Matthew 18:6

But whoso shall offend (RV 'shall cause to stumble') one of these little ones] i.e. whosoever shall bring about the ruin of the soul of a true believer, by depriving him of the childlike characteristics of humility and love.

It were better for him] RV 'it is profitable for him.' Why better? Because the penalty for ruining the soul of another is eternal death, and it is better to suffer the worst earthly penalty, than to do anything which will incur that awful doom.

A millstone] lit. 'a millstone turned by an ass,' as opposed to one turned by hand, i.e. 'a great millstone' (RV). Were hanged.. were drowned] more exactly, 'had been hanged.. had been drowned,' viz. before he did the deed. Drowning was a Roman and Greek punishment, reserved for crimes of peculiar enormity. It is not known to have been practised by the Jews.

7-9. A short digression. Jesus passes from the case of 'these little ones,' to temptations to sin in the world at large (Matthew 18:7), and in individual cases (Matthew 18:8).