Matthew 18:7

“Alas (or ‘woe') to the world because of occasions of stumbling! for it is necessary that the occasions come, but alas for that man through whom the occasion comes!”

Jesus then expresses His grief at the thought that nevertheless such things will happen. The initial word can be translated ‘alas' or ‘woe'. It is a cry of distress and warning. Here it is both. The world will indeed put occasions of stumbling in front of His believing ‘little ones', whether young in person or young in spiritual awareness or simply young through their humble attitude. It is part of the necessity of the world because of the way in which it has been made, for in giving to men the freedom to be able to sin God opened the floodgates of sin and selfishness. However, let all recognise this. There is only woe for those who behave in this way, (even though it is a woe that grieves Him, for He has no pleasure in the death of the wicked). And it is a woe that is as dreadful as He has described.