Just as it is right to love goodness and truth, so it is also right to hate that which is truly evil. We are to love our enemies and pray for those who persecute us, because by God’s grace there is both evil and good in them, and they may still be saved from the wrath to come. But toward the evil one and his angels it is written:
“I hate them with complete hatred; I count them my enemies.”
Jesus, the sinless Son of God, had every right to treat us the same way:
“I hate the assembly of evildoers, and I will not sit with the wicked.”
And in His love and mercy He dined with tax collectors and sinners like us! But He also pronounced woe and judgement upon the Pharisees and all those whose righteousness whitewashed their wickedness. He saw the extent of their hypocrisy and emptiness of worship:
“I hate, I despise your feasts, and I take no delight in your solemn assemblies.”
He detested the way they devoured widows’ houses and prevented others from being saved:
“I, the Lord, love justice; I hate robbery and wrong.”
And while He submitted to their abuse and torture, He nevertheless despised the cross, scorning its shame. So we too are to love mercy and walk humbly with our God, but never to be at peace with iniquity or tolerate sin. On the contrary,
“The fear of the Lord is hatred of evil.”
Let us then love what Jesus loves, and despise what He despises with all our hearts, that we may be like Him and see Him as He is.
“O you who love the Lord, hate evil!”
“Hate evil, and love good, and establish justice in the gate; it may be that the Lord, the God of hosts, will be gracious to the remnant of Joseph.”