A frequent misinterpretation is to take this as fatalistic resignation, implying that since offenses cannot be avoided, individuals bear no blame for causing them and should not strive to guard their actions; in reality, the passage sharply condemns those responsible, calling believers to proactive holiness rather than excusing carelessness, while another error minimizes it to only overt scandals, overlooking everyday influences that subtly lead others astray.
Luke 17:1
King James Version (1769)
1 Then said he unto the disciples, It is impossible but that offences will come: but woe unto him, through whom they come!
Jesus warns his disciples that offenses, or stumbling blocks that cause others to sin, are inevitable in a fallen world, yet he pronounces severe judgment—woe—upon those through whom they come, emphasizing personal responsibility to avoid being the source of spiritual harm to others and highlighting the gravity of influencing people toward wrongdoing.