Rom. 14:14-23, No Unnecessary Stumbling Stones

The previous posts brought attention to another family of words for “stumbling.” 

proskoptō (verb): to strike against, to stumble

·       Mat 4:6; Lk. 4:11: Satan to Jesus, quoting Ps. 91:11-12, that God will protect Him “let you dash your foot against a stone.”

·       Mat 7:27: the winds blew and beat on the foolish man’s house.

·       Jhn 11:9: Jesus says, If anyone walks in the day, he does not stumble, because he sees the light of this world.

·       Jhn 11:10: “if one walks in the night, he stumbles, bec. the light is not in him.”

·       Rom 9:32: Jews stumbled at that stumbling stone.

·       Rom 14:21: good not to do anything by which your brother stumbles

·       1Pe 2:8: Israel stumbled because of disobedience to the word

proskopé (noun): to do something which causes others to stumble

·       2Co 6:3: Paul: We give no offense in anything, that our ministry not blamed.

proskomma (noun): an obstacle in the way which if one strikes his foot against he stumbles or falls

·       Rom 9:32: Jews stumbled at that stumbling stone.

·       Rom 9:33: Quoting Isaiah, Behold, I lay in Zion a stumbling stone and rock of offense, And whoever believes on Him will not be put to shame.”

·       Rom 14:13: resolve not to put a stumbling block in our brother’s way.

·       Rom 14:20: All things indeed are pure, but it is evil for the man who eats with offense.

·       1Co 8:9: beware lest your liberty become a stumbling block to the weak.

·       1Pe 2:8: “A stone of stumbling And a rock of offense.”

The two families of words are used quite often in the same passage.  There is a difference as to the type of offense they describe.  Skandalon has the idea of a trap or an enticement of some sort.  Proskomma refers to a stone or other immoveable impediment on which you stub your toe.  Both result in a fall.  It is a matter of concern.  First, there is the gospel issue.  Sinful or disobedient men stumble at the good news.  Nevertheless, we cannot renege on the preaching of the gospel.  We should ask the Lord to convict men of their need by the Holy Spirit.  On the other hand, we ought not put unnecessary obstacles in the way of anyone, whether in the presentation of the gospel or in our relationships with brothers in Christ.