Word of Salvation – Vol. 40 No.26 – July 1995
Bitterness: A Hindrance To Grace
Sermon by Rev. W. J. Bosker on Hebrews 12:15
Scripture Readings: Ephesians 4:20 – 5:2; Deuteronomy 29:9-18; Hebrews 12:1-4, 14-17
Suggested Hymns: BoW 9:1, 4, 5, 10; 481; 66:1-3; 66:4-6; 236
(For evening worship, Confession of Faith: LD 10 Q&A 27-28)
Dear congregation, brothers and sisters in the Lord Jesus Christ.
A few of months ago a very sincere Christian spoke to me of the “root of bitterness” which this person was struggling with. Up until that time I had not thought much about the concept, nor on what the Bible has to say about it.
Then after Ineke’s cancer was diagnosed we began to read some books about healing, both from Christian and secular perspectives. One common thread that ran through these books was this observation: bitterness and resentment in their various forms have some well documented physical symptoms, such as stomach ailments, nervous disorders and arthritis.
Here is some food for thought. We are complex creatures; we react to different things in different ways – some healthy and some not so healthy. There is a link between how and what we think and the well-being of the body.
I do not pretend to speak with any authority on the medical side of bitterness. But it led me to study what the Bible says about bitterness, and I was surprised how much space Scripture devotes to this subject and how wide-ranging its treatment is.
1. The Context of this Exhortation.
The writer of the Letter to the Hebrews tells us in his conclusion (13:22) “Brothers, I urge you to bear with my word of exhortation, for I have written you only a short letter.” Thirteen chapters! A short letter, of exhortation! It probably says something about our writing and listening skills by the way we react.
The Hebrew letter consistently encourages and exhorts its Christian listeners. Beginning in Chapter 1 with the completeness, perfection and superiority of Jesus Christ to deal with the problem of our sinfulness and brokenness, the writer says we ignore God’s greatest act of salvation to our eternal peril (2:1-3).
The danger of not paying attention to God’s work of saving us is as real for us today as it was for Israel in her desert wanderings, and for New Testament Christians who were looking for security in a ritual religion full of sacrifices and legalism but empty of Christ, empty of faith and empty of God’s bounteous grace.
The whole thirteen chapters are interspersed with the total effectiveness of Christ’s sacrifice, His high priestly mediation, and the need to embrace this gracious offer of God with true faith that has a practical and holy outworking.
Jesus has dealt with the problem of a believer’s sin and guilt (10:10)! Through faith in His sacrifice we are purchased for God once and for all. That’s our blessed position and status before God.
In line with this position is the call to let this faith affect our lives and allow the Holy Spirit to keep changing us and transforming us by His grace. “Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for He who promised is faithful” (10:23).
Hold on to Christ. Be changed by His Spirit and grow. As a believer, your position in heaven is secured by Christ’s blood. Now let your condition on earth, your daily walk, be one of a living and active faith.
Chapter 11 catalogues a list of heroes who believed in God’s offer of salvation. Their lives have shown that their faith was real and active. Chapter 12 says keep running the race (agona – agony), focus on Christ, don’t grow weary and lose heart because that’s the thing we are inclined to do (1-3).
Chapter 12 goes on to say that the Christian life is a school of learning and training (discipline) which will produce its harvest of righteousness and peace (12:11).
2. Then Comes the Exhortation of Which our Text is a Part.
Living in peace with others and living a life dedicated to God, distinctively set apart for Christ to serve and worship Him, is contrasted to an obstacle and hindrance to God’s grace. “See to it … that no bitter root grows up to cause trouble and defile many” (vs.15).
Two other obstacles to growing in grace are supplied in the next verse. Living in sexual looseness and immorality, and not taking God seriously as Esau did (vs.16). He felt great bitterness toward Jacob and wanted to kill him. Then he rebelled against God and decided to marry pagan women who led him away from God down a path of spiritual destruction.
