{"collection":"chr","html_url":"https://unchartedknowledge.5gfusion.net/browse/chr/ecf/009/0090420.htm","path":"chr/ecf/009/0090420.htm","source_url":"https://sacred-texts.com/chr/ecf/009/0090420.htm","text":"23. Peter as a Stumbling-Block to Jesus.\nNext we must inquire how He said to Peter, \u201cThou art a stumbling-block unto Me,\u201d 5709 especially when David says, \u201cGreat peace have they that love Thy law, and there is no stumbling-block to them.\u201d 5710 For some one will say, if this is said in the prophet, because of the steadfastness of those who have love, and are incapable of being offended, for \u201clove beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things, love never faileth,\u201d 5711 how did the Lord Himself, \u201cwho upholdeth all that fall, and raiseth up all that be bowed down,\u201d 5712 say to Peter, \u201cThou art a stumbling-block unto Me\u201d? But it must be said that not only the Saviour, but also he who is perfected in love, cannot be offended. But, so far as it depends on himself, he who says or does such things is a stumbling-block even to him who will not be offended; unless perhaps Jesus calls the disciple who sinned a stumbling-block even to Himself, as much more than Paul He would have said from love, \u201cWho is weak, and I am not weak? Who is made to stumble, and I burn not?\u201d 5713 In harmony with which we may put, \u201cWho is made to stumble, and I am not made to stumble?\u201d But if Peter, at that time because of the saying, \u201cGod be propitious to Thee, Lord, this shall not be unto Thee,\u201d 5714 was called a stumbling-block by Jesus, as not minding the things of God in what he said but the things of men, what is to be said about all those who profess to be made disciples of Jesus, but do not mind the things of God, and do not look to things unseen and eternal, but mind the things of man, and look to things seen and temporal, 5715 but that such still more would be stigmatized by Jesus as a stumbling-block to Him, and because stumbling-blocks to Him, as stumbling-blocks to His brethren also? As in regard to them He says, \u201cI was thirsty and ye gave Me no drink,\u201d 5716 etc., so also He might say, \u201cWhen I was running ye caused Me to stumble.\u201d Let us not therefore suppose that it is a trivial sin to mind the things of men, since we ought in everything to mind the things of God. And it will be appropriate also to say this to every one that has fallen away from the doctrines of God and the words of the church and a true mind; as, for example, to him who minds as true the teaching of Basilides, or Valentinus, or Marcion, or any one of those who teach the things of men as the things of God.\n1 Cor. 13:7, 8.\n463:5712 463:5713 463:5714 463:5715 463:5716","title":"Ante-Nicene Fathers, Vol IX: Origen's Commentary on the Gospel of Matthew.: Chapter XXIII","type":"page"}