Then said he unto the disciples, It is impossible but that offences will come: but woe unto him, through whom they come!

LUKE 17:1KJV
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Luke 17:1 (KJV)

What does Luke 17:1 mean?

Luke 17:1 records Jesus telling his disciples that it is unavoidable for "offences"—things that cause people to stumble or sin—to happen, but he warns that there is serious trouble for the person who causes them. Jesus is acknowledging that stumbling blocks will appear in life, but he places responsibility on those who bring harm or temptation to others.

In this scene, Jesus is speaking directly to his followers, preparing them for the reality that challenges and temptations will come. The word "offences" here refers to things that trip people up in their faith or lead them into wrongdoing. Jesus’ warning highlights both the inevitability of such challenges and the seriousness of being the cause of someone else’s spiritual harm.

The Greek behind Luke 17:1

  • "offences" (σκανδαλα, skandala): This word means stumbling blocks or traps—something that causes another person to fall, especially in a moral or spiritual sense. Jesus is not just talking about minor annoyances, but about actions or influences that could truly damage someone’s faith.
  • "woe" (οὐαί, ouai): This is a strong expression of grief or warning. When Jesus says "woe" to the person through whom offences come, he is emphasizing the seriousness and danger of causing others to stumble.

Why Luke 17:1 matters

  • Luke 17:1 clears up the idea that temptation or spiritual challenges can be completely avoided; Jesus says they are inevitable, which can help readers understand that struggling is not a sign of personal failure.
  • The verse puts strong emphasis on personal responsibility, warning that causing others to stumble is a grave matter in God’s eyes.
  • This statement sets the stage for the following verses, where Jesus continues to teach about forgiveness and the seriousness of leading others astray, showing the importance of how believers treat one another.

Where else these words appear

“offences” Greek G4625 · used in 13 verses

  • Matthew 13:41 The Son of man shall send forth his angels, and they shall gather out of his kingdom all things that offend, and them which do iniquity;
  • Romans 11:9 And David saith, Let their table be made a snare, and a trap, and a stumblingblock, and a recompence unto them:
  • Galatians 5:11 And I, brethren, if I yet preach circumcision, why do I yet suffer persecution? then is the offence of the cross ceased.

“woe” Greek G3759 · used in 36 verses

  • Matthew 11:21 Woe unto thee, Chorazin! woe unto thee, Bethsaida! for if the mighty works, which were done in you, had been done in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes.
  • Matthew 26:24 The Son of man goeth as it is written of him: but woe unto that man by whom the Son of man is betrayed! it had been good for that man if he had not been born.
  • Luke 11:52 Woe unto you, lawyers! for ye have taken away the key of knowledge: ye entered not in yourselves, and them that were entering in ye hindered.