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What Jesus Says about Causing Children to Sin
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- Published Aug 08, 2023
Some of Jesus’ strongest words recorded were spoke in regard to causing young people to sin. We might not think that this really applies to us. However, with our words, actions, and what we allow our children to see, listen to, and be a part of, we have to be on our guard and seeking the Lord’s best for our households to protect children. Even those of us who do not have children are responsible for encouraging purity and safety for the next generation. Today we are going to look into what Jesus says about causing children to sin.
Jesus’ Response
When discussing children, Jesus speaks up for the innocent.
Matthew 18:6 says, “But whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him to have a great millstone fastened around his neck and to be drowned in the depth of the sea.”
Luke 17:2 says, “It would be better for him if a millstone were hung around his neck and he were cast into the sea than that he should cause one of these little ones to sin.”
Although these verses could apply as well to the seriousness of causing others or young believers to fall into sin, it also applies to the children audience whom Christ was with in that moment. One of the saddest things is hearing of child abuse, neglect, or evil that is taught to young people. It is a great reminder to us in these verses that God is just and He is going to hold those accountable that do so. However, it is also a warning to us. What are we putting before the eyes and ears of our children? How are we teaching them sinful habits and ways? There is no perfect parent or person, but we are responsible to lean on the Holy Spirit to help us to humble ourselves and rely on Him to live out the fruit of the Spirit.
If you were wronged and taught sin as a child in any area, rest assured that the Lord sees you and He is going to take care of that. If you know a child suffering under the sin of adults and learning sinful ways, be at peace that God sees it too and He is working on the child’s behalf even if it does not seem like it now. Keep praying for them. These verses are a beautiful reminder to us that Jesus cares about children. He desires for them to have safety and peace in Him.
Our response
First of all, we need to start with a time of confession and repentance. Ponder these questions.
- How have I modeled sin to children around me?
- In what ways have I encouraged sin in little ones?
- What music, shows, and media have I neglected to protect children from when I should have valued their purity?
My Sin Modeled:
Have you ever said or done something in front of a child and really regretted it? We are all sinners and make mistakes. The important thing is that we humble ourselves when we do and apologize to the child. It is a great lesson for him to learn that we all make mistakes and even adults have things to work on to be more like Jesus. When we recognize an area of sin, it is a wonderful opportunity to tell the child that what we said or how we acted was not honoring to Jesus and that we are sorry. We want them to know that we are not the ones to model, Christ is.
If we show a child certain sins, they might begin to mimic us and follow us instead. We’ve seen it in TV shows or real life where an adult says a curse word and then a toddler repeats it. Suddenly it is not so cute when the young person is spatting off the word. We need to own our sin to young people and point them to Jesus.
Motivating Sin in Children:
Do we egg on certain sins in children? Are we argumentative with them? Do we laugh when they do something mean or wrong because at their age it seems cute? We need prayer and direction to make sure that we are not encouraging sin in young people. If Jesus takes this seriously, then we should as well.
Media Presence and Supervision:
It is so tempting to give a child a device to get a break, clean up, or do some other work. However, creating boundaries and authenticity even from very young ages is vital to protecting our children from falling into sin online.
Psychologist Dr. Edward Connor shared with the Local 12 News, “I think a lot of parents are naive thinking, well he's only eight or he's only nine or ten. Well, the research shows us now that boys are being exposed at about the age of ten to pornography and girls are being exposed at about maybe 11 or 12 to pornography.”
One simple way that we can protect our children from sinning is by limiting exposure to internet and social media, setting up watch guards to protect their eyes, and screening movies and songs before allowing them to watch or listen to them. Especially in a culture that is promoting so much identity confusion among young people, we need to be aware that places that were once trusted no longer get a free pass to be in our homes and in front of our children. Some people might argue, “Well that is the culture that they are growing up in,” but God’s sets the standard, not people. Jesus was very clear in the Bible that causing young people to sin is very serious and He will punish those who do so. May we not aid in the work of the enemy in our societies by trying to numb our children to things in which they were never intended to be numb to.
Jeremiah 6:15 says, “‘Are they ashamed when they committed abomination? No, they were not at all ashamed; they did not know how to blush. Therefore they shall fall among those who fall; at the time that I punish them, they shall be overthrown,’ says the Lord.”
There is a beauty and gift in being able to blush. May we not take away the ability for a child to blush as the sight or the sound of something ungodly. Blushing is a sign of purity and our desires as Christ-followers is that we too will still be able to blush well into adulthood over things that are not of God.
Whoever the Lord has entrusted as young people in your life, how can you seek Him in cultivating atmospheres and relationship that are pure and honoring to Him? None of us will do this perfectly, but with the help of the Holy Spirit, we can glorify the Lord in this way and point to Jesus.
Photo Credit: ©iStock/Getty Images Plus/Liderina
