The Bible has a lot to say about hate, both prohibiting unjust hatred and prescribing proper hatred. As the Word of God, the Bible gives us wisdom on how to handle our emotions in a godly manner.
Prohibitions against Unjust Hatred
The Bible clearly prohibits unjust hatred, prejudice and malice towards others. Scripture commands believers to love others, not hate them.
“You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I say to you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you.” (Matthew 5:43-44)
Jesus made it clear that we should not hate anyone, even our enemies. We are called to an attitude of love and forgiveness, not resentment or ill-will.
The apostle John wrote that those who hate others are still in spiritual darkness. Hatred is a sign that someone does not truly know God.
“Anyone who claims to be in the light but hates a brother or sister is still in the darkness.” (1 John 2:9)
“Whoever claims to love God yet hates a brother or sister is a liar. For whoever does not love their brother and sister, whom they have seen, cannot love God, whom they have not seen.” (1 John 4:20)
The Bible condemns hatred, prejudice and discrimination based on ethnicity, social status and gender. We are called to treat all people with dignity.
“There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.” (Galatians 3:28)
Scripture warns us not to slander or insult others. Our speech should build others up, not tear them down through spiteful words.
“Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.” (Ephesians 4:29)
The Bible clearly prohibits unjust anger, insults, slander and hatred towards others. We are called to love others unconditionally.
Prescriptions for Proper Hatred
However, the Bible does not condemn all forms of hatred. There are some things we should rightly hate from a godly perspective.
First, Scripture tells us we should hate evil and be grieved by sin. We cannot be morally neutral towards wickedness.
“Hate evil, love good; maintain justice in the courts.” (Amos 5:15)
“Let those who love the Lord hate evil.” (Psalm 97:10)
“I gain understanding from your precepts; therefore I hate every wrong path.” (Psalm 119:104)
As imitators of God, we should hate and detest all that God hates – sin, lies, pride, injustice, etc. To love righteousness is to hate evil.
Second, we should hate and turn away from the sin in our own lives. The fear of the Lord teaches us to hate pride, arrogance, lust and all spiritual apathy within our hearts.
“I have hated the assembly of evildoers, and will not sit with the wicked.” (Psalm 26:5)
“Through your precepts I get understanding; therefore I hate every false way.” (Psalm 119:104)
As we grow in holiness, we should hate our own sinful habits, attitudes and desires. We cannot make peace with sin but must vigorously fight against it.
Third, our loyalty and devotion to God may require hating family, friends and even our own lives in comparison to him.
“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.” (Luke 14:26)
This does not mean despising our loved ones, but demonstrating that our love and commitment to the Lord supersedes all other allegiances. At times we may have to go against the wishes of others in order to follow God.
Our hatred should not be directed toward people, but toward the sin and spiritual decay ravaging our world. Our passion for holiness should far exceed our care for human opinions or comfort.
Lastly, Scripture portrays God’s wrath and judgment against sin in terms of hatred. We can take confidence that evil will ultimately be destroyed and justice served.
“Your enemies, Lord, your enemies – perish in your wrath. Let their notoriety be wiped out. Hold them accountable for all their evil deeds; do not let them enter your righteousness.” (Psalm 9:5-6)
In the end, God will completely destroy and purge evil from his kingdom. He will right every wrong and judge the wicked – which should bring us comfort and hope for justice.
Cautions Regarding Hatred
Although Scripture permits proper forms of hatred, we must be careful not to cross the line into sin. The Bible gives several important cautions regarding hatred:
1. We should not hate people, but the sin that deceives them. God “desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.” (1 Timothy 2:4)
2. Our hatred should not lead us to sin through anger, bitterness or seeking personal vengeance. “Do not take revenge, my dear friends, but leave room for God’s wrath.” (Romans 12:19)
3. Even righteous anger should be carefully restrained and short-lived. “In your anger do not sin: Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry.” (Ephesians 4:26)
4. Though we hate evil and falsehood, we must continue to show grace and kindness to all people, regardless of their behavior. “Love must be sincere…Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves.” (Romans 12:9-10)
5. Our hatred should not consume us but instead motivate us to love others sacrificially. “Let us not become weary in doing good.” (Galatians 6:9)
6. We must remember that only God truly knows people’s hearts and should judge their eternal motives. “Do not judge, or you too will be judged.” (Matthew 7:1)
7. Our struggle should be aimed primarily at sinful systems and spiritual forces of evil, not fellow humans who are equally deceived. “Our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.” (Ephesians 6:12)
Therefore we must be cautious to ensure our hatred remains properly directed and constrained under God’s wisdom and grace.
