God’s Hate in the Bible
The Bible often speaks of God’s hate, but it is important to remember that God’s hate is different from our own. In the Bible, God’s hate is not an uncontrolled and undeserved emotion, but rather a judicious response to evil. As the omniscient and omnipotent Creator, God alone has the right to determine what is best for His creation.
The scripture Romans 12:9 says, “Let love be genuine. Abhor what is evil; hold fast to what is good.” This shows how the Bible teaches us to hate what is evil. This means, we should detest sin and strive to honor God with our lives. In this, we can see how utterly abhorrent God considers sin to be. We also understand His sincere love for those who choose to accept Him as their Lord and Savior.
In Proverbs 6:16-17, God lists six things He hates. These include “haughty eyes, a lying tongue, hands that shed innocent blood, a heart that devises wicked plans, feet that make haste to run to evil, a false witness who breathes out lies, and one who sows discord among brothers.” These verses give us a clear indication of what our Creator hates. Furthermore, it shows us how the Lord views deceitful behavior, injustice, and division among God’s people.
The Bible also speaks about hating our enemies. In Matthew 5:43-48, Jesus says, “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, so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven. For he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust.” Jesus teaches us to love even our enemies. Not only does this reflect how much God loves us, but it shows that even when hate exists, our response should be one of kindness and forgiveness.
Examples of Hate in the Bible
The Bible not only speaks of God’s hate, but also gives us examples of hate from other characters. An example of this can be seen in Genesis 4:3-8, when Cain became jealous of Abel’s offerings and murderously hated him. This showcases how hatred can manifest itself in evil actions. Furthermore, it is a sober reminder that hatred has no place in our world as it destroys relationships, dignity and peace.
Psalms 35:19-20 describes the hate of those who conspire against the righteous. “Do not let those who are wrongfully my enemies rejoice over me; those who hate me without cause wink their eyes. For they do not speak peace, but they devise deceitful words against those who are quiet in the land.” These verses contend that there are still evil forces in the world who wish to do us harm without justification. In this, we can see that they are hateful, envious, and mean-spirited people.
To sum up, the Bible is filled with various examples of hate, both from God and earthly characters. We can see how God’s hate is just and directed toward evil, whereas the hate of sinful people towards other humans is unjust. Our response to this should be love and forgiveness towards our fellow man, regardless of their motivations or actions.
Why is Hate Unacceptable in Christ’s Eyes?
We must remember that our Lord strongly disapproves of hate. The Bible teaches us that Christians should love our enemies, not hate them (Matthew 5:44). We are also taught not to be “overcome by evil but to overcome evil with good” (Romans 12:21). In these teachings, God shows us His perfect and impartial love, which means we too must love all people unconditionally regardless of our differences.
Jesus also taught us to love our neighbors as ourselves (Matthew 22:39). Our Lord commands us to do so in order to show our trust and respect for one another. In this, we can see how our Creator desires unconditional love and acceptance, rather than hatred toward our neighbors.
Furthermore, we must remember that God is the Creator of both the physical and spiritual realms. In this, we can see that there are both earthly and heavenly consequences for our actions (Galatians 6:7). Therefore, no matter the cause, hate is unacceptable and counterproductive in God’s eyes.
Uniting in Love in God’s Eyes
Romans 12:9 says to “hate what is evil and hold fast to what is good.” Here, we can clearly see how God has made it known that He does not tolerate unrighteous actions. In this, we can learn to detest sin, but love people unconditionally. To understand what God means by this, we must understand that He desires us to be unified with one another, regardless of our differences.
In 1 Corinthians 13:5, the apostle Paul states, “Love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant, or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful.” In this passage, Paul teaches us that a life filled with love will be characterized by humility, respect and selflessness. This teaching clearly reflects the difference between our understanding of hate and God’s understanding of love.
Lastly, Colossians 3:14 teaches us to “put on love, which binds us all together in perfect harmony.” This verse is another reminder from the scriptures that the path of love is the clear way to unity and peace among all of God’s people. This teaching is a great reminder that we should strive to be loving, generous and forgiving to one another.
Living and Sharing God’s Love
We can see from the scriptures that our Lord desires us to embrace His love. To live according to this, we must honor God with our lives and seek to love others as He loves us. This means, we should seek to fulfill God’s will for our lives by treating our brothers and sisters with respect, compassion and understanding.
In 2 Timothy 1:7, Paul encourages us to “fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands.” This verse is a reminder that the power of the Holy Spirit is within us and that it can help us overcome any fear or hatred we may have.
The apostle John in 1 John 4:19-21, encourages us to share our faith. He states, “We love because he first loved us. If anyone says, ‘I love God,’ and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen cannot love God whom he has not seen. And this commandment we have from him: whoever loves God must also love his brother.” This is a reminder that our love for God must be reflected through our love for others.
Reflecting God’s Perfect Love
A life lived in perfect love is something that can only be accomplished when we look to God. He alone can make us into the people He wants us to be. The apostle Paul in Ephesians 3:17-19, says that “the Lord is the Spirit and wherever the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom…may we be filled with the fullness of God.” In this, Paul is teaching us that we can be filled with the love of God as we submit to His will.
In Christ, we can find peace and joy as we strive to honor Him and fulfill His divine purpose. We can also experience a life of perfect love as we reflect our Lord’s teachings in our interaction with others. By reflecting God’s perfect love in our lives, we bring Him honor, glory, and renown.
Truly loving Everyone
We can find our source of perfect love in God. As we love others, we must do this with righteousness and purity of heart. Paul in 1 Corinthians 13:5-7 reminds us to, “love is patient and kind…it always protects, trusts, hopes, and perseveres.”
God’s divine love is the purest of all and it is only through Him that we can truly love everyone around us. By living according to God’s instructions, we will experience a life full of joy and freedom as we reflect His perfect love.
Relying on God and His Power
No matter the situation, God’s power can overcome any obstacle. Through Christ, we can be truly free from the shackles of hatred and bitterness. We can trust that our Lord will be faithful and will give us the power and courage we need to overcome our feelings of hate.
The apostle Paul in Roman 8:35-37, states, “Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword? As it is written, ‘For your sake we are being killed all the day long; we are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered.’ No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.” This passage is a testimony to the power of the Lord and His great love.
Living a Life of Love
The Bible teaches us that loving our enemies and those who hate us is possible with God’s help. We must rely on the power of the Holy Spirit to give us the strength to live according to the scriptures. Furthermore, God teaches us that it is possible to overcome hatred through love.
The author of 1 John 4:20-21, says, “If anyone says ‘I love God’ and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen cannot love God whom he has not seen. And this commandment we have from him: whoever loves God must also love his brother.” This passage is a reminder that God desires us to love others as He loves us.
Therefore, we must strive to love others with the same kind of love that God has for us. This will allow us to fulfill His will for our lives and to bring Him glory and honor.
