Hate is a very strong word, and the Bible has a lot to say about it. When many people hear the word “hate,” they think of something dark and evil — and in many cases, that’s correct. But in the Bible, hate is not always a sin. Sometimes it’s a sin, and sometimes it’s actually commanded. The difference depends on what or whom you hate, and why.
Let’s break it down so we can understand it clearly, in a way that builds our walk with God.
The Problem of Sinful Hatred
The kind of hate that is sinful in the Bible is hatred toward people. This is the kind that grows from anger, bitterness, envy, prejudice, or revenge. God sees this kind of hate as dangerous, because it poisons the heart and destroys relationships.
The Bible’s Warning About Hating People
● 1 John 3:15 – “Anyone who hates a brother or sister is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life residing in him.”
John does not say that hatred is like murder — he says hatred is murder in the heart. That means God takes it very seriously.
● Matthew 5:21–22 – Jesus said that being angry with someone without cause puts you in danger of judgment. Hatred and contempt are seeds that can grow into bigger sins.
● Galatians 5:19–21 – Hatred is listed among the “works of the flesh” that will keep a person out of God’s kingdom.
When you hate someone, you close your heart to them, and you also close your heart to God’s love flowing through you. It’s like putting a wall between yourself and the Holy Spirit’s work.
Where Does Sinful Hatred Come From?
Sinful hatred often comes from:
● Unforgiveness – Refusing to let go of past hurts.
● Bitterness – Holding on to pain until it turns sour in the soul.
● Jealousy – Wanting what someone else has and resenting them for it.
● Pride – Looking down on others and feeling superior.
● Prejudice – Judging people unfairly based on background, tribe, race, or differences.
The enemy uses these things to plant hatred in the heart. That’s why Jesus calls us to forgive, to humble ourselves, and to love even our enemies.
The Call to Righteous Hatred
While hatred toward people is a sin, the Bible also teaches us that there’s a kind of hate that is actually good and commanded by God — the hatred of evil.
God Himself hates certain things. Not people, but evil acts, lies, oppression, and injustice.
Verses That Command Righteous Hatred
● Psalm 97:10 – “Let those who love the LORD hate evil.”
● Proverbs 8:13 – “The fear of the LORD is to hate evil; pride and arrogance and the evil way and the perverse mouth I hate.”
● Romans 12:9 – “Abhor what is evil; cling to what is good.”
When we truly love God, we will naturally hate the things that hurt His creation, destroy lives, and dishonor His name. This is not a personal hatred toward people, but a spiritual opposition to sin and its effects.
What Should We Hate?
Righteous hatred is directed toward:
● Sin – Anything that goes against God’s commands.
● Injustice – Oppression, corruption, and unfairness.
● Lies – Falsehood that leads people away from the truth.
● Pride – The self-exalting spirit that resists God.
● Evil systems – Practices and structures that harm people.
For example, you can hate the sin of lying without hating the person who lies. You can hate the evil of human trafficking without hating those trapped in it — instead, you pray for their deliverance.
Jesus’ Example About Hate
Jesus never hated people. Even when people insulted Him, plotted against Him, and crucified Him, He prayed for them: “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do” (Luke 23:34).
But Jesus hated hypocrisy, sin, and injustice. He overturned the tables of the money changers in the temple because they were turning a house of prayer into a den of thieves (Matthew 21:12–13). That was righteous anger — hatred toward sin, not hatred toward the people themselves.
Why Sinful Hatred Is Dangerous
Sinful hatred doesn’t just stay in the heart — it grows.
● It can lead to gossip, slander, and division.
● It can turn into violence or revenge.
● It steals your peace and makes prayer difficult.
● It blocks the flow of God’s love in your life.
That’s why Jesus told us in Matthew 5:44: “Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you.” Love is God’s weapon against hatred.
How to Overcome Sinful Hatred
If you find yourself struggling with hatred toward someone, here are steps the Bible gives to overcome it:
1. Confess it to God – Admit it honestly in prayer (1 John 1:9).
2. Forgive the person – Even if they don’t apologize (Colossians 3:13).
3. Pray for them – It’s hard to hate someone you’re praying for (Matthew 5:44).
4. Remember God’s love for you – We were all once sinners, yet God forgave us (Romans 5:8).
5. Let the Holy Spirit renew your heart – Ask Him to replace hatred with compassion (Ezekiel 36:26).
Hate is a powerful emotion. Used wrongly, it can destroy lives and separate us from God. Used rightly, it can protect us from sin and help us stand for righteousness.
The Bible’s message is clear:
● Never hate people — instead, forgive, bless, and love them.
● Always hate evil — resist it, expose it, and avoid it.
When God’s love fills your heart, you will find it easier to let go of grudges and to focus your energy on opposing what is truly harmful — the works of the devil.
Romans 12:21 says: “Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.” That’s the path Jesus calls us to walk.
Prayer
Lord, cleanse my heart from every sinful hatred. Teach me to love people as You do, and to hate the things that destroy their souls. Fill me with Your Spirit, so that my life reflects Your love and truth. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
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