of those who want to come to Him. It is against His very nature. He is the One who draws all men to Himself. He is the One who sent His only Son to die for all men so they might be saved. He is the One who calls whosoever will to come. God envisions all nations, tongues, tribes, and peoples flowing into His house. He does not take it kindly when we get in their way because of some exclusive notion we have in our heads that unless they come through us they are illegitimate. Peter learned not to call unclean what God has made clean.

There is another context in which the millstone is mentioned, i.e. Luke 17:2. The context here is one of forgiveness. When one is seeking our forgiveness so that their well-being can be reestablished, it is important for us to be gracious to them not making it more difficult for them to return. Not forgiving a person who seeks it is a discouragement. Keeping a person under the obligation of the debt instead of forgiving it ties up burdens that we could easily remove with these words, "I forgive you." To the person who will not do this Jesus says it would be better that a millstone be placed around his neck and they be cast into the sea. Forgiveness is the grace that keeps us all in an OK place with ourselves, one another and with God. We should share it lavishly on one another. The point is that Jesus wants us to understand how serious a matter it is to offend one who is coming toward Him, making it more difficult by our actions or lack of them. When we decided to follow Jesus we decided to see others and treat others the way Jesus sees us and treats us. To do otherwise causes us to be part of the problem and not a part of the solution.