Anthony Pritchard
Well-Known Member
Hate the Sin: Love the Sinner
A Biblical Principle
Believers often hear the phrase hate the sin, love the sinner. Critics sometimes point out that Scripture never uses this exact wording. That is true. The phrase itself does not appear in the Bible. The principle, however, is taught throughout Scripture in clear and repeated patterns. God demonstrates it. Christ embodies it. The apostles command it. The prophets proclaim it. The entire redemptive story rests on it.
Scripture teaches that God loves sinners while hating sin. Romans 5:8 says, "But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us." God’s love is directed toward sinners. His hatred is directed toward wickedness. Psalm 45:7 says, "Thou lovest righteousness, and hatest wickedness." God loves the person and hates the corruption that destroys the person. This is the foundation of the principle.
Christ’s earthly ministry demonstrates the same pattern. He confronts sin directly, yet He restores sinners with compassion. In John 8:11 He says to the woman taken in adultery, "Neither do I condemn thee: go, and sin no more." Christ does not excuse the sin. He does not condemn the sinner. He separates the two. In John 4:17 to 18 Christ exposes the sin of the woman at the well "The woman answered and said, I have no husband. Jesus said unto her, Thou hast well said, I have no husband: For thou hast had five husbands; and he whom thou now hast is not thy husband: in that saidst thou truly.", yet He offers her living water in John 4:10 "Jesus answered and said unto her, If thou knewest the gift of God, and who it is that saith to thee, Give me to drink; thou wouldest have asked of him, and he would have given thee living water". Christ confronts Peter’s denial in Luke 22:61 to 62, yet He restores Peter in John 21:15 to 17. Christ hates the sin, loves the sinner, and calls the sinner out of the sin.
The apostles follow the same pattern. They name false doctrine, false teachers, and corrupt systems, yet they express deep love for those trapped in error. Paul says in Romans 10:1, "Brethren, my heart’s desire and prayer to God for Israel is, that they might be saved." Paul names false teachers in 1 Timothy 1:20, "Of whom is Hymenaeus and Alexander; whom I have delivered unto Satan, that they may learn not to blaspheme." Paul hates the deception and loves the deceived. John warns in 2 John 7, "For many deceivers are entered into the world", yet he commands love among believers in 1 John 4:7, "Beloved, let us love one another." The apostles hate the lie and love the lost.
Jude gives the clearest textual expression of the principle. Jude 22 says, "And of some have compassion, making a difference." Jude 23 says, "And others save with fear, pulling them out of the fire; hating even the garment spotted by the flesh." Here the principle is stated plainly. Compassion toward the person. Hatred toward the corruption. Jude commands believers to love the sinner while hating the sin that stains and destroys.
The believer is commanded to imitate God’s posture, Christ’s example, and the apostles’ practice. Romans 12:9 says, "Abhor that which is evil; cleave to that which is good." Psalm 119:104 says, "Through thy precepts I get understanding: therefore I hate every false way." The believer is not commanded to hate people. The believer is commanded to hate false ways, evil, wickedness, deception, and corruption. The believer is commanded to love the lost.
Scripture never uses the phrase hate the sin, love the sinner. Scripture teaches the principle everywhere. God loves sinners while hating sin. Christ confronts wickedness while restoring the wicked. The apostles condemn deception while loving the deceived. Jude commands compassion toward the person while hating the corruption that destroys them.
The believer’s posture is clear. Love the sinner. Hate the sin. Contend for the faith. Rescue the lost. Reject the lie. Hold fast to the truth.
~Tony
© A.K. Pritchard 2026 -
Free to use with proper attribution.
A Biblical Principle
Believers often hear the phrase hate the sin, love the sinner. Critics sometimes point out that Scripture never uses this exact wording. That is true. The phrase itself does not appear in the Bible. The principle, however, is taught throughout Scripture in clear and repeated patterns. God demonstrates it. Christ embodies it. The apostles command it. The prophets proclaim it. The entire redemptive story rests on it.
Scripture teaches that God loves sinners while hating sin. Romans 5:8 says, "But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us." God’s love is directed toward sinners. His hatred is directed toward wickedness. Psalm 45:7 says, "Thou lovest righteousness, and hatest wickedness." God loves the person and hates the corruption that destroys the person. This is the foundation of the principle.
Christ’s earthly ministry demonstrates the same pattern. He confronts sin directly, yet He restores sinners with compassion. In John 8:11 He says to the woman taken in adultery, "Neither do I condemn thee: go, and sin no more." Christ does not excuse the sin. He does not condemn the sinner. He separates the two. In John 4:17 to 18 Christ exposes the sin of the woman at the well "The woman answered and said, I have no husband. Jesus said unto her, Thou hast well said, I have no husband: For thou hast had five husbands; and he whom thou now hast is not thy husband: in that saidst thou truly.", yet He offers her living water in John 4:10 "Jesus answered and said unto her, If thou knewest the gift of God, and who it is that saith to thee, Give me to drink; thou wouldest have asked of him, and he would have given thee living water". Christ confronts Peter’s denial in Luke 22:61 to 62, yet He restores Peter in John 21:15 to 17. Christ hates the sin, loves the sinner, and calls the sinner out of the sin.
The apostles follow the same pattern. They name false doctrine, false teachers, and corrupt systems, yet they express deep love for those trapped in error. Paul says in Romans 10:1, "Brethren, my heart’s desire and prayer to God for Israel is, that they might be saved." Paul names false teachers in 1 Timothy 1:20, "Of whom is Hymenaeus and Alexander; whom I have delivered unto Satan, that they may learn not to blaspheme." Paul hates the deception and loves the deceived. John warns in 2 John 7, "For many deceivers are entered into the world", yet he commands love among believers in 1 John 4:7, "Beloved, let us love one another." The apostles hate the lie and love the lost.
Jude gives the clearest textual expression of the principle. Jude 22 says, "And of some have compassion, making a difference." Jude 23 says, "And others save with fear, pulling them out of the fire; hating even the garment spotted by the flesh." Here the principle is stated plainly. Compassion toward the person. Hatred toward the corruption. Jude commands believers to love the sinner while hating the sin that stains and destroys.
The believer is commanded to imitate God’s posture, Christ’s example, and the apostles’ practice. Romans 12:9 says, "Abhor that which is evil; cleave to that which is good." Psalm 119:104 says, "Through thy precepts I get understanding: therefore I hate every false way." The believer is not commanded to hate people. The believer is commanded to hate false ways, evil, wickedness, deception, and corruption. The believer is commanded to love the lost.
Scripture never uses the phrase hate the sin, love the sinner. Scripture teaches the principle everywhere. God loves sinners while hating sin. Christ confronts wickedness while restoring the wicked. The apostles condemn deception while loving the deceived. Jude commands compassion toward the person while hating the corruption that destroys them.
The believer’s posture is clear. Love the sinner. Hate the sin. Contend for the faith. Rescue the lost. Reject the lie. Hold fast to the truth.
~Tony
© A.K. Pritchard 2026 -
Free to use with proper attribution.
