Luke 17:1
“He said to the disciples, “It is impossible that no occasions of stumbling should come, but woe to him through whom they come!”
What does Luke 17:1 mean?
Jesus is being honest with his followers about how the world works: we live in a broken place where people will hurt each other and lead each other astray. That's just reality. But he's also drawing a sharp line between being affected by wrongdoing (which is unavoidable) and being the one who causes it (which carries serious consequences). The "woe" here isn't casual criticism—it's a solemn warning that those who deliberately trip others up spiritually or morally answer to God for it. This is especially pointed about people in positions of influence or trust, since they have real power to shape others' faith. If you're carrying guilt about ways you've hurt someone, this verse suggests the path forward is acknowledgment and change, not despair.