See to it that no one falls short of the grace of God, and that no root of bitterness springs up to cause trouble and defile many.looking carefully lest there be any man who falls short of the grace of God, lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you and many be defiled by it,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;looking carefully lest there be any man that falleth short of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you, and thereby the many be defiled;
3 sermons cite this verse
… it's a participle. It's used elsewhere in the book of Hebrews 12, verse 15, where there it's translated, see to it. See to it that no one fails to obtain the grace of God. That's what oversight is. Sometimes we think of oversight as like it's management. Like somehow it implies that we're calling the shots. Certainly there's an element of authority in this office, but think about that passage in Hebrews. See to it that no one fails to obtain the grace of God, that no root of bitterness springs up and causes trouble. I mean, an elder is a watchman. Our job is to see to it. We're a watchman against bitterness. We're not a manager of operation. You know, and it's hard to see that no root of bitterness springs up in the congregation when one has arisen in your own heart because you think God has put you in some place that is less than you deserve or not as great as you should get when the results aren't coming like you think they should. And there's a root of bitterness that has sprung up in your own heart. It's hard to see to it, to exercise oversight over them in the flock of God. It's possible for us to love the idea of the church more than just the church itself, the church that God gave us. To shepherd a congregation you barely know from a pulpit that you regard as only a stepping stone to somewhere bigger is a grave danger in the ministry. …
… Now the Bible says this. Hebrews 12 verse 15. Make sure you all have experienced the grace of God. Now that would mean both the husband and the wife, the boyfriend, the girlfriend, everybody. Make sure you've all experienced the grace of God so that bitterness doesn't take root and grow. Because that causes much trouble and will corrupt. You see, if you start dating a girl or a guy who has bitterness from something in their past, and they're holding on to it, and they're not letting it go, and they're holding on, I want to guarantee you 110% that after you get married, that resentment is going to turn to you. And a girl who's had issues with her dad is going to take it out on her husband. And ladies, you want to know how your husband is going to treat you? Look at how he treats his parents. you got to clear see what kind of respect the guy gives his mom just look at that I have seen this over and over and over the Bible says make sure you all experience the grace of God so you get rid of that bitterness because bitterness causes much trouble notice how many of these verses use the word trouble it's a very important question is to ask how do they treat their parents yeah well they're not marrying their parents they're not marrying their parents They're marrying me. …
… 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 meat, for one morsel of food, sold his birthright. The danger of bitterness. Look at your neighbor and say, it's dangerous to mess with bitterness. The writer of Hebrews is unnamed. He does not tell us who he is, but we know who he's writing to. He's writing to some Jews who have converted to Christianity and they have faced challenges in their Christian walk and they are contemplating leaving Christianity and going back to Judaism. don't look so hard. Some of y'all become Christian. Y'all think about going to your way of living. Amen. Thank all both of y'all for that rousing. Amen. And in his dialogue, he raises this issue. He says, pursue peace with all people. …