“Whose mouth is full of cursing and bitterness” (Romans 3:14).
The characterizations of sinful human nature that we find in Romans 3:10-18 have certainly been difficult to bear. Nevertheless, Paul the Apostle has persistently drawn our attention to these troubling aspects of humanity despite our natural tendency to avoid them. Now as we approach the end of this portion of Romans chapter three, we will move more rapidly over those remaining characteristics.
Here in verse fourteen, Paul will conclude the natural progression he began in the previous verse. Romans 3:13 started with a reference to the open tomb of the throat before moving to the deceptive speech uttered by the tongue. He will now complete that trilogy with the image of a mouth that is filled with cursing and bitterness.
This reference to cursing involves “…wanting the worst for someone and publicly expressing that desire in caustic, derisive language.” (1) “Bitterness” refers to the “…open, public expression of emotional hostility against one’s enemy.” (2) These unfortunate traits lead quickly from sins of expression to sins of conduct…
“Their feet are swift to shed blood” (Romans 3:15).
This quote is sourced from Isaiah 59:7, a passage that offers further insight into the destructive mindset described here…
“Their feet rush into sin; they are swift to shed innocent blood. They pursue evil schemes; acts of violence mark their ways” (NIV).
As the great Protestant reformer Martin Luther once observed, “If the enemies of God cannot overcome the messengers of truth with their curses or slanders, they try to do away with them by killing them.” (3) Unfortunately, that observation has proven to be just as accurate today as it was in Luther’s era.
“Destruction and misery are in their ways” (Romans 3:16).
One ancient commentator offers another surprisingly contemporary take on this passage: “The ungodly pretend to be hurt by good people, but inside they are ready and eager to finish them off.” (4) A different source offers another distinguishing feature: “Wherever they go, you can trace them by the ruin and distress they leave behind…” (5) Thus, as Jesus reminded us, “…just as you can identify a tree by its fruit, so you can identify people by their actions” (Matthew 7:20 NLT).
“And the way of peace they have not known” (Romans 3:17).
Given what we’ve already read in verses ten to seventeen, it should not surprise us to learn that these individuals are unfamiliar with the path of peace. It’s also worth noting that these individuals haven’t rejected the way of peace. Instead, we’re told that they possess no knowledge of it. Thus, they exclude themselves from Christ’s gracious blessing from the Gospel of Matthew: “Blessed are the peacemakers, For they shall be called sons of God” (Matthew 5:9).
(1) John F. MacArthur Jr., The MacArthur Study Bible: New American Standard Bible. (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Publishers, 2006), Ro 3:14.
(2) MacArthur, Ibid.
(3) Martin Luther, Lectures on Romans, quoted in ESV Church History Study Bible: Voices from the Past, Wisdom for the Present. (2023). Crossway. p.1689
(4) Konrad Pellikan, Commentary on All the Apostolic Epistles, quoted in ESV Church History Study Bible: Voices from the Past, Wisdom for the present. (2023). Crossway. p.1689
(5) James Denney, quoted in Kenneth S. Wuest, Word Studies in the Greek New Testament [Romans 3:13-18] Copyright © 1942-55 by Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co.