Just left the theater from seeing Sound of Freedom
It’s an intense and emotional watch, which is to be expected given the subject matter, but I highly recommend it to anyone and everyone.
The film does a remarkable job of respecting the victims of human trafficking while not shying away from how traumatic their experiences are. At no point in the film do you ever see these children as anything other than that, children. There’s no lingering shots of their bodies, no indication that the audience is meant to find them tantalizing, and absolutely NO DEPICTIONS OF THEM DOING ANYTHING SEXUAL. Not once does this movie ever forget that these are children, or that they have been victimized by those who should know better. Any other studio, any other filmmaker, and the message would’ve been undermined by leaning into the exact kind of thing the movie is supposed to condemn.
You will feel uncomfortable and gross sometimes, but that’s the point, because what’s being done to millions of children and adults every year is disgusting and wrong and it needs to be stopped. You will cry, both for those who’ve escaped such horrible circumstances and those still trapped in them. You will even smile, as you see good people fight to do the right thing even when it’s hard, and see those who’ve been harmed escape their abusers to freedom.
If you have any love in your heart at all for children, I encourage you to see this movie and support those who fight to end human trafficking.
“It were better for him that a mill-stone were hanged about his neck, and he cast into the sea, than that he should offend one of these little ones.” — Luke 17:2
IJM is a global organization that protects people in poverty from human trafficking, modern-day slavery, violence and police abuse of power.
As the nation's nonprofit clearinghouse and comprehensive reporting center for all issues related to the prevention of and recovery from chi
End Trafficking International – A world free from Human Trafficking
A21 is abolishing slavery everywhere, forever. Together, we are eradicating human trafficking through awareness, intervention, and aftercare
The Amazing Story of the Victim Who Was Really a Volunteer
The Amazing Story of the Victim Who Was Really a Volunteer
One of the things that Passion Week helps us to see (mentioned yesterday) is that Jesus was not a victim but a volunteer. Today is Palm Sunday, and Jesus is traveling with his friends. After the Sabbath, Jesus and the disciples walked from Bethany NW through Bethpage to Jerusalem, a journey of 8-10 miles.
The Victim who Walked Right Into a Trap?
He rode the last part on the colt of a donkey,…
The Amazing Story of the Victim Who Was Really a Volunteer
The Amazing Story of the Victim Who Was Really a Volunteer
One of the things that Passion Week helps us to see (mentioned yesterday) is that Jesus was not a victim but a volunteer. Today is Palm Sunday, and Jesus is traveling with his friends. After the Sabbath, Jesus and the disciples walked from Bethany NW through Bethpage to Jerusalem, a journey of 8-10 miles.
The Victim who Walked Right Into a Trap?
He rode the last part on the colt of a donkey,…
Charles John Ellicott, Christian Theologian [1819–1905] | | Luke 17:2
[2] It were batter for him . . —See Note on Matthew 18:6,
where the order of the two sayings is inverted.
Assuming the words to have been repeated where we find
them here, the “little ones” must mean the disciples of
CHRIST who are, in both senses of the word
“offended” by the worldliness of those who profess to
be religious.
They are made to stumble by the temptation to follow the
bad example, or their faith in the reality of godliness is
shaken by seeing that the form exists without the power.
Matthew Henry, Nonconformist Minister [1662-1714] | | Luke 17:1-10
17:1-10 It is no abatement of their guilt by whom an
offence comes, nor will it lessen their punishment
that offences will come. Faith in GOD's pardoning
mercy, will enable us to get over the greatest
difficulties in the way of forgiving our brethren.
As with GOD nothing is impossible, so all things are
possible to those that can believe.
Our LORD showed HIS disciples their need of deep humility.
The LORD has such a property in every creature, as no man
can have in another; HE cannot be in debt to them for their
services, nor do they deserve any return from HIM.
Albert Barnes, American Theologian [1798-1870] | | Luke 17:2
It is impossible - It cannot but happen. Such is the state
of things that "it will be.
See these verses explained in the notes at Matthew 18:6-7.
Cambridge Bible, Anglican Editor John Perowne [1882] | | Luke 17:2
It were better for him—The literal rendering of the verse
is “It is for his advantage if a millstone is hanging round
his neck, & he has been flung into the sea, rather than that
In other words, the fate of a person who is lying drowned at
the bottom of the sea is better than if his continuance in
life would have led to causing “one of these little ones”
to stumble.
