Why Jesus Compared Unforgiveness [Bitterness] to the Sycamine Tree  (27 December 2016)

"In Luke 17:1-6, Jesus taught His disciples about bitterness and unforgiveness and about how to remove these evil forces from one's life. As an illustration, Jesus likened these forces to the sycamine tree that was so well known in that part of the world. The word 'sycamine' comes from the Greek word sukaminos, and it is the Greek word that refers to a tree that grew throughout the Middle East. When you understand everything that is connected to the sycamine tree, you'll know exactly why Jesus chose to use this tree as an example of bitterness and unforgiveness in Luke 17:6...".."

Our Scarlet Sins Whiter Than Snow  (13 January 2012)

"Poor thing, [my neighbour] was about one of the meanest persons I have ever met. I do hope under her anger, for her life was a sad one, she actually loved the LORD and is with Him now with no more ... sorrows. Our sorrows can lead us right into sins. We can blame everyone else for causing our sorrows, but the choice to sin is our own. Bitterness and anger ... can rule our lives if we allow it. We have the choice to give up our anger and bitterness to the LORD, and when we choose this choice God is glorified. The choice may be a tough one to live out..."

Bitterness Is Like a Weed  (08 January 2012)

"I have seen bitterness full grown in people. I have witnessed the ugliness of it showing on their faces after years of living in their bitterness. ... Bitterness can begin very, very tiny in our minds..."

Bitter or Better?  (29 June 2011)

"I have dealt with bitter people. People whom I love dearly who have become so very bitter ... Bitterness is so ugly. If you are struggling with anything, even if you are struggling with a long tem agony - choose to let go of it into God's faithful arms..."

Turn Bitterness Into Blessings  (31 March 2010)

"The Book of Ruth is the eighth book of the Old Testament/Bible. The author of the book is unknown, but it was first written to the Israelites. The purpose of the book was to show that even Gentiles who are faithful to God become a part of His People. Ruth became the great grandmother of David. The book also illustrates the kinsman-redeemer relationship of the Jesus Christ. What we are to learn from the book of Ruth is that God can turn bitterness into blessings for all who come to Him, Jew or Gentile..."

The Dark Path of Bitterness  (06 May 2008)

"How is it possible for Satan to defeat and capture a child of God who had previously escaped his grasp? Satan is exposed in the Bible for the deceiver that he is. Jesus described him as having 'no truth in him' and as being a 'liar and the father of it'. While it is inconceivable for a Christian to ever imagine himself as willingly placing his life under the control of the 'evil one', Satan, in fact, has a strong track record of accomplishing this very thing..."

Bitterness  (03 October 2002)

"One of the great problems in the life of a Christian and in our churches is something that is hard to admit, though easy to recognize ... It is the feeling of hurt, resentment, anger, and even hate that can build up in our hearts when we have been hurt by another person or by an experience in life. It can be directed towards other people and even towards God..."

Bitterness: The Bruises of Satan  (June 1982)

"No man can live with bitterness; it is the poison of the soul. It can completely transform the character of a person. Hardness, severity, unforgiveness and hatred will characterise the person who  is bitter. The poison of bitterness will come out in one's speech, since the subject of conversation flows out of personal hurts and injury. Vindictiveness will be expressed toward those who are considered responsible for the injury..."

Bitterness: Bible Examples, Shoots, Results, Symptoms, Healing  (No Date)

"Bible examples of bitterness...  Root of bitterness has offshoots...  Biblical results of bitterness...  Symptoms: Behaviour...  Healing: What we must do..."

Blackberries and Bitter Roots  (No Date)

"For a number of years, I've been engaged in a war with the blackberry vines in my backyard. As you may know, wild blackberries thrive in the damp Northwest climate. Actually, they more than thrive - I suspect that they are planning world domination. My blackberry vines aren't small shrubs. They send out long, inch-thick vines with vicious thorns that create dense hedgerows if left to themselves..."

Bitterness  (No Date)

"Bitterness is one of the most crushing mental problems in a person's life, When a Christian is bitter, there is a loss of close fellowship with the Lord and a hindrance on one's relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ. Bitterness causes a loss of many of the blessings of the normal Christian life, including emotional stability, peace, and joy. And bitterness results in the loss of production of good works (gold, silver, precious stones) which are a major source of blessing and reward in the plan of God. Bitterness is a devastating mental attitude sin, and it triggers a wide range of other sins, such as:..."

