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May 1, 2016 |
| Maror - Bitter | ||
Having recently attended a Passover Seder I was wondering about the main elements of the Passover, what they were, what they symbolized, and how they relate to Christians and the lives God wants us to live. The main elements of Passover are described in the Bible, as you would expect.
They shall eat the flesh that same night, roasted with fire, and they shall eat it with unleavened bread and bitter herbs. (Exodus 12:8)
In the second month on the fourteenth day at twilight, they shall observe it; they shall eat it with unleavened bread and bitter herbs. (Numbers 9:11)
From this we see there are three main elements to the Passover meal. Most Christians understand what the lamb is and the symbolism of the lamb. They also understand what leaven (yeast) is and what it symbolizes. Very few, however, understand the bitter herbs or what they symbolize. As a result they don't understand that there is a message there for Christians. In this lesson we will look at the bitter herbs from Passover.
Maror is a Hebrew word meaning "bitter". In the context of a meal it refers to bitter herbs but it doesn't refer to a specific bitter herb. In fact the word is plural in these verses so it would make sense to have more than one kind with the Passover meal. At most Passover Seders horseradish is used as the bitter herb.
The bitter herbs were not really part of the meal, however. They were there to be sampled, despised, and rejected. The lamb and the unleavened bread were to be eaten.
Most people know what it means for something to taste bitter. "Western taste buds tend to [like] salt and sugar, [while] eastern taste buds tend to be lighter on the sweet side and more balanced in flavor. There is one taste though which is universally avoided - bitter."1
The message behind the maror at Passover is about bitterness of attitude and spirit. No one wants to see a bitter attitude any more than they want bitter food. We don't use the word bitter to describe an attitude very often though. It means to be resentful or cynical: anger and disappointment at being treated unfairly.
Jeremiah links the two, bitter taste with a bitter spirit, in the book Lamentations, which was written after the destruction of Israel by Babylon.
He has filled me with bitterness, he has made me drunk with wormwood. (Lamentations 3:15)
No one knows for sure any more what wormwood was, but in many places in the Bible it is used as a symbol for bitterness. Jeremiah's meaning here is that he is so bitter that he can't think straight. Bitterness can be like that.
Bitterness also can spread. If someone has done something to make another person bitter, it's likely that person will do something to return the "favor". He may carry the bitterness on to others by telling them what happened and make them bitter toward that person as well.
The message from the unleavened bread and the bitter herbs, in the context of Passover, is that Jesus was without sin and without bitterness. Despite the unfair treatment he received he was not made bitter. Instead he forgave those who mistreated him. For us the message is much the same. With Jesus as our model there should be no sin in us and neither any bitterness.
It turns out that the Bible has quite a bit to say about bitterness of spirit. We'll look at those references now.
And they were laying hands upon them, and they were receiving the Spirit of Holiness. 18 And when Simon [the sorcerer] saw that by laying on of the hands of the Apostles the Spirit of Holiness was given, he brought silver to them, 19 as he said, "Give me also this authority that he on whomever I place a hand will receive the Spirit of Holiness."
20 [Simon Peter] said to him, "Your silver will go with you to destruction, because you thought that the gift of God is acquired by the possessions of the world. 21 You have no part or allotment in this faith, because your heart is not upright before God. 22 But turn from this your evil and request from God that perhaps the treachery of your heart may be forgiven you. 23 For I see that you are in the wrath of bitterness and in a knot of evil." (Acts 8:17-23)
Simon the sorcerer used sorcery to deceive the Samaritans into thinking he was a god. When he saw that Peter was giving the Holy Spirit by laying hands on people, Simon was bitter that he could not do that. As a result of that bitterness he sought to obtain that ability. He likely thought it was a sorcery trick like his own and wanted to buy it.
Here we see a way that people can become bitter - they feel mistreated because they don't have something that someone else has. We also see how bitterness can cause us to act foolishly.
And because they decided in themselves not to know God, God handed them over to a worthless mind so that they would be doing whatever is inappropriate, 29 as they are filled with every injustice and fornication, bitterness, wickedness, greed, envy, murder, contention, treachery and wicked reasoning, 30 murmuring, slander, and they are detestable to God, being insolent, proud, boasters, inventors of evil, lacking reason, who do not obey their parents, 31 because they have no stability, neither love, nor peace, nor compassion in them, 32 who, while knowing the judgment of God, that those who commit such things are condemned to death, were not only doing these things, but also were attached to those who were doing these things. (Romans 1:28-32)
Paul is describing the characteristics of people who do not know God. In his list we see that bitterness is right up there with fornication, greed, and envy. Therefore we know it is a serious matter. Bitterness spreads if it isn't stopped.
