LIBERTY UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF DIVINITY
What is a root of bitterness (Hebrews 12:15)?
Submitted to Dr. James Sulfridge
in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the completion of
DSMN 500
Discipleship Ministries
By
Anthony Bean
What is a root of bitterness (Hebrews 12:15)?
Hebrews 12:15, in the King James Version, refers to a “root of bitterness” which, if it
springs up, will “trouble you, and thereby many be defiled.” What exactly is this “root,” and
how can it defile many? True to the purpose of the book of Hebrews, we can find some
explanations in the Old Testament, which are confirmed by other uses in the New Testament.
First, it is helpful to look at a more recent translation of the entire verse. The New
International Version reads, “See to it that no one misses the grace of God and that no bitter
root grows up to cause trouble and defile many” (Hebrews 12:15). This passage is directed at
the whole church.
In the Hebrew culture, any poisonous plant was called a “bitter” plant. Poison destroys, and
the result of ingesting a poisonous plant would be bitter, indeed. The author of the book of
Hebrews uses a “bitter root” as a metaphor for that which would bring harm to the church.
There is a verse in the Pentateuch that closely mirrors the wording in Hebrews. In
Deuteronomy 29, Moses reviews the covenant between God and Israel. In this context, he says,
“Make sure there is no root among you that produces such bitter poison” (Deuteronomy
29:18). This particular “bitter poison” is idolatry in defiance of the covenant. Throughout the
Old Testament, the Hebrew word translated “bitter poison” refers either to the unfaithful
(Deuteronomy 29:18; Amos 6:12) or to their punishment (Jeremiah 8:14; 9:15; 23:15).
Moving to the New Testament, we have another reference to the destructive power of
bitterness. While rebuking Simon the Sorcerer, Peter tells him to repent of his wickedness, with
an added insight: “I see that you are full of bitterness and captive to sin” (Acts 8:23). Simon’s
wickedness was his desire to buy the power of the Holy Spirit, essentially treating God as a
commodity to enhance his own career as a magician.
So, the “bitter root” in Hebrews refers to a source of evil or wickedness within the church.
A root may be small and slow in its growth, but, if it carries poison, it is malignant; it is
dangerous. Sin in the church must be diligently rooted out; the result of tolerating wickedness
is that “many” will be defiled.
For an example of how God dealt with a “root of bitterness” in the early church, see the
story of Ananias and Sapphira in Acts 5. Obviously, God considers pulling up such “bitter roots”
to be critically important to the health of His church.
Bitterness is akin to anger, which is an expression of an “emotional” and
"mental” rage that’s hovering within the mind. And if not checked, it’ll cause “physical
illness” as well as “strained relationships.” Nelson Mandela said, “Bitterness is like drinking
poison, hoping it’ll kill your enemy.” The problem with “poison,” as well as “bitterness,” either
one can completely destroy your mind and body over time, if left unattended.
Adam, and his “conflicting disobedience,” caused this “emotional and mental scar.” And
because of his willful act, the “mark” of Satan is “inflicted” upon the whole human
race. Bitterness is best to be “temporary,” or it’ll damage the “soul” of the bitter person. So,
sharing your “bitterness” with a “Christian counsellor,” “pastor,” or a “trusted friend,” can helps
to defuse your "the root of bitterness,” which grows in our lives and seeks to destroy us.
But there’s hope. The only true way for this “painful root to be removed,” is to have a
genuine, “come to Jesus' moment, and allow the Holy Spirit to guide you through your valley,
of “grudges,” and “unforgiveness,” into the “Light of the world,” where the “dark work of
Satan,” no longer holds its grip, on you, and were now you can now focus instead on how to
show love.
