‘If any of you put a stumbling-block before one of these little ones who believe in me, it would be better for you if a great millstone were hung around your neck and you were thrown into the sea. If your hand causes you to stumble, cut it off; it is better for you to enter life maimed than to have two hands and to go to hell, to the unquenchable fire. And if your foot causes you to stumble, cut it off; it is better for you to enter life lame than to have two feet and to be thrown into hell. And if your eye causes you to stumble, tear it out; it is better for you to enter the kingdom of God with one eye than to have two eyes and to be thrown into hell, where their worm never dies, and the fire is never quenched. (Mark 9: 42-48)

The repeating verb "to stumble" is a translation of the Greek skandalizo. Our English scandalize is easy to see and hear.

A more literal translation would be "to set a trap." The noun from which skandalizo is derived is the stick that serves as the trigger for a trap or snare.

The English can be reasonably understood as referring to that which might entrap us in sin and error. It seems to encourage self-awareness.

The Greek is more suggestive of what we do that could entrap others. How does my behavior or belief influence others?

We live in a time that delights in scandal. We live in a culture that sets many traps. We should avoid setting traps for others or falling into them ourselves.

Above is Scandal by Nancy Chunn.