Why does Jesus say woe to the one by whom the temptation comes when he had just said that these temptations are necessary?
In Matthew 18:7, Jesus again pities the little ones who count on him with the words Woe to the world for temptations to sin,” and it is necessary that temptations come, but woe to the one by whom the temptation comes! Temptations must come, due to Satan’s dominion and sin’s influence, but everyone through whom temptation comes is still responsible for their own sin. The first woe laments the condition of the world and of all who are led astray, while the second warns all through whom temptation comes.
Human life is under judgment because it is under a strong delusion (2 Thessalonians 2:11) by which Satan tempts us to sin. Jesus does not express pity for a world because in which people are so often tempted to sin, because while evil matches the nature of the world, within God’s decree (see 1 Corinthians 11:19; Matthew 26:24), one who leads others into sin is still responsible for his actions and thus under judgment.
In Matthew 18:7, Jesus again reiterates his intense compassion toward the little ones who count on him with the words Woe to the world for temptations to sin,” adding immediately that it is necessary that temptations come, but woe to the one by whom the temptation comes! These temptations are inevitable because of Satan’s dominion and the influence of sin in the world, yet every person through whom temptation comes still remains personally responsible for their sin. The first woe is therefore to be understood as an expression of sorrow over the condition of the world and over those who are led astray, while the second is intended as a threatening indictment against those through whom the temptation arises.1
Human life is under judgment because it continually leads to sin. There is a strong delusion (2 Thessalonians 2:11) present in the world, which effectuates sin as it originates from the evil one. Jesus clarifies that it is not his intention to express pity for a world because in which people are so often tempted to do evil, because while evil accords with the nature of the world and forms part of God’s decree (see 1 Corinthians 11:19; Matthew 26:24), the man who leads others into sin is nevertheless morally responsible for his own actions and consequently under judgment.2
7 Malheur au monde à cause des scandales! Car il est nécessaire qu'il arrive des scandales; mais malheur à l'homme par qui le scandale arrive!