John Gill's Bible Commentary Ver. 1. Then said he unto his disciples , etc.] In the Alexandrian copy, and in three of Beza's exemplars it is read, his disciples; and so read the Vulgate Latin, and all the Oriental versions; that is, Jesus said to his disciples what follows, as the Syriac and Persic versions express, and the latter reads, he said again. About the time that he delivered the above parable concerning the rich man and Lazarus, he repeated to his disciples what he had before said to them on another occasion, ( Matthew 18:7) it is impossible but that offences will come ; considering the decree of God, the malice of Satan, the wickedness of men, the corruption both of their principles and practices. The Ethiopic version renders it, temptation will come; that which will be trying to the faith of the saints, and a stumblingblock to weak minds, as reproach and persecution, errors, and heresies, and the evil lives of professors: but woe [unto him] through whom they come ; (see Gill on Matthew 18:7) Ver. 2. It were better for him that a millstone , etc.] (See Gill on Matthew 18:6) and (See Gill on Mark 9:42).
Matthew Henry Commentary
Verses 1-10 - It is no abatement of their guilt by whom an offence comes, nor will i lessen their punishment that offences will come. Faith in God' pardoning mercy, will enable us to get over the greatest difficultie in the way of forgiving our brethren. As with God nothing is impossible, so all things are possible to him that can believe. Ou Lord showed his disciples their need of deep humility. The Lord ha such a property in every creature, as no man can have in another; he cannot be in debt to them for their services, nor do they deserve an return from him.
Greek Textus Receptus
ειπεν 2036 5627 V-2AAI-3S δε 1161 CONJ προς 4314 PREP τους 3588 T-APM μαθητας 3101 N-APM ανενδεκτον 418 A-NSN εστιν 2076 5748 V-PXI-3S του 3588 T-GSM μη 3361 PRT-N ελθειν 2064 5629 V-2AAN τα 3588 T-APN σκανδαλα 4625 N-APN ουαι 3759 INJ δε 1161 CONJ δι 1223 PREP ου 3739 R-GSM ερχεται 2064 5736 V-PNI-3S
Vincent's NT Word Studies
1. Impossible (anendekton). Inadmissable. Only here in New Testament. See on it cannot be, ch. xiii. 33.Offenses. See on offend, Matt. v. 29; and compare on Matt. xvi. 23.
Robertson's NT Word Studies
17:1 {It is impossible} (anendekton estin). See ouk endecetai in #13:33. Alpha privative (an-) and endektos, verbal adjective, from endecomai. The word occurs only in late Greek and only here in the N.T. The meaning is inadmissible, unallowable. {But that occasions of stumbling should come} (tou ta skandala me elqein). this genitive articular infinitive is not easy to explain. In #Ac 10:25 there is another example where the genitive articular infinitive seems to be used as a nominative (Robertson, _Grammar_, p. 1040). The loose Hebrew infinitive construction may have a bearing here, but one may recall that the original infinitives were either locatives (-eni) or datives (-ai). Ta skandala is simply the accusative of general reference. Literally, the not coming as to occasions of stumbling. For skandalon (a trap) see on Mt 5:29; 16:23. It is here only in Luke. The positive form of this saying appears in #Mt 18:7, which see.
