Heb 12:15 Beware Poisonous Roots
7 views
Skip to first unread message
bcbs...@yahoo.com
Mar 13, 2025, 6:53:18 AM3/13/25
to Bcbsr
Beware Poisonous Roots
Heb 12:15 See to it that no one misses the grace of God and that no bitter root grows up to cause trouble and defile many.
As much of Hebrews alludes to the Old Testament, here also. In this case he's alluding to the terms of the covenant the LORD commanded Moses to make with the Israelites in Moab. mentioned in Deuteronomy 29. "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 those nations; make sure there is no root among you that produces such bitter poison or wormwood." Deut 29:18b This kind of bitterness is associated with turning away from God. It can be contagious.
Let us look at a couple of examples where this word "bitterness" ("pikria" in Greek) is used in the New Testament. Foremost is Simon the Sorcerer in Acts chapter 8. He performed magic tricks and all the people, both high and low, gave him their attention and exclaimed, "This man is the divine power known as the Great Power." Acts 8:10 But he then came to hear the gospel. Simon himself believed and was baptized. And he followed Philip everywhere, astonished by the great signs and miracles he saw. Acts 8:13 Now when Peter and John arrived they laid hands on the people and they received the Holy Spirit. When Simon saw that the Spirit was given at the laying on of the apostles’ hands, he offered them money and said, "Give me also this ability so that everyone on whom I lay my hands may receive the Holy Spirit." 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 8:18-23
It's not that Simon was "bitter" in the normal sense of the word today. But rather he was full of poison - the poison of envy, poison which is contagious. Therefore "bitter" in these references is more accurately "poisonous", as we see the word also used in Rev 8:11 "The name of the star is Wormwood. A third of the waters became wormwood, and many men died from the water, because it was made bitter."
Envy among Christians is one of the bitter roots, as is greed. Christians have developed false doctrines which have defiled much of the history of post-Biblical Christianity and have even led to Christians murdering other Christians along with other atrocities and ungodly acts, and worldly philosophies infiltrating the Christian community, causing great troube and defiling many.
Heb 12:15 See to it that no one misses the grace of God and that no bitter root grows up to cause trouble and defile many.
As much of Hebrews alludes to the Old Testament, here also. In this case he's alluding to the terms of the covenant the LORD commanded Moses to make with the Israelites in Moab. mentioned in Deuteronomy 29. "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 those nations; make sure there is no root among you that produces such bitter poison or wormwood." Deut 29:18b This kind of bitterness is associated with turning away from God. It can be contagious.
Let us look at a couple of examples where this word "bitterness" ("pikria" in Greek) is used in the New Testament. Foremost is Simon the Sorcerer in Acts chapter 8. He performed magic tricks and all the people, both high and low, gave him their attention and exclaimed, "This man is the divine power known as the Great Power." Acts 8:10 But he then came to hear the gospel. Simon himself believed and was baptized. And he followed Philip everywhere, astonished by the great signs and miracles he saw. Acts 8:13 Now when Peter and John arrived they laid hands on the people and they received the Holy Spirit. When Simon saw that the Spirit was given at the laying on of the apostles’ hands, he offered them money and said, "Give me also this ability so that everyone on whom I lay my hands may receive the Holy Spirit." 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 8:18-23
It's not that Simon was "bitter" in the normal sense of the word today. But rather he was full of poison - the poison of envy, poison which is contagious. Therefore "bitter" in these references is more accurately "poisonous", as we see the word also used in Rev 8:11 "The name of the star is Wormwood. A third of the waters became wormwood, and many men died from the water, because it was made bitter."
Envy among Christians is one of the bitter roots, as is greed. Christians have developed false doctrines which have defiled much of the history of post-Biblical Christianity and have even led to Christians murdering other Christians along with other atrocities and ungodly acts, and worldly philosophies infiltrating the Christian community, causing great troube and defiling many.
Reply all
Reply to author
Forward
0 new messages