There’s a point in the film Sound of Freedom where the hero, actor Jim Caviezel portraying former federal agent Tim Ballard, recites a quote from Jesus:

“If anyone causes one of these little ones who believe in me to stumble (or sin), it would be better for him if a large millstone were hung around his neck and he were drowned at the bottom of the sea.” (Matthew 18:6)

Ironically, Caviezel is the same actor who portrayed Jesus in the movie Passion of the Christ. His character is almost Christ-like in his obsession, passion, purpose and mission. In this case it is righting wrong and confronting evil.

The evil is human trafficking, specifically, child sex trafficking.¹

With almost 4 million adults and 1 million children trafficked and forced into illegal sexual exploitation, this shocking inhumane activity all around us is staggering.² While this movie took 5 years to get viable distribution, it was the #1 box office release during the popular 4th of July movie launch week.

Clearly, there is grassroots support for an uncomfortable topic that has touched a human nerve.

A question to consider: What human being would not be moved to support this film?

Jesus’ Quote in Context
In Matthew Chapter 18, Jesus makes a statement to his disciples about little humble children in the context of a lesson on humility for Christ-following disciples. He is in the region of Galilee shortly after His Transfiguration in the presence of Peter, James, and John. After the disciples ask Jesus a direct question, He launches into a discourse on humility:

At that time the disciples came to Jesus, saying “Who, then, is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?”

He called a little child to him, and placed the child among them. And he said: “Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Therefore, whoever takes the lowly position of this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. And whoever welcomes one such child in my name welcomes me. (Matthew 18:2-4)

He then describes the dire consequences of one who would corrupt any such child/believer. The point goes beyond a focus on children:

“If anyone causes one of these little ones—those who believe in me—to stumble (or sin), it would be better for them to have a large millstone hung around their neck and to be drowned in the depths of the sea. Woe to the world because of the things that cause people to stumble! Such things must come, but woe to the person through whom they come! (Matthew 18:5-6)

The image and lesson are harsh, dramatic, and exaggerated, as are the words that follow about cutting off one’s sinful hands or feet, or gouging out sinful eyes:

If your hand or your foot causes you to stumble, cut it off and throw it away. It is better for you to enter life maimed or crippled than to have two hands or two feet and be thrown into eternal fire. And if your eye causes you to stumble, gouge it out and throw it away. It is better for you to enter life with one eye than to have two eyes and be thrown into the fire of hell. (Matthew 18:7-9)

He closes out the lesson with a peculiar comment about children and their angels (yes, Jesus acknowledges the existence of angels), and a parable about God’s love for even one lost sheep:

“See that you do not despise one of these little ones. For I tell you that their angels in heaven always see the face of my Father in heaven.

“What do you think? If a man owns a hundred sheep, and one of them wanders away, will he not leave the ninety-nine on the hills and go to look for the one that wandered off? And if he finds it, truly I tell you, he is happier about that one sheep than about the ninety-nine that did not wander off. In the same way your Father in heaven is not willing that any of these little ones should perish. (Matthew 18:10-14)

God is Love
Disciples of Christ are to be humble like little children. Woe to those who would derail any believer. As we know, the world is dark and full of evil men and women who would betray, corrupt, and destroy even little children and each other for the sake of money and personal sexual gratification. Yet God is love and created mankind to reflect that love.

Man, the created, has failed miserably and continues to fall short of that image and potential to reflect the love of the Creator. Yet God continues to love and allow for man to repent and restore themselves to God.

This movie, Sound of Freedom, in bittersweet truth-telling, conveys all that is good and right and wrong and evil in this world, all that which man has played out from the beginning. Yet God is love and continues to show us love through the hope and God-infused love of His inspired creation.

Have you seen and experienced the Sound of Freedom?
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“Who, then, is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?” – Matthew 18:1

¹ Sound of Freedom, by Angel Studios, 2023, official trailer: Sound of Freedom – Official Trailer

² Sex Trafficking Statistics, Joy to the World – Foundation Thailand, https://www.joytothe worldthailand.org/sex-trafficking-statistics.