Overcoming Bitterness and Resentment  (No Date)

"When you are offended or disappointed by others and allow the hurt to germinate in your heart, bitterness and resentment will take root. Characterized by an unforgiving spirit and generally negative, critical attitudes, bitterness and resentment are sinful and self-defeating. They will color your conscious and unconscious thoughts and actions. Allowed to fester, they will destroy and kill (Galatians 5:19-21). However, they can be dispelled with love..."

The Poison of Bitterness  (No Date)

"The 'root of bitterness' causes trouble. It affects our own happiness. We let someone who has done wrong affect the way we live. We don't relate to people as well when it consumes us. If we talk about the offense, some will take sides which causes dissension. Nothing good comes from it..."

How to Be Free From Bitterness  (No Date)

"In Ephesians 4:31-5:2 we are instructed to get rid of all bitterness, Before we begin discussing how and why this must be done, it is crucial to realize that the basis for all actions in this regard must be what Jesus Christ has done for us on the cross. In all our actions, we are to be imitators of God. ... Our text requires us to remove all bitterness and to maintain a tender heart. here's the question: Is it possible to be kind, compassionate, tenderhearted and yet bitter at the same time?..."

The Root of Bitterness  (No Date)

"All Christians at one time or another will struggle with responding bitterly to the various predicaments of life, but God's call through James 3:1 is that we would learn to spring forth pure things rather than that which is rotten and of no use or glory to God..."

The Root of Bitterness: Part One  (No Date)

"A bitter root is an idolatrous spirit where people desire to control circumstances ... The fruit of a bitter root is trouble and defilement. When a person produces trouble, schism, animosity, pride, rivalry, or moral defilement, they are planted in the soil of self, not God. Bitter roots produce bitter fruit, and when other people, saved or unsaved, are subjected to their fruit, 'many' are troubled and defiled..."

The Root of Bitterness: Part Two  (No Date)

"The cure for a bitter root is a twofold, either/or proposition. Either you can repent, or God can wield the ax..."  [EMcD: Reference is made to Eugene Peterson's The Message at one point in this article. For information and articles on why we believe The Message to be an unreliable Bible translation, please see here].

The Bible on Bitterness  (No Date)

"God's Word warns us against the dangers of bitterness...  Do not carry or keep bitterness, but replace it with love, kindness and forgiveness...  If you allow bitterness a place in your heart, it will eventually come out of your mouth in murmuring and complaining...  The Lord, in His Love, can deliver you from the sin of bitterness...  Since bitterness stems from feelings of anger and an unforgiving attitude towards others, here are some more solutions from the Word on how to avoid it..."

What Is a Root of Bitterness?  (No Date)

"Hebrews 12:15, in the KJV, refers to a 'root of bitterness' which, if it springs up, will 'trouble you, and thereby many be defiled.'  What exactly is this 'root', and how can it defile many? True to the purpose of Hebrews, we can find some explanations in the Old Testament, which are confirmed by other uses in the New Testament. ... In the Hebrew culture, any poisonous plant was called a 'bitter' plant. Poison destroys, and the result of ingesting a poisonous plant would be bitter, indeed..."

Root of Bitterness  (No Date)

"Bitterness is known in the Bible as spiritual poison and a means by which many are defiled (Hebrews 12:15). It is the source of countless spiritual and physical problems in millions of lives today. ... Bitterness can be tricky to recognize because it's not a symptom or visible on the surface like anger usually is. Many claim that they aren't an angry or hateful person, but that's not what bitterness is all about. Bitterness is an underlying problem that doesn't always manifest on the outside, but dwells in that person's system..."

Bible Study Helps

Bitterness and Forgiveness Bible Study  (29 September 2010)

"What you will need to do this study: A willing heart to be open to how God will change your heart through this study; a Bible or online Bible;..."

Root of Bitterness: Michal's Example and Grace or Bitterness?  (No Date)

"To prepare for this study, please read the Women in Christ commentary, Michel and 1 Samuel 18:1-28; 19:11-24; 2 Samuel 3:1-20; 6:1-23..."

Thus saith the LORD,
Stand ye in the ways, and see, and ask for the old paths, where is the good way,
and walk therein, and ye shall find rest for your souls
(Jeremiah 6:16)

© Bayith Ministries     http://www.bayith.org     bayith@blueyonder.co.uk