In society the word "bitterness" is sometimes confused with sadness or depression. Not many people understand it for what it really is - "a feeling of deep and bitter anger" or "dissatisfaction". In most cases, bitterness is cherished, but the Scripture actually teach us that it should not be tolerated! Though we must be kind to each other, we ourselves should not be "kind to feelings of bitterness"!
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(Eph 4:31) " Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice"
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(Heb 12:14) "Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord:
(Heb 12:15) 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"
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(1) Though "bitterness" is not the same than "sorrow" or "sadness", sadness can sometimes change into bitterness - something we must watch out for (like in the case of Job), because sadness can easily change into dissatisfaction, especially where someone was treated unfairly. Actually scripture normally refer to bitterness as something else - in fact, not a good thing! In the case of Hannah and some cases David, it was more a case of sadness or sorrow - each one of them turned to God, complained to Him and seek Him about their circumstances - this is clearly different from the above scriptures about bitterness.
(2) A clearly different case, will be the one of Esau, when he became angry and dissatisfied. (Gen 27:34 - "And when Esau heard the words of his father, he cried with a great and exceeding bitter cry, and said unto his father, Bless me, even me also, O my father". Though he wilfully sold his birthright for a mess of pottage, he blamed Jacob for it (v.36). He was angry and he even lied because of that! This will be a typical case of bitterness as Scripture refer to as behaviour that must be put away! As sin can make you bitter, bitterness is almost handled like a sin. -Hebr. 12:14,15
(3) Another axample, is that of Simon in Acts 8:18-24. Simon saw Peter and John laying hands on believers to receive the Holy Spirit, so he offered them money so that he could receive the power to be able to lay hands on people himself, but Simon's heart was not right. It is also clear from early verses that, before he came to believe, he was into sorcery and bewitched the people of Samaria, giving out that himself was some great one - it was even said about him that he was the great power of God! He was self-centered and maybe even jealous and angry, because Peter and John had something he didn't have. He wanted to be "this great one" and didn't seem to really change after he "came to believe". But by the Holy Spirit Peter knew this and answered Simon: (Act 8:20) "But Peter said unto him, Thy money perish with thee, because thou hast thought that the gift of God may be purchased with money.(Act 8:21) Thou hast neither part nor lot in this matter: for thy heart is not right in the sight of God.(Act 8:22) Repent therefore of this thy wickedness, and pray God, if perhaps the thought of thine heart may be forgiven thee.(Act 8:23) For I perceive that thou art in the gall of bitterness, and in the bond of iniquity". Peter refer to him as in "a gall of bitterness", thus stating the real problem! This is very much an example of when someone want to "do good" FOR THE WRONG REASONS! He was dissatisfied with his own position and was maybe even jealous of Peter and John - this bring us to the next point:
(4) Scriptures about bitterness in context, normally refer to envy, jealousy and thus, evil speaking and cursing!:
* (Jas 3:8) But the tongue can no man tame; it is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison.
(Jas 3:9) Therewith bless we God, even the Father; and therewith curse we men, which are made after the similitude of God.
(Jas 3:10) Out of the same mouth proceedeth blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not so to be.(Jas 3:11) Doth a fountain send forth at the same place sweet water and bitter?
(Jas 3:12) Can the fig tree, my brethren, bear olive berries? either a vine, figs? so can no fountain both yield salt water and fresh.
(Jas 3:13) Who is a wise man and endued with knowledge among you? let him shew out of a good conversation his works with meekness of wisdom.
(Jas 3:14) But if ye have bitter envying and strife in your hearts, glory not, and lie not against the truth. - look at the comparison between "mouth" and "bitterness".
* (Rom 3:14) Whose mouth is full of cursing and bitterness (read in context) - look how in this verse, there is a comparison between "the mouth" and "bitterness".
* Also in (Eph 4:31) "Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice" - look how bitterness is named in same way it is talked about wrath, anger, clamour, evil speaking...
* Look again to Hebr. 12:15 - (Heb 12:15) 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" - how can many be defiled from that? Does it have anything to do with evil-speaking or wrath or cursing etc.?
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Therefore "bitterness", is an heart-issue. The root is anger or dissatisfaction and the person in a gall of bitterness, will speak evil of others and be jealous and envious of them. These sins should be repented and any kind of bitterness should be put away!
(There are many other examples in Scripture regarding this matter of evil-speaking en envy, for example 3 John 1:10 and Acts 4:2... etc.)
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