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Hebrews 12:15

Looking diligently lest any man fail of the grace of God, lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you, and thereby many be defiled.

From the Bible that I use for study (Zondervan NIV Study Bible) Hebrews 12:15 is proceeded with the heading, WARNING AGAINST REFUSING GOD.

My initial thought when I focused in on the heading was that this was scripture dealing with pagan or atheistic views towards God and his existence. What I found though, after studying was a discussion and study directed towards believers that might struggle with having a hardened heart.

I got a better understanding and appreciation for the scripture after doing some research on the grace of God, which then caused me to look at the scripture from a slightly different angle than my initial read.

I’ll break the scripture down into four distinct parts as they appear to me, with key words emphasized. Additionally some background information as revealed in the book Sparkling Gems from the Greek is included.

The four distinct sections of the Hebrews 12:15:

1. Looking diligently
2. lest any man fail of the grace of God
3. lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you
4. and thereby many be defiled

"Looking diligently"

From Hebrews 12:15, Renner focuses on the phrase Looking diligently, which as he tells us comes from the Greek word episkopos.

Episkopos is a compound of the two Greek words epi and skopos, which Renner gives an abbreviated definition of as:

• Epi means over
• Skopos means to look

Episkopos is also the same Greek word translated to bishop or overseer in 1 Timothy 3:1. From the Greek Lexicon for Episkopos (http://www.searchgodsword.org) we get the following definition(s):

1. an overseer:

• a man charged with the duty of seeing that things to be done by others are done rightly, any curator, guardian or superintendent
• the superintendent, elder, or overseer of a Christian church

"lest any man fail of the grace of God"

So what is the grace of God?

The true grace of God is God’s work in His Son Jesus Christ. We have an indication of this in John 1:17.

John 1:17
17 "For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth were realized through Jesus Christ."

Peter says that it was prophesied in advance that Christ would bring this grace to mankind, and that this grace would be our salvation.

1st Peter 1:10-11 (KJV)
10 Of which salvation the prophets have enquired and searched diligently, who prophesied of the grace [that should come] unto you: 11 Searching what, or what manner of time the Spirit of Christ which was in them did signify, when it testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ, and the glory that should follow.

"lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you"

We are often tempted to blame our bad attitudes, bitterness, resentments or feelings of unforgiveness on other people (Renner). Being human, we are subject to emotions, we are however also held accountable by God for how we handle a situation that is the source (root) of negative emotions. I think that it would be safe to assume that the root of most turmoil between humans is that there is a perception of being

offended. I’ll even back this assumption up with the following scripture from Luke 17:1:

Luke 17:1 (KJV)
1 Then said he unto the disciples, It is impossible but that offenses will come: but woe unto him, through whom they come!

Luke 17:1 (NIV)
1 Jesus said to his disciples: "Things that cause people to sin are bound to come, but woe to that person through whom they come.

So we have a forewarning from Jesus in Luke 17:1 that to be offended by a neighbor is inevitable, but in Hebrews 12:15 is another warning to the offended against letting the root of bitterness (the offence), cause trouble in them.

"and thereby many be defiled."

Definitions of defile:

1. To make filthy or dirty; pollute: defile a river with sewage.
2. To debase the pureness or excellence of; corrupt: a country landscape that was defiled by urban sprawl.
3. To profane or sully (a reputation, for example).
4. To make unclean or unfit for ceremonial use; desecrate: defile a temple.
5. To violate the chastity of.

After dissecting Hebrews 12:15, I got a sense of the following from the scripture:

We are the bishops, the superintendents of our own hearts, as charged by God. We are responsible for overseeing that we do not allow offences incurred in our relationships with others, to harden our hearts. Having a hardened heart causes bitterness to dwell in us; and an unwillingness to forgive the offender of their transgression. A hardened and bitter heart damages our relationship with God and with each other.

Having an unforgiving nature is a refusal to accept God’s grace, and violates the very principles of His grace, our salvation through Jesus Christ, his son. If we fail God’s grace in this manner, we are then not clean or fit in the eyes of God.

I hope that if you are having problems in this area of your life, you can take something from this look at Hebrews 12:15, to help right your spiritual ship.

Matthew 22:37-40 (NIV)
37 Jesus replied: " ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’38 This is the first and greatest commandment. 39And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ 40 All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments."

 

C.A. Stallworth