The Root of Bitterness

Hebrews 12:14–17 NKJV

Pursue peace with all people, and holiness, without which no one will see the Lord: looking carefully lest anyone fall short of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up cause trouble, and by this many become defiled; lest there be any fornicator or profane person like Esau, who for one morsel of food sold his birthright. For you know that afterward, when he wanted to inherit the blessing, he was rejected, for he found no place for repentance, though he sought it diligently with tears.

God is the God of Peace

Romans 15:33 NKJV

Now the God of peace be with you all. Amen.

We are to Pursue Peace with All

Hebrews 12:14 NKJV

Pursue peace with all people, and holiness, without which no one will see the Lord:

The Bait of Offense

Offenses will come.

We live in a world filled with offenses. We have been offended and we also offend.

Luke 17:1 NKJV

Then He said to the disciples, “It is impossible that no offenses should come, but woe to him through whom they do come!

A “root” of bitterness begins with a “seed” of offense.

It is not a matter of “if” we will be offended, but “when” we will be offended.

John Bevere calls offense the “bait of Satan”. Don’t take the bait!

The Bite of Offense

The poison of offense is spread through people with poison in their hearts. Jesus called them “vipers”.

Psalm 140:3 NKJV

They sharpen their tongues like a serpent; The poison of asps is under their lips. Selah

Matthew 12:34 NKJV

Brood of vipers! How can you, being evil, speak good things? For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks.

The poison of “vipers” is spread through poisonous words.

Acts 14:2 NKJV

But the unbelieving Jews stirred up the Gentiles and poisoned their minds against the brethren.

Romans 3:13 NKJV

“Their throat is an open tomb; With their tongues they have practiced deceit”; “The poison of asps is under their lips”;

James 3:8 NKJV

But no man can tame the tongue. It is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison.

The Bitterness of Unforgiveness

Hebrews 12:15 NKJV

looking carefully lest anyone fall short of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up cause trouble, and by this many become defiled;

Bitterness results from living under the pain of past and refusing to let go.

The Bondage of Unforgiveness

Simon Magus was poisoned by bitterness and bound by iniquity.

Acts 8:23 NKJV

For I see that you are poisoned by bitterness and bound by iniquity.”

Bitter people are the devil’s slaves to do his will.

2 Timothy 2:24–26 NKJV

And a servant of the Lord must not quarrel but be gentle to all, able to teach, patient, in humility correcting those who are in opposition, if God perhaps will grant them repentance, so that they may know the truth, and that they may come to their senses and escape the snare of the devil, having been taken captive by him to do his will.

The Blessing of Forgiveness

We are to forgive as God has forgiven us.

Ephesians 4:32 NKJV

And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you.

William A. Ward: “We are most like beasts when we kill. We are most like men when we judge. We are most like God when we forgive.”

We are to love, bless, and pray for our enemies.

Matthew 5:44 NKJV

But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you,

Forgiveness frees us from the control of what another person has done to us.

“To forgive is to set a prisoner free and to discover the prisoner was you!” –Author unknown

God turned the captivity of Job as he prayed for his friends.

Job 42:10 NKJV

And the Lord restored Job’s losses when he prayed for his friends. Indeed the Lord gave Job twice as much as he had before.

Bernard Meltzer: “When you forgive, you in no way change the past—but you sure do change the future.”

Jesus and Stephen are examples.

Luke 23:34 NKJV

Then Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they do.” And they divided His garments and cast lots.

Acts 7:59–60 NKJV

And they stoned Stephen as he was calling on God and saying, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.” Then he knelt down and cried out with a loud voice, “Lord, do not charge them with this sin.” And when he had said this, he fell asleep.

Response to the Word

Do you have a root of bitterness?

Do not allow it to defile others!

Forgive as you have been forgiven.

Pray for and bless those who offended you.

Expect God to bless you as you do.

If you have offended others, repent and ask forgiveness.

Seek to live above offense.

Psalm 119:165 NKJV

Great peace have those who love Your law, And nothing causes them to stumble.