COLOSSIANS 3:19

“Husbands, love your wives and do not become bitter against them.”

My wife loves lemons. I am not a fan unless they are in a dessert. I guess the sugar calms down the bitterness or sour taste. When something bitter hits my tongue, it’s an immediate turn off. I always order my sweet iced-tea without lemon. Half the time it comes with it anyway, so I promptly offer it to my wife. I make sure not to drink out of that side of the glass because I just don’t like that taste.

Paul uses a Greek word for “become bitter” that is used only three other times (all in Revelation) where they refer to something tasting bitter. However, Paul uses it to refer to emotional bitterness – men against their wives. Strong’s Lexicon describes the word this way. “The verb pikrainó is used in the New Testament to describe the act of making something bitter or causing bitterness. It can refer to both literal bitterness, such as the taste of something, and metaphorical bitterness, such as emotional or relational bitterness. The term often conveys a sense of causing distress or irritation.”

APPLICATION

The Jewish people ate bitter herbs during the Passover to remind them of their suffering in Egypt. Bitterness is not something we normally enjoy. In the book of Revelation, John uses the word to describe waters becoming bitter (8:11) and John eating the scroll which started out sweet but became bitter in his stomach (10:9-20). What a perfect picture of this word as it relates to our verse today.

Husbands, are you sick of your wife? Now, before you answer that, what has made you sick or bitter towards her? I am willing to bet it is because of your expectations of her that she did not meet. You probably even think you have the right to be bitter or harsh with her. And that’s where you are wrong! You have no such right.

The Lord gives husbands a command today in this verse. The verb pikrainó is written in that way. We know if the Lord gives a command, we are supposed to obey it, right? The Lord doesn’t just drop hints. Stop the bitterness. Respond to her with love instead and see what happens.

O Lord, give me a sweet taste in my mouth every time I see my spouse.