What does the Bible say about leading children astray?

Top passages, ranked by readers

Rankings: OpenBible.info Topical Bible (CC BY) · Scripture: World English Bible

• Matthew 18:6

  but whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in me to stumble, it would be better for him that a huge millstone should be hung around his neck, and that he should be sunk in the depths of the sea.

• Matthew 18:5-9

  [5] Whoever receives one such little child in my name receives me, [6] but whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in me to stumble, it would be better for him that a huge millstone should be hung around his neck, and that he should be sunk in the depths of the sea. [7] "Woe to the world because of occasions of stumbling! For it must be that the occasions come, but woe to that person through whom the occasion comes! [8] If your hand or your foot causes you to stumble, cut it off, and cast it from you. It is better for you to enter into life maimed or crippled, rather than having two hands or two feet to be cast into the eternal fire. [9] If your eye causes you to stumble, pluck it out, and cast it from you. It is better for you to enter into life with one eye, rather than having two eyes to be cast into the Gehenna of fire.

• Matthew 19:14

  But Jesus said, "Allow the little children, and don't forbid them to come to me; for to such belongs the Kingdom of Heaven."

• Matthew 7:15-20

  [15] "Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly are ravening wolves. [16] By their fruits you will know them. Do you gather grapes from thorns, or figs from thistles? [17] Even so, every good tree produces good fruit; but the corrupt tree produces evil fruit. [18] A good tree can't produce evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree produce good fruit. [19] Every tree that doesn't grow good fruit is cut down, and thrown into the fire. [20] Therefore, by their fruits you will know them.

• 1 Peter 2:1-25

  [1] Putting away therefore all wickedness, all deceit, hypocrisies, envies, and all evil speaking, [2] as newborn babes, long for the pure milk of the Word, that you may grow thereby, [3] if indeed you have tasted that the Lord is gracious: [4] coming to him, a living stone, rejected indeed by men, but chosen by God, precious. [5] You also, as living stones, are built up as a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. [6] Because it is contained in Scripture, "Behold, I lay in Zion a chief cornerstone, chosen, and precious: He who believes in him will not be disappointed." [7] For you therefore who believe is the honor, but for such as are disobedient, "The stone which the builders rejected, Has become the chief cornerstone," [8] and, "A stone of stumbling, and a rock of offense." For they stumble at the word, being disobedient, whereunto also they were appointed. [9] But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God's own possession, that you may show forth the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light: [10] who in time past were no people, but now are God's people, who had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy. [11] Beloved, I beg you as foreigners and pilgrims, to abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul; [12] having good behavior among the nations, so in that which they speak against you as evil-doers, they may by your good works, which they see, glorify God in the day of visitation. [13] Therefore subject yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord's sake: whether to the king, as supreme; [14] or to governors, as sent by him for vengeance on evil-doers and for praise to those who do well. [15] For this is the will of God, that by well-doing you should put to silence the ignorance of foolish men: [16] as free, and not using your freedom for a cloak of wickedness, but as bondservants of God. [17] Honor all men. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the king. [18] Servants, be in subjection to your masters with all fear; not only to the good and gentle, but also to the wicked. [19] For it is commendable if someone endures pain, suffering unjustly, because of conscience toward God. [20] For what glory is it if, when you sin, you patiently endure beating? But if, when you do well, you patiently endure suffering, this is commendable with God. [21] For to this you were called, because Christ also suffered for us, leaving you an example, that you should follow his steps, [22] who did not sin, "neither was deceit found in his mouth." [23] Who, when he was cursed, didn't curse back. When he suffered, didn't threaten, but committed himself to him who judges righteously; [24] who his own self bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we, having died to sins, might live to righteousness; by whose stripes you were healed. [25] For you were going astray like sheep; but are now returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls.

• Matthew 18:1-7

  [1] In that hour the disciples came to Jesus, saying, "Who then is greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven?" [2] Jesus called a little child to himself, and set him in the midst of them, [3] and said, "Most assuredly I tell you, unless you turn, and become as little children, you will in no way enter into the Kingdom of Heaven. [4] Whoever therefore humbles himself as this little child, the same is the greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven. [5] Whoever receives one such little child in my name receives me, [6] but whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in me to stumble, it would be better for him that a huge millstone should be hung around his neck, and that he should be sunk in the depths of the sea. [7] "Woe to the world because of occasions of stumbling! For it must be that the occasions come, but woe to that person through whom the occasion comes!

• Romans 3:8

  Why not (as we are slanderously reported, and as some affirm that we say), "Let us do evil, that good may come?" Those who say so are justly condemned.

• 1 John 3:1-24

  [1] Behold, how great a love the Father has bestowed on us, that we should be called children of God! For this cause the world doesn't know us, because it didn't know him. [2] Beloved, now we are children of God, and it is not yet revealed what we will be. But we know that, when he is revealed, we will be like him; for we will see him just as he is. [3] Everyone who has this hope set on him purifies himself, even as he is pure. [4] Everyone who sins also commits lawlessness. Sin is lawlessness. [5] You know that he was revealed to take away our sins, and in him is no sin. [6] Whoever remains in him doesn't sin. Whoever sins hasn't seen him, neither knows him. [7] Little children, let no one lead you astray. He who does righteousness is righteous, even as he is righteous. [8] He who sins is of the devil, for the devil has been sinning from the beginning. To this end the Son of God was revealed, that he might destroy the works of the devil. [9] Whoever is born of God doesn't commit sin, because his seed remains in him; and he can't sin, because he is born of God. [10] In this the children of God are revealed, and the children of the devil. Whoever doesn't do righteousness is not of God, neither is he who doesn't love his brother. [11] For this is the message which you heard from the beginning, that we should love one another; [12] unlike Cain, who was of the evil one, and killed his brother. Why did he kill him? Because his works were evil, and his brother's righteous. [13] Don't be surprised, my brothers, if the world hates you. [14] We know that we have passed out of death into life, because we love the brothers. He who doesn't love his brother remains in death. [15] Whoever hates his brother is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life remaining in him. [16] By this we know love, because he laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for the brothers. [17] But whoever has the world's goods, and sees his brother in need, and closes his heart of compassion against him, how does the love of God remain in him? [18] My little children, let's not love in word only, neither with the tongue only, but in deed and truth. [19] And by this we know that we are of the truth, and persuade our hearts before him, [20] because if our heart condemns us, God is greater than our heart, and knows all things. [21] Beloved, if our hearts don't condemn us, we have boldness toward God; [22] and whatever we ask, we receive from him, because we keep his commandments and do the things that are pleasing in his sight. [23] This is his commandment, that we should believe in the name of his Son, Jesus Christ, and love one another, even as he commanded. [24] He who keeps his commandments remains in him, and he in him. By this we know that he remains in us, by the Spirit which he gave us.

• 2 Timothy 3:16

  Every writing inspired by God is profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for instruction which is in righteousness,

• Romans 1:22

  Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools,

Related topics

• fathers who leave their children
• sick children
• disabled children
• children returning home
• having children
• not having children
• honoring children
• children and prayer