Exploring the Scriptural Call to Love, Reject Hatred, and Rejoice in God’s Holiness
Introduction: Love and Hate in the Biblical Perspective
The Bible speaks often and deeply about both love and hate, offering guidance for the attitudes and actions of God’s people. Yet, Scripture draws a clear line between loving others and hating evil, calling believers to a life marked by compassion, dedication, and holiness. This blog post explores these themes, focusing on the biblical distinction between hating evil and loving people, the forms of hate that are prohibited, those which are permitted, and the profound teachings of Jesus and the apostles.
Prohibited Forms of Hate: The Scriptural Ban on Hatred Toward Others
The Bible consistently warns against hatred toward others. The command to “love your neighbor as yourself” (Leviticus 19:18) is central to both the Old and New Testaments. Jesus affirms this as the second greatest commandment (Matthew 22:39). The apostle John writes, “Anyone who hates a brother or sister is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life residing in him” (1 John 3:15). This strong language reveals God’s deep concern for the condition of our hearts. Hatred toward others is not a trivial matter—it is spiritually destructive and fundamentally opposed to the essence of Christian love.
Hatred is often rooted in anger, jealousy, or unresolved conflict. The Bible calls believers to reconciliation and forgiveness, not bitterness or malice. Jesus’s teaching in the Sermon on the Mount goes further, equating anger and contempt with murder in the heart (Matthew 5:21-22). Thus, harboring hatred for another person is strictly forbidden for followers of Christ.
Permitted Forms of Hate: Hatred of Evil and Sin
While hatred toward people is prohibited, the Bible does command a form of hate: the rejection and abhorrence of evil and sin. Psalm 97:10 exhorts, “Let those who love the Lord hate evil.” This is not about personal animosity but a deep moral opposition to all that corrupts, destroys, and opposes God’s goodness. To hate evil is to love what is good, just, and holy.
Romans 12:9 echoes this call: “Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good.” This distinction is vital—believers are to separate the sin from the sinner, loving people as God loves them while refusing to accept or celebrate what is contrary to God’s will.
Jesus’s Use of ‘Hate’: Hyperbole and Complete Dedication to God
At times, Jesus uses the language of “hate” in a striking way. In Luke 14:26, He says, “If anyone comes to me and does not hate father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters—yes, even their own life—such a person cannot be my disciple.” This statement is not a literal command to despise one’s family but a hyperbolic way to express the necessity of putting God first in every relationship and priority. Jesus calls for ultimate allegiance; love for Him must surpass all other loves, to the point that every other attachment, by comparison, seems like “hate.”
This radical call to discipleship does not contradict the command to love others but reinforces the need for undivided devotion to God. When God is first, all other relationships find their proper, healthy place.
Analysis of 1 John 3:15: Hatred as Murder, Eternal Life, and the Heart
1 John 3:15 delivers a sobering message: “Anyone who hates a brother or sister is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life residing in him.” Here, John equates hatred with murder, not in terms of physical action but in the seriousness of the heart’s intent. This echoes Jesus’s teaching that sin begins in the heart, not just in outward acts.
The passage also underscores the connection between love and eternal life. Love is the evidence of spiritual rebirth and the indwelling presence of God. Where there is persistent hatred, John warns, there is spiritual death. The condition of the heart—whether it harbors love or hate—matters profoundly to God.
Commentary on Related Passages: 1 John 3:11-15 and Psalm 97:8-12
1 John 3:11-15 reminds believers of the “message you heard from the beginning: We should love one another.” The apostle contrasts the love of Christ with the hatred exemplified by Cain, who murdered his brother out of jealousy and evil intent. Love is the mark of true discipleship; hatred is a sign of spiritual death. The call is to move from death to life through loving action, not just words.
Psalm 97:8-12 celebrates the joy and security of those who love God and hate evil. The psalmist declares, “Light shines on the righteous and joy on the upright in heart. Rejoice in the Lord, you who are righteous, and praise his holy name.” Here, loving God and rejecting evil leads to gladness, not gloom. God’s faithful servants are called to rejoice in His holiness, finding deep satisfaction in His ways.
Conclusion: The Call to Love, Reconciliation, and Joy in God’s Holiness
The biblical teaching on love and hate is both challenging and liberating. Christians are called to reject all forms of hatred toward others, pursuing love, reconciliation, and forgiveness even in difficult relationships. At the same time, believers are commanded to hate evil and cling to what is good, reflecting God’s own holiness and justice.
Jesus’s teachings and the writings of the apostles call us to examine our hearts, ensuring that love—not hatred—guides our words and actions. In loving others and hating evil, we find the joy and freedom of God’s faithful servants, living as a light in a world that desperately needs both truth and grace.
Minister A Francine Green
September 2025
afrancinegreen.com 