Examples of Righteous Hatred
The Bible provides inspiring examples of righteous men and women who hated and stood against evil in their day:
– David poured out his hatred and anger at evil men in many of his Psalms, while passionately pursuing God. “I have nothing but hatred for them; I count them my enemies.” (Psalm 139:22)
– The zeal and jealousy of the Old Testament prophets compelled them to confront corruption and idolatry within the people of God. “Because of all their wickedness in Gilgal, I hated them there. Because of their sinful deeds, I will drive them out of my house. I will no longer love them; all their leaders are rebellious.” (Hosea 9:15)
– Jesus displayed righteous indignation and anger at merchants who turned the temple into a den of thieves. “Jesus entered the temple courts and drove out all who were buying and selling there. He overturned the tables of the money changers and the benches of those selling doves.” (Matthew 21:12)
– Paul admitted his struggle to root out lingering sinful desires at war within himself. “I know that good itself does not dwell in me, that is, in my sinful nature. For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out…What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body that is subject to death?” (Romans 7:18-19, 24)
– John called down God’s judgment on wicked unbelievers who rejected Christ and persecuted the church, a fervent denunciation of evil. “If anyone worships the beast and its image and receives its mark on their forehead or on their hand, they, too, will drink the wine of God’s fury, which has been poured full strength into the cup of his wrath.” (Revelation 14:9-10)
These examples demonstrate the place for righteous hatred aimed solely at evil, while maintaining love for people.
Biblical Limitations on Hatred
Although the Bible permits hatred directed at immorality, evil and spiritual darkness, it strictly forbids other misguided types of hatred:
– Hating others who sin differently than we do – “All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” (Romans 3:23)
– Hypocritical hatred focused on others while ignoring our own sin – “Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye?” (Matthew 7:3)
– Nursing petty grievances or unforgiveness – “Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.” (Colossians 3:13)
– Prejudice or injustice against groups of people – “There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.” (Galatians 3:28)
– Violent, murderous hatred forbidden by the sixth commandment – “You shall not murder.” (Exodus 20:13)
Hatred can easily spiral out of control into vicious words, harmful deeds, and ongoing bitterness that poisons our spirit. We must constrain even righteous hatred within biblical bounds.
Overcoming Hatred through Love
The Bible encourages us to overcome hatred through the greater power of godly love and forgiveness:
– Recognize that all people were created in God’s image and have dignity and worth. “With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse human beings, who have been made in God’s likeness. Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers and sisters, this should not be.” (James 3:9-10)
– Follow Christ’s example and pray for your enemies. “But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you.” (Matthew 5:44)
– Remember that Christ died to save sinners. “But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” (Romans 5:8)
– Let bitterness and anger be replaced by kindness and compassion. “Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.” (Ephesians 4:32)
– Set your mind on spiritual things rather than earthly offenses. “Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things.” (Colossians 3:2)
By God’s grace, our hearts can be changed and hatred resolved through the healing power of forgiveness. “Hatred stirs up conflict, but love covers over all wrongs.” (Proverbs 10:12)
Conclusion
The Bible speaks extensively on the topic of hatred. While condemning prejudice and unjust malice, Scripture allows for righteous hatred aimed solely at evil. As imitators of Christ, we must ensure our hatred is properly directed and does not descend into bitterness, violence or self-righteousness. With wisdom and discernment, we can gain understanding and display godly hatred while maintaining a spirit of grace, restraint and forgiveness toward others. Above all, we should strive to overcome hatred through Christ-like sacrificial love.
