Bitterness

March 17

Bitterness

pikria

As a kind of addendum to the four sins most likely to creep back into the Christian’s life listed in Eph_4:22-29, Paul adds in Eph_4:31: "Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice."

The Greek pikria (G4088) simply means "harbored hostility," a smoldering resentment, holding a grudge. In his commentary on the Greek text, John Eadie puts it best: "Bitterness is a figurative term denoting that fretted and irritable state of mind that keeps a man in perpetual animosity—that inclines him to harsh and uncharitable opinions of men and things—that makes him sour, crabbed, and repulsive in his general demeanor—that brings a scowl on his face, and infuses venom into the words of his tongue."

Bitterness is the end result of suppressed anger, and it defiles us, as Heb_12:15 declares. The Greek behind the word "defiled" is miainō (G3392), which means "to stain with color, tinge, or pollute." Anger must not be suppressed—it must be dealt with. If it isn’t, it just leads to more wrath (thumos) and anger (orgē; see March 14.)

Several other consequences come as well: "clamour" (kraugē, G2906, a crying out against someone or even physical brawling), "evil speaking" (blasphemia, G988; English, blaspheme, slanderous and damaging speech; see November 23), and "malice" (kakia, G2549, that which is malevolent, unprofitable, useless, detrimental, poor, vice, and unsuitable).

The consequences of bitterness are horrendous! It was bitterness that drove Cain to become the first murderer and drove King Saul to try to murder David. Bitterness can hurt feelings, divide churches, and destroy reputations. Along with anger, it "give[s] place to the devil" (Eph_4:27).

"Give place" is didote topon. "Give" (didōmi, G1325, November 4) means "to give of one’s own accord and with good will." "Place," then, is topos (G5117; English, topography and topology), which, when used literally, refers to "any portion of space marked off from the surrounding territory," such as a spot, space, or room. Used figuratively, it speaks of an "opportunity, power, [or] occasion for acting." The full idea in this expression, then, is: "Here you go, devil. I’m willingly giving you a wide-open invitation to come in and work destructively through my anger."

Dear Christian friend, be careful of anger and bitterness.

Scriptures for Study: In Act_8:23, who was "in the gall [cholē, G5521, ‘poison’] of bitterness"? In Rom_3:14, who is "full of cursing and bitterness"?

 
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