The general thought is like that of Queen Blanche, who used
to say of her son St Louis when he was a boy, that she
would rather see him dead at her feet than know that he
had fallen into a deadly sin.
a millstone—The true reading here is lithos mulikos, not
mulos onikos, a millstone so large as to require an
ass to work it. This is introduced from Matthew 18:6.
one of these little ones—Mark adds “that believe in ME”
[Luke 9:42].
The reference is not to children, or the young, though of
course the warning applies no less to their case; but
primarily to publicans & weak believers.
CHRIST calls even the Apostles ‘children,
[John 13:33; 1 John 2:12-13].
Expositor's Greek Testament, William R. Nicoll [1897-1910] | | Luke 17:2
λυσιτελεῖ [λύω, τέλος], it profits or pays; here only in
N.T. = συμφέρει in Matthew 18:6—λίθος μυλικός, a millstone,
not a great millstone, one driven by an ass [μύλος ὀνικὸς,
T.R]., as in Mt.: the vehement emphasis of CHRIST’s words
is toned down in Luke. Here as often elsewhere.
The realistic expression of Matthew is
doubtless truer to the actual utterance of JESUS, who would
speak of the offences created by ambition with passionate
abhorrence—περίκειται = perf.pass.of περιτίθημι in sense
= has been placed; with ἔρριπται,
another perfect, suggesting the idea of an action already
complete—the miscreant with a stone round his neck thrown
into the sea—εἰς τὴν θάλασσαν: here again a subdued
expression compared with Mt—ἢ ἵνα σκανδαλίσῃ,
than to scandalise; the subject with ἵνα = the infinitive.
Vide Winer, § 44, 8.
Matthew 18:6 | But if anyone causes one of these little ones who believe in ME to stumble, it would be better for him to have a large millstone hung around his neck & to be drowned in the depths of the sea.
Pulpit Commentary by Donald Spence Jones [1836-1917] | | Matthew 18:6
Verse 6—There is an opposite side to this picture. Shall
offend; cause to stumble - give occasion for a fall, ie
either in faith or morals.
This is done by evil example,
by teaching to sin, by sneers
at piety, by giving soft names
to gross offences.
One of these little ones.
Whether child or adult, a pure, simple soul, which has a
certain faith it be not strong enough to resist all attack.
Even the heathen recognized the respect due to the young:
"Maxima debetur puero reverentia" [Juvenal, 'Sat.' 14:47];
& guilelessness & purity, wherever found, win
some regard, even from worthless & careless observers.
To willfully lead one such astray is a deadly sin, which the
LORD denounces in solemn terms.
CHRIST affectionately calls HIS disciples "little ones"
[Matthew 10:42].Believe in [εἰς] ME.
We must always distinguish between "believe in"
[πιστεύειν εἰς, or ἐν: credo in] & "believe" with the
simple dative; the former is applied to faith in GOD alone.
Augustine, "Credimus Paulo, sed non credimus inPaulum.
In the present passage the phrase implies the Divinity of
CHRIST. It were better; literally, it is profitable. The crime
specified is so heinous that a man had better incur the
most certain death, if by this means he may avoid the sin &
save the soul of his possible victim.
A millstone; a great millstone - such a one as required an
ass to inure.The upper, or movable, stone is meant, which
was usually turned by the hand. Drowned.
We do not know that the Jews punished criminals by
drowning [καταποντισμὸς], though it is probable that it was
practised in some cases; but by other nations this penalty
was commonly exacted.
Among the Romans, Greeks, & Syrians, it was certainly the
practice. Commentators quote Suetonius, 'Aug.,' 67; Diod. Sic.,
16:35; Livy, 1:51; Aristophanes, 'Schol.ad Equit.' 1360].
The punishment seems to have been reserved for
the greatest criminals; & the size of the stone would
prevent any chance of the body rising again to the surface
& being buried by friends - a consideration which, in the
minds of heathens, greatly increased the horror of this
kind of death.
Charles John Ellicott, Christian Theologian [1819–1905] | | Matthew 18:6
[6] Whoso shall offend—The words seem to indicate the
thoughts which rise unbidden in the minds of men in
proportion as they are Christ-like in character.
We gaze on the innocent beauty of childhood with love &
admiration. What if that beauty should be marred by the
taint of evil?
What if those who do the Tempter’s work should cause the
“little one” to stumble & to fall?
That a millstone were hanged about his neck—The word for
“millstone” indicates the larger stone-mill, in working
which an ass was commonly employed, as distinguished from
the smaller handmill of Luke 17:35].
