Verse-by-Verse Bible Commentary

Adam Clarke Commentary

A mill-stone - That drowning a person with a stone tied about the neck was an ancient mode of punishment, see proved in the note on Matthew 18:6, Matthew 18:7; (note), to which let the following be added. To have a mill-stone hanged about the neck, was a common proverb. "Samuel saith, A man may marry, and after that addict himself to the study of the law. Rab. Jochanan saith, No: shall he addict himself to the study of the law with a mill-stone about his neck?" The place in Aristophanes, to which the reader is referred in the note on Matthew 18:6; (note), is the following: -

Αραν μετεωρον εις το βαραθρον εμβαλωπ,

Εκ του λαρυγγος εκκρεμασας ὑπερβολον

"Lifting him up into the air, I will plunge him into the deep: a great stone being hung about his neck."

Aristoph. in Equit. ver. 1359.

John Gill's Exposition of the Whole Bible

It were better for him that a millstone,.... See Gill on Matthew 18:6 and See Gill on Mark 9:42.

John Lightfoot's Commentary on the Gospels

2. It were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and he cast into the sea, than that he should offend one of these little ones.

[That a millstone were hanged about his neck.] There is mention among the Talmudic authors, concerning an ass-mill, and it is distinguished from a hand-mill. "Whoso hireth a house of his neighbour, he may build an ass-mill, but not a hand-mill."

To have a millstone hanged about his neck was a common proverb. "Samuel saith, It is a tradition, that a man may marry, and after that apply himself to the study of the law. But R. Jochanan saith, No. Shall he addict himself to the study of the law with a millstone about his neck?"

Suidas tells us, When they drowned any in the sea, they hung stones about their necks. And quotes that of Aristophanes:

Lifting him up, I'll plunge him to the deep,
A stone hung at his neck.

Robertson's Word Pictures in the New Testament

It were well for him (λυσιτελει αυτωι — lusitelei autōi). An old word, but only here in the N.T., from λυσιτελης — lusitelēs and this from λυω — luō to pay, and τα τελη — ta telē the taxes. So it pays the taxes, it returns expenses, it is profitable. Literally here, “It is profitable for him” (dative case, αυτωι — autōi). Matthew has συμπερει — sumpherei (it is advantageous, bears together for).

If a millstone were hanged (ει λιτος μυλικος περικειται — ei lithos mulikos perikeitai). Literally, “if a millstone is hanged.” Present passive indicative from περικειμαι — perikeimai (to lie or be placed around). It is used as a perfect passive of περιτιτημι — peritithēmi So it is a first-class condition, determined as fulfilled, not second-class as the English translations imply. Μυλικος — Mulikos is simply a stone (λιτος — lithos), belonging to a mill. Here only in the text of Westcott and Hort, not in Mark 9:42 which is like Matthew 18:6 μυλος ονικος — mulos onikos where the upper millstone is turned by an ass.

Were thrown (ερριπται — erriptai). Perfect passive indicative from ριπτω — rhiptō old verb. Literally, is thrown or has been thrown or cast or hurled. Mark has βεβληται — beblētai and Matthew καταποντιστηι — katapontisthēi which see, all three verbs vivid and expressive. Rather than (η — ē). The comparative is not here expressed before η — ē as one would expect. It is implied in λυσιτελει — lusitelei See the same idiom in Luke 15:7.

Vincent's Word Studies

It were better ( λυσιτελεῖ )

Only here in New Testament. The verb means to pay what is due, and is equivalent to our phrase, it pays.

Millstone

Compare Matthew 18:6. The correct reading here is λίθος μυλικός , a millstone; not a great millstone as Matthew

Thrown ( ἔῤῥιπται )

Hurled: with an underlying sense of violence, called out by so great an outrage.

sa40

Wesley's Explanatory Notes

It were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and he cast into the sea, than that he should offend one of these little ones.

Little ones — Weak believers.

The Fourfold Gospel

It were well for him if a millstone were hanged about his neck¹, and he were thrown into the sea, rather than that he should cause one of these little ones² to stumble³.

1. It were well for him if a millstone were hanged about his neck, etc. See . Not the large millstone mentioned by Mark and Matthew, but the small one which was turned by hand. See Mark 9:42

2. Rather than that he should cause one of these little ones. Beginners in the faith, or weaklings (Romans 14:1).

3. To stumble. See Romans 14:1.

Abbott's Illustrated New Testament

Offend one of these little ones; lead any one of the humble disciples of Christ away into sin.

