Reflections of a stormy petrel

Jesus also said a few things like: "you generation of vipers, who has taught you to flee from the wrath to come?" and "it is necessary for scandals to happen, but woe to the person through whom they happen! He would be better off if they had tied a millstone to his neck and thrown him in the depths of the sea". And it is perhaps not sufficiently noticed that the everlasting forgiveness He asked was restricted to "brothers", that is to members of the Church. They are the ones who are to be forgiven "not seven times, but seventy times seven" (Mt 18.21-22; the previous verses, Mt 18.15-17, show clearly that Jesus is talking about an issue for "the congregation", and that the final penalty is excommunication - "let him be to you as a pagan or a publican (i.e. criminal)"). At any rate, Jesus never said anything against reproaching those who behave immorally.