The punishment was not recognised in the Jewish law, but
it was in occasional use among the Greeks [Diod.Sic.xvi. 35],
& had been inflicted by Augustus [Sueton. Aug.lxvii].
in cases of special infamy. Jerome states [in a note on
this passage] that it was practised in Galilee, & it is not
improbable that the Romans had inflicted it upon some of
the ringleaders of the insurrection headed by Judas of
Galilee.
Our LORD’s words, on this assumption, would come home with
a special vividness to the minds of those who heard them.
The infamy of offending one of the “little ones” was as
great as that of those whoso crimes brought upon them this
exceptional punishment.
It was obviously a form of death less cruel in itself than
many others, & its chief horror, both for Jews & heathen,
was, probably, that it deprived the dead of all rites of burial.
St. Mark & St. Luke, it may be noted, insert here the
complaint of St.John, that he had seen one casting out
devils in the name of JESUS, & this must be taken into
account as an element in the sequence of thought.
He was unconsciously placing himself among those who
were hindering the work of CHRIST, & so “offending” those
who believed in HIM [See Note on Mark 9:38].
Matthew Henry, Nonconformist Minister [1662-1714] | | Matthew 18:1-6
Matthew 18:1-6 | At that time the disciples came to Jesus & asked, “Who then is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?” Jesus invited a little child to stand among them. “Truly I tell you,” He said, “unless you change & become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Therefore, whoever humbles himself like this little child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. And whoever welcomes a little child like this in MY Name welcomes ME. But if anyone causes one of these little ones who believe in ME to stumble, it would be better for him to have a large millstone hung around his neck & to be drowned in the depths of the sea.
18:1-6 CHRIST spoke many words of His sufferings, but only
one of His glory; yet the disciples fasten upon that, & overlook
the others. Many love to hear & speak of privileges & glory, who
are willing to pass by the thoughts of work & trouble.
Our LORD set a little child before them, solemnly assuring
them, that unless they were converted & made like little
children, they could not enter HIS Kingdom.
Children, when very young,
do not desire authority, do not
regard outward distinctions, are
free from malice, are teachable, &
willingly dependent on their parents.
It is true that they soon begin to show other dispositions,
& other ideas are taught them at an early age; but these
are marks of childhood, & render them proper emblems of the
lowly minds of true Christians.
Surely we need to be daily renewed in the spirit of our
minds, that we may become simple & humble, as little
children, & willing to be the least of all.
Let us daily study this subject, & examine our own spirits.
Albert Barnes, American Theologian [1798-1870] | | Matthew 18:6
Whoso shall offend - That is, cause to fall, or to sin; or
who should place anything in their way to hinder their
piety or happiness. See notes at Matthew 5:29.
These little ones - That is,
Christians manifesting the spirit of little children,
1 John 2:1, 1 John 2:12, 1 John 2:18, 1 John 2:28.
It were better for them that a millstone .
Mills, anciently, were either turned by hand [see the notes
at Matthew 24:41], or by beasts, chiefly by mules.
These last were of the larger kind, & the original words
denote that it was this kind that was intended.
This was one mode of capital punishment practiced by the
Greeks, Syrians, Romans, & by some other nations.
The meaning is, it would be better for them to have died
before s/he had committed the sin.
To injure, or to cause to sin, the feeblest Christian, will
be regarded by CHRIST as a most serious offence, &
will be punished accordingly.
Expositor's Greek Testament, William R. Nicoll [1897-1910] | | Matthew 18:6
σκανδαλίσῃ: the opposite of receiving; treating harshly &
contemptuously, so as to tempt to unbelief & apostasy.
The pride & selfish ambition of those who pass for eminent
Christians make many infidels—ἕνα τ.
μ. τ.: one of the large class of little ones; not merely
child believers surely, but all of whom a child is the
emblem, as regards social or ecclesiastical importance.
Those who are caused to stumble are always little ones:
“majores enim scandala non recipiunt,” Jerome.
One of them: “frequens unius in hoc capite mentio,” Bengel.
This is the one text in which JESUS speaks of HIMSELF as
the object of faith [vide The Kingdom of GOD, p.
263]—συμφέρει … ἵνα: vide on Matthew 5:29].
Fritzsche finds here an instance of attraction similar to
that in Matthew 10:25—καὶ ὁ δοῦλος, ὡς ὁ κ.
