Last Updated on December 19, 2025 5:26 AM by herald
Cancerous and Contagious
There are two scary effects of bitterness suggested by the writer in Hebrews 12:15.
First, bitterness is cancerous and by extension, self-destructive. It causes trouble to the bitter person by creating a gratitude-stifling, soul-tarnishing state which alienates him/her not only from friends, family and co-workers but also from the Lord. It is a definite prayer stopper!
Incidentally, it is perhaps the case that some people with physical cancers started off with a bitter soul because of something that happened. Body and spirit are inextricably intertwined so it is really bordering on the foolhardy to be skeptical about this mind (spirit)-body connection.
Bitterness is to the spiritual body what a cancer is to the physical body.
But once bitterness against God is allowed to set in, the race is practically over. We have lost and we will lose our souls. Bitterness cannot enter heaven!
Secondly, bitterness is contagious because it can make “many become defiled”. No surprise there because misery loves company!
It is clear that the writer was thinking about the spill over of bitterness from one person to another, especially in the context of a congregation or community. In this case, the spillover leads to defilement which means “degradation”, disrespect”, “contamination”, “dishonour”, “corruption”.
There is just no end to the damage bitterness can do to others. It is a domino effect or a vicious whirlpool whatever metaphor you want to use. In summary, Hebrews 12:15 tells us is that bitterness can cause us to “fall short the grace of God”.
There are those who will boast that they have never told a lie, cheated on anyone or have ever been unkind. Yet they may be harbouring bitterness in their soul. If bitterness is not a sin it certainly brings along sins of all sorts “bad behaviours” across the border of our souls: unjustified anger, envy, uncommunicativeness, violence, unbelief, to name a few.
Talking about metaphors, there is no more appropriate time to use the phrase: “nip it in the bud” than when we see the first signs of the root of bitterness in ourselves! But can we recognize bitterness when we see it? Perhaps some examples from Scripture may help us do just that.
Page 5: “Cainine” Legacy
