Hebrews 12:15

Hebrews 12:15 Meaning and Explanation

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;

King James Version (KJV)

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Watch carefully that no one falls short of God's grace, and that no bitter root grows up to trouble and defile the many.

What Does Hebrews 12:15 Mean?

The pursuit of peace and holiness now turns into mutual watchfulness. The community is to look out for one another so that no member drifts away from the grace of God.

The warning borrows from Deuteronomy 29 the image of a bitter root. A single poisoned plant, left to grow, can spread through a whole field, and one embittered heart can trouble and corrupt many. The verse calls for vigilant, loving oversight, the kind that catches trouble while it is small. Grace is to be guarded in the whole body, not the individual only.

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What does Hebrews 12:15 mean?

Watch carefully that no one falls short of God's grace, and that no bitter root grows up to trouble and defile the many.

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