As it is written: "There is not a just person, not even one, 11 neither is there one who understands, nor one who seeks God. 12 They have all turned away together, and they have been rejected, and there is not one who does good, not even one. 13 Their throats are opened tombs, their tongues are deceitful, and the venom of asps is under their lips. 14 Their mouth is full of curses and bitterness, 15 and their feet are swift to shed blood. 16 Adversity and wretchedness are in their way, 17 the way of peace they have not known, 18 and the awesomeness of God is not before their eyes." (Romans 3:10-18)
Here is another list from Paul of characteristics that are not part of a Christian. This list is a little different from the previous one in that this one lists bitterness as coming from the mouth. Bitterness comes from the heart of course but it spreads by coming out of our mouths. Paul adds that "the way of peace" is not known to such people. Bitterness can only take away peace.
Purge out the old yeast from you that you would be a new lump, just as you are unleavened bread. Our Passover is the Messiah, who was slain for our sake. 8 Therefore let us make a feast, not with the old yeast, neither with the yeast which is in wickedness or of bitterness, but with the yeast of purity and of holiness. (1 Corinthians 5:7-8)
Paul uses the main Passover elements to make his point. He refers to the lamb that was slain, the yeast that wasn't to be in the bread, and to the bitterness of the bitter herbs. The old yeast he refers to is the boasting of the Jews that they were God's chosen people. Paul's point is that these yeasts need to be removed from the dough that we would be made new.
Notice what Paul says after that. There is to be a new yeast in the lump of dough - a yeast of purity and holiness. Yeast does not always mean "sin" as some people think. There is also another place in the Bible where yeast does not mean "sin."
Again, Yeshua said, "To what shall I compare the Kingdom of God? 21 It is like yeast which a woman took and hid in three 3-gallon measures of flour until all of it was fermented." (Luke 13:20-21)
Jesus is saying that the Kingdom of God, when in a man, spreads like yeast and changes him. Therefore the correct meaning of yeast is not "sin" but "spreading" or "growing." Sin can spread within a man but so can purity and holiness. But for purity and holiness to spread, sin must be removed.
Let all bitterness, fury, rage, clamor, and insults be taken away from you with all wickedness, 32 and be sweet one toward another and affectionate, and be forgiving one another, just as God in the Messiah has forgiven us. (Ephesians 4:31-32)
Again Paul provides a list of bad characteristics that includes bitterness. In this case he is talking about how Christians should not treat one another.
And be watchful, lest anyone among you be found lacking the grace of God, or lest the root of bitterness produce vines and harm you, and many be defiled by it. (Hebrews 12:15)
Here Paul speaks specifically of bitterness. He warns us to be watchful that a root of it does not take hold within us. Unlike yeast which spreads within us, bitterness, after it grows within us, spreads to others. Thus Paul says that many other people can be defiled by the bitterness that grows within us.
From the mouth proceeds blessing and cursing, my brethren. These things ought not so to be done. 11 Is it possible that from one spring, sweet and bitter waters go out? (James 3:10-11)
James contrasts sweet with bitter. His point is that both should not be coming from the same mouth. He seems, also, to be indicating that only bitter things come from a bitter heart, or at least that, if bitter ever comes out, it shows the source is bitter. Again we also see a reference to bitter things spreading via the mouth.
And the third sounded, and a great burning star fell from the sky like a blaze and it fell on a third of the rivers and upon the springs of water, 11 and the name of the star is called Absinthian and a third of the water became like Absinthe and a multitude of people died because the waters were made toxic. (Revelation 8:10-11)
Finally, from Revelation we have a quote that does not contain the word "bitter." Instead this quote uses the words Absinthian and Absinthe. Some other translations use the word "Wormwood" which was mentioned above as a bitter tasting plant and as a symbol for spiritual bitterness. Using symbolism these verses describe a wave of bitterness coming upon God's people.
Bitterness can start from two causes, outside of yourself and within yourself. Sometimes people or circumstances treat us unfairly. The first step to dealing with that hurt is to forgive and let go of it. This will certainly require the love of God within you to be able to love the person who caused it. Also, don't tell anyone about it. Don't spread the bitterness. When you get past that step you can look at whether you need to do something to address the causes. Whether you can or not, the next step is to stop dwelling on it. It's in our nature to go back and pick at the wound but it needs to be left alone.
Bitterness can also start from within, from greed, from envy, from ego, or from entitlement. Even though no one has done wrong to us, we are bitter because we didn't get what we wanted or thought we deserved. The first step is to get rid of those things within. They will never be satisfied and never make you happy. Instead focus on being content with what God has given you. Sometimes it's necessary to think about others who have much less than you to help you realize what you have.
1 http://www.rentokil.co.uk/blog/bitterest-substance-known-to-humans