How do you want to approach God? Judgement is coming! Will you find your security in Christ and show it by holiness to God, or do you want your own way and end up facing the throne of God’s justice on your own merits? Since as believers “…we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe, for our God is a consuming fire” (12:28-29).
Something has been happening in Christian communities regularly enough for Scripture to speak so plainly about it. The early New Testament Christians had to hear it. From the allusion to Deuteronomy 29, Israel had to hear it, and now it’s being addressed to us.
In its literal sense the word “bitter” means something that is pointed, sharp, pungent (i.e., sharp or bitter tasting). In Exodus 15, soon after Israel’s deliverance from Egypt, we read, “For three days they travelled in the desert without finding water. When they came to Marah, they could not drink its water because it was bitter. (That is why the place is called Marah.) So the people grumbled against Moses, saying, ‘What are we to drink?’” (15:22-24) Bitterness is like an acid eating into metal causing corrosion.
From this Exodus 15 usage you can see the close link between a literal bitterness (the water) and a metaphorical bitterness (the grumbling, discontent and resentment). In Scripture the word is used more often in this figurative, metaphorical sense.
The “root of bitterness” is an allusion to Deuteronomy 29. In language reminiscent of Hebrews 12, Moses reminds Israel that they are a redeemed and rescued people to whom God has bound Himself in a covenant commitment. This privilege has corresponding responsibilities. Moses is telling his people to watch out for the sin of idolatry in the nations they are going to possess.
“Make sure there is no man or woman, clan or tribe among you today whose heart turns away from the LORD our God to go and worship the gods of the nations, make sure there is no root among you that produces such bitter poison” (Deut.29:18).
Do you see some connections with Hebrews 12?
* A redeemed people with the Promised Land ahead of them.
* A warning to walk close with God.
* A reminder that unfaithfulness to God is rebellion which will have to face the heat of God’s judgement.
The root which causes bitter poison here is idolatry, the chasing after the gods of the world around them. The root starts off small, but it produces a bitter, deadly poison. A poison Israel tasted every time they did evil in God’s eyes, angered Him and decided to go their own way (cf Book of Judges).
The root of bitterness has a slow but steady growth with disastrous consequences. It may start off without detection, but look at the results! Our text says, “see that this root doesn’t even begin, do not even let it grow!”
Bitterness is like a weed in your garden. If you don’t tear it out, a few seeds will germinate and soon you have many weeds growing.
3. Examples of the Root of Bitterness.
It’s the same story in Hebrews 12. As idolatry worked against God’s grace, so does sexual immorality and godlessness (vss.16-17). Both eat away like a cancer.
You may have sex outside marriage once. But that’s never enough. You want more and you’ll have more. The devil will see to that because the flesh is weak and your desires are strong. Later on, if you do marry and this immorality is not renounced and repented of, it will be a poisonous barb in your relationship.
Godlessness is basically not taking God seriously and living outside of His framework. Esau took his birthright lightly and sold it for a pot of broth. Did the root of bitterness stop there? No, it infected his whole relationship with God. To spite his parents and spurn God’s commands, Esau took wives from the women of Canaan (Genesis 36:2). From that time on things deteriorated. The descendants of Esau, the Edomites, fiercely opposed God. What started off small became a bitter poison of great proportions.
Our text says, See to it that no one is failing to respond to the free and all-sufficient grace of God. God has done enough in Christ, God has supplied enough power through the Holy Spirit to meet all your needs and guide you to eternal life.
To that is added, See to it that no bitter root grows up to cause trouble and defile many. Let there be “no bitter root”. No idolatry, no immorality, no godlessness, but even much more.
Here we will have to let the New Testament do some self-interpretation for us. Peter uses the same word in speaking to Simon the sorcerer who was so impressed with the power of the Holy Spirit that he offered to buy this ability (Acts 8:18-19).
