Expositor's Bible Commentary Commentary Hebrews 12:15

"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;" — Hebrews 12:15 (ASV)

The verb rendered “see to it” (GK 2174) is an unusual one. It conveys the idea of oversight (the verb is connected with the noun we translate as “overseer”). In this context the thought is that believers must have care for one another. The writer speaks of three things in particular that the readers must avoid. (1) They must not come short of God’s grace. Paul could speak of receiving God’s grace in vain (2 Corinthians 6:1) and of falling from grace (Galatians 5:4). Something like this is intended here. God is not niggardly in offering grace. Accordingly, it is important for people not to fail to make use of their opportunities.

(2) They must guard against the springing up of a “bitter root.” This is a root that bears bitter fruit, a metaphor taken from the growth of plants. Such growth is slow, but what is in the plant will surely come out in time. So it is possible for a seed of bitterness to be sown in a community and, though nothing is immediately apparent, in due time the fruit will appear. It will certainly “cause trouble” and possibly poison a whole community. “Defile” (GK 3620) often refers to ceremonial defilement , but it is also used of moral defilement. Bitterness defiles people and makes them unfit to stand before God.