So, until then, you or I can't be right with God and remain in “bitterness.” In fact, if
we don’t forgive from our hearts, God will turn us over to the torturers, (Mattthew 18:34),
God isn’t punishing us; He’s disciplining us. He knows that if we hang on to
our “bitterness,” we'll only hurt ourselves and others. Hebrews 12: 14-15 says,” Pursue peace
with everyone, and holiness—without it no one will see the Lord. Make sure that no one falls
short of the grace of God and that no root of bitterness springs up, causing trouble and by it,
defiling many.” Ephesians 4:31-32 says, “All bitterness, anger and wrath, shouting and slander
must be removed from you, along with all malice. And be kind and compassionate to one
another, forgiving one another, just as God also forgave you in Christ.”
Therefore, the “root of bitterness” is a “collating concept,” brought on by Satan, for the
purpose of “undermining the will of God” as it pertains to a Christian’s life of “faith,” and their
“pursuit of holiness.”
“Bitterness” is usually associated with anger and grudges. But is this what it means
in Hebrews 12:15: “See to it that no one fails to obtain the grace of God; that no ‘root of
bitterness’ springs up and causes trouble, and by it many become defiled”? I don’t think so.
Let’s ask a few questions. First of all, does “root of bitterness” mean that the
root is bitterness (like block of wood)? Or does it mean that the root grows up into a plant and
bears the bitter fruit? Second, does “bitterness” in Hebrews 12:15 mean “festering anger,” or
does it mean “poisonous and foul”? Third, where did this image of a “root of bitterness” come
from?
Let’s start with the last question. Answer: it came from Deuteronomy 29:18.
Beware lest there be among you a man or woman or clan or tribe whose heart is turning
away today from the Lord our God to go and serve the gods of those nations. Beware lest there
be among you a root bearing poisonous and bitter fruit.
This background also helps us answer the first two questions: the root is not itself
bitterness but rather bears the fruit of bitterness. And the bitterness it bears is something
poisonous. This bitter fruit may be festering anger, or it may be something else. The point
seems to be that it is deadly.
The key question is this: What is this root that causes deadly, bitter fruit to sprout in the
church? The next verse in Deuteronomy 29 gives the surprising answer, but it fits perfectly with
the book of Hebrews. Deuteronomy 29:18 ends, “Beware lest there be among you a root
bearing poisonous and bitter fruit.” Then verse 19 begins by defining this root:
. . . one who, when he hears the words of this sworn covenant, blesses himself in his heart,
saying, “I shall be safe, though I walk in the stubbornness of my heart.” This will lead to the
sweeping away of moist and dry alike.
What then is the root that brings forth the bitter fruit? It is a person who has a wrong view
of eternal security. He feels secure when he is not secure. He says, “I shall be safe [secure],
though I walk in the stubbornness of my heart.” He misunderstands the covenant God makes.
He thinks that because he is part of the covenant people, he is secure from God’s judgment.
This kind of presumption is what the book of Hebrews deals with repeatedly — professing
Christians who think they are secure because of some past spiritual experience or some present
association with Christian people. The aim of Hebrews is to cure Christians of presumption, and
to cultivate earnest perseverance in faith and holiness. At least four times it warns that we
must not neglect our great salvation but be vigilant to fight the fight of faith every day lest we
become hardened and fall away and prove that we had no share in Christ (Hebrews 2:3; 3:12–
14; 6:4–7; 10:23–29).
This is also the very point of the context of the term “root of bitterness” in Hebrews 12:15.
Strive for peace with everyone, and for the holiness without which no one will see the Lord.
See to it that no one fails to obtain the grace of God; that no “root of bitterness” springs up and
causes trouble, and by it many become defiled. (12:14–15)
This is a warning not to treat holiness lightly or to presume upon more grace.
Therefore a “root of bitterness” is a person or a doctrine in the church which encourages
people to act presumptuously and treats salvation as an automatic thing that does not require a
life of vigilance in the fight of faith and the pursuit of holiness. Such a person or a doctrine
defiles many and can lead to the experience of Esau who played fast and loose with his
inheritance and could not repent in the end and find life.
