Who is Harmed the Most
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All of us have had our feelings hurt at some time, resulting perhaps in sadness, disappointment, or even anger. Of such occurrences we might say we were offended. The latter word appears a number of times in the Holy Writ, though having nothing to do necessarily with hurt feelings. Rather, “offend” translates in Scripture from “skandalizo,” defined as the placing of a snare or stumbling block in the way of another. At the Fifth of Matthew, the Savior used the figure of plucked out eyes and severed hands to illustrate how diligent one must be in the avoiding of anything that might cost one his soul. At the Ninth of Mark, the Lord said that drowning in the sea would be preferred over the fate awaiting one who placed a stumbling block in the way of any little one who believed in Him. In both passages, “offend” is used by the King James Translation to describe the matter. In the case of such an offense, it may be the offender who is harmed the most.
Written and voiced by David Hayes Prophater