Woe unto the world because of offences! for it must needs be that offences come; but woe to that man by whom the offence cometh!
Ver. 7. Woe to the world, because of offences] Σκανδαλον, proprie tendicula, hoc est, lignum illud curvum, quo moto decipula clauditur. The world, besides the offences they give to the saints, they give and take much hurt one from another, and so heap up wrath; while, besides their own, they bring upon themselves their other men's sins to answer for. I have read of a woman, who living in professed doubt of the Godhead, after better illumination and repentance, did often protest that the vicious life of a great scholar in that town did conjure up those damnable doubts in her soul. When therefore corruption boils, and thou art ready to run into some reproachful evil, think the name of Christ and thy poor brother's soul lie prostrate before thee. And wilt thou trample upon that and throttle this?
It must needs be that offences come] By God's permission, Satan's malice, and man's wickedness: Venenum aliquando pro remedio fuit (Senec. de Benef.). God often draws good out of evil, as wine draws a nourishing virtue from the flesh of serpents: as the skilful apothecary, of the poisonful viper, maketh a wholesome triacle, 1 Corinthians 11:10 .