Offending little children

Brothers, take heed that you don’t offend and despise little children, for Jesus said: “But whoso shall offend one of these little ones which believe in me, it were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and that he were drowned in the depth of the sea” (Matthew 18:6) and again: “Take heed that ye despise not one of these little ones; for I say unto you, That in heaven their angels do always behold the face of my Father which is in heaven” (Matthew 18:10).

But how can one offend and despise little children who believe in Jesus? By beating them or by kicking them, by forcing them to steal, by committing indecent acts before them, or by sexually abusing them, or by beating his wife or parents before their eyes (as well as not before their eyes), and in many other ways. Take heed to yourselves, brothers, and flee all these works of the flesh, lest you incur the wrath of God by your evil actions.

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