John Trapp Complete Commentary

2 It were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and he cast into the sea, than that he should offend one of these little ones.

Ver. 2. {See Trapp on "Matthew 18:6"} {See Trapp on "Matthew 18:7"}

Greek Testament Critical Exegetical Commentary

2.] See Matthew 18:6-7, and notes.

τῶν μικ. τ., perhaps the publicans and sinners of ch. Luke 15:1;—perhaps also, repeated with reference to what took place, Matt. l. c.

Johann Albrecht Bengel's Gnomon of the New Testament

Luke 17:2. τούτων, of these) By this pronoun, Luke shows evidently that “the little ones” were present in the midst of them.

Matthew Poole's English Annotations on the Holy Bible

See Poole on "Luke 17:2"

Alexander MacLaren's Expositions of Holy Scripture

мельничный жернов Буквально «жернов осла». См. пояснение к Мф. 18:6.

малых сих Верующих; детей Божьих, о которых Он заботится. См. пояснение к Мф. 18:5.

Whedon's Commentary on the Bible

2.A millstone—See our note on Matthew 18:7.

These little ones— Publicans and sinners, and others lately converted to Jesus. Our Lord, as we understand it, uttered these words in Matthew as a general truth; he utters them here in application to a particular class. They were little ones as being but babes in Christ.

 

Schaff's Popular Commentary on the New Testament

Luke 17:2. Gain. Peculiar to Luke. The reference to the effect of the behavior of the Pharisees is sustained by the mention of little ones.

The Expositor's Greek Testament

Luke 17:2_{. ( , ), it profits or pays; here only in N.T. = in} Matthew 18:6_{.— , a millstone, not a great millstone, one driven by an ass ( , T.R.), as in Mt.: the vehement emphasis of Christ’s words is toned down in Lk. here as often elsewhere. The realistic expression of Mt. is doubtless truer to the actual utterance of Jesus, who would speak of the offences created by ambition with passionate abhorrence.— = perf. pass. of in sense = has been placed; with , another perfect, suggesting the idea of an action already complete—the miscreant with a stone round his neck thrown into the sea.— : here again a subdued expression compared with Mt.— , than to scandalise; the subj. with = the infinitive. Vide Winer, § 44, 8.}

 

 

George Haydock's Catholic Bible Commentary

It were better. Christ here speaks after the manner of the Jews, who were accustomed to inflict this punishment only on the greatest malefactors. So that we must be ready to undergo the most excruciating torments, rather than cause any scandal to our neighbour; though we must here observe, that if our neighbour take scandal at our good works, we ought not on that account to desist from doing good, or desert the truth. (Ven. Bede) --- St. Luke, in this chapter, inserts four instructions, which have no connection with each other, and which by the writers of evangelical harmony, are given in different places; as in Matthew xviii. after ver. 14, &c.

E.W. Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes

better = well. Greek. lusiteleo. Occurs only here.

that = if. App-118.

millstone. See note on Matthew 18:6.

about = round. Greek. peri. App-104.

cast = hurled (with violence).

into. Greek. eis. App-104.

offend = be a cause of stumbling to. This was spoken with reference to the traditions of the Pharisees in Luke 16:15-30.

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible - Unabridged

It were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and he cast into the sea, than that he should offend one of these little ones.

Then said he unto the disciples, It is impossible but that offences ... It were better for him that a millstone ... See the note at Mark 9:42.

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers

(2) It were batter for him . . .—See Note on Matthew 18:6, where the order of the two sayings is inverted. Assuming the words to have been repeated where we find them here, the “little ones” must mean the disciples of Christ who are, in both senses of the word “offended” by the worldliness of those who profess to be religious. They are made to stumble by the temptation to follow the bad example, or their faith in the reality of godliness is shaken by seeing that the form exists without the power.

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

It were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and he cast into the sea, than that he should offend one of these little ones.

better

Matthew 18:6; 26:24; Mark 9:42; 1 Corinthians 9:15; 2 Peter 2:1-3

one

Isaiah 40:11; Zechariah 13:7; Matthew 18:3-5,10,14; John 21:15; 1 Corinthians 8:11,12; 9:22

Reciprocal: Matthew 5:30 - offend;  Matthew 10:42 - one;  Matthew 18:5 - receive;  Romans 14:1 - weak;  Romans 14:13 - put;  Romans 14:21 - whereby;  1 Corinthians 8:9 - take;  1 John 2:10 - occasion of stumbling