“See to it that no one misses the grace of God and that no bitter root grows up to cause trouble and defile many.” Hebrews 12:15 (NIV)
See to it – episkopeo: to look upon, inspect, look after, care for.
Of the care of the church, by the elders,
To look carefully, beware
Misses, or falls short, or comes short – hystereo:
Behind, come late or too tardily, to be left behind in the race and so fail to reach the goal, to fall short of the end, to fail to become a partaker, fall back from; to be inferior in power, influence and rank; to fail, be wanting; to be in want of, lack
To suffer want, to be devoid of, to lack (be inferior) in excellence, worth.
In the story of the Ten Virgins, the foolish ones said to the wise:
“Give us some of your oil; our lamps are going out.’ ‘
No,’ they replied, ‘there may not be enough for both us and you.
Instead, go to those who sell oil and buy some for yourselves.’” Matthew 25:6-9 (NIV)
But it seems, even though they were wise, the wise virgins failed to episkopeo, and the foolish virgins hysterio’d as a result!
While considering all that is in the “See to It” of the first half of Hebrews 12:15, we look at the second half: “that no bitter root grows up to cause trouble and defile many.”
Bitter – pikria (feminine noun)
extreme wickedness
a bitter root, and so producing a bitter fruit
metaphorically bitterness, bitter hatred.
Being shut out of the wedding feast, and being told by the bridegroom “I do not know you” would be a very bitter thing, indeed. Quite possibly, the foolish virgins would use this as an excuse to become very bitter, to become hateful of anything that has to do with the Bridegroom.
I have been pondering a question: Do we have a responsibility to see to it, to look after, to care for, to inspect one another so that no one misses, or falls short of the Grace of God? Are we responsible for any bitter root that grows up and defiles many if we don’t?
When the disciples told Jesus to send the people away, Jesus gave them the responsibility of feeding the people. How different the story would have been if the wise virgins would have cared after the others and extended their faith to the Bridegroom, the multiplier of oil (2 Kings 4). What if any time we see a lack, we partner with Heaven and all its abundance to “see to it” that no one misses the miraculous provision of God’s grace?
Father God, You are such a good Daddy. Where we see ‘not enough’, You take it and make plentiful. Where we see lack, in ourselves or in others, You see an abundance. When we come to You with everything we have, even if it’s 5 loaves and 2 fish, You see more than enough. Thank You, that You are patient with us, so that none should perish, but that everyone should come to repentance. (2 Peter 3:9b NIV).
— Jodi Packe
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