Peter answered: “May your money perish with you, because you thought you could buy the gift of God with money! You have no part or share in this ministry, because your heart is not right before God. Repent of this wickedness and pray to the Lord. Perhaps He will forgive you for having such a thought in your heart. For I see that you are full of bitterness and captive to sin” (Acts 8:20-23).
The bitter root for Simon was wanting something he did not have. You cannot buy the grace of God. You cannot buy the gift of the Holy Spirit. Simon was jealous and envious. Before Peter came along, Simon amazed the people of Samaria. He was known as “the Great Power” (vs.10). He wanted things his own way for his own interests. He was being eaten away by this envy and was captive to sin.
Another use of this word is found in Ephesians 4:31. “Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger…!” This comes after: “And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption” (vs.30). Bitterness is listed here ahead of “rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice.”
Paul gives it this prominence because he knows how insidious, how malignant and infectious bitterness is. Perhaps it’s not as obvious as rage and anger, brawling and slander but it can be more destructive and self-destructive.
Unresolved anger, feeling that you are hard done by, jealousy, envy, resentment and harshness are all manifestations of bitterness. The root of bitterness is not something you can keep to yourself. Our text says: “it causes trouble and defiles many”. Like a plant allowed to grow, bitterness produces the fruit of troubles.
The word “trouble” is a rare New Testament word. It is used in another form to describe people who were troubled or tormented with unclean spirits (Luke 6:18). When a spirit of bitterness resides in a person they have a sour outlook on life and it shows on their face.
But sadder still is its effect on others. Our text says the root of bitterness goes on to defile or stain many. If parents have a root of bitterness you will often see it passed on to children. On the other hand, children may rather disown their parents or have little contact with them because bitterness and a negative attitude are so depressing to live with.
Israel’s idolatry led many astray. Esau’s godlessness was handed down to the Edomites. The root of bitterness affects not only the person who harbours it but many others as well.
I know of Christians who feel that God has “dealt them a poor hand of cards”. Nothing in life has been easy for them. It’s always been a battle. Other people don’t have it as bad as we do. When you know their lot in life, their bitterness is understandable. But it is so corrosive to our bodies and our health, and so spiritually debilitating. Bitterness and joy are incompatible.
4. How to Deal with Bitterness and Grow in Grace.
Imagine Joseph, had he harboured a permanent grudge against his brothers. Yet he could forgive them for trying to kill him out of jealousy. In his forgiveness there was healing for his brothers and himself.
Our greatest example is Christ Himself. When people railed their cries of scorn and blasphemy against Jesus, He did not treat them with contempt. Instead, as they crucified Him, He prayed “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they are doing.”
In forgiveness there is healing for bitterness. I know it’s not a human attitude or virtue, but God’s grace makes it possible! He who could forgive your sins of rebellion and disobedience can help you forgive others and be content with what God is pleased to give you or send you.
This “short letter of exhortation” is full of gospel comfort. What hasn’t Jesus gone through so that you can rely on Him alone? He was made like us, His brothers (2:17) so that He could represent us before the throne of grace. “Because He Himself was tempted, He is able to help those who are being tempted” (2:18). He sympathises with our weaknesses (4:15). He has even paid for all your bitterness!
God loves us so much that He wants us to be spared from the root and fruit of bitterness – for the sake of your physical health and your spiritual health!
Jesus once said, and He’s still saying it: “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls” (Matthew 11:28-29).
We all need to hear this message. Some may be wrestling with the root of bitterness right now. It has been eating away in your life long enough. It has already evaporated much of your joy. You may be unhappy with your lot in life. Perhaps you are displeased with decisions in your church or the last Synod. Maybe your harshness has soured relationships with your wife, husband, children or friends.
Don’t be like Esau. “He could bring about no change of mind, though he sought the blessing with tears” (vs.17). Bring it before the Lord. Experience the release of His forgiveness and you will find strength to forgive others.
Jesus wants you to run the race, unhindered and without getting tangled up. Just keep your eyes fixed on Jesus, the Author and Finisher of